Dem. Gramercy, lovely Lucius; What's the

news?

[news, Boy. That you are both decipher'd, that's the For villains mark'd with rape. [Aside.] May it please you,

My grandsire, well advis'd, hath sent by me
The goodliest weapons of his armoury,
To gratify your honourable youth,

The hope of Rome; for so he bade me say;
And so I do, and with his gifts present
Your lordships, that whenever you have need,
You may be armed and appointed well:
And so I leave you both, [aside] like bloody vil-
lains.
[Exeunt Boy and Attendant.

Dem. What's here? A scroll; and written round about?

But were our witty empress well a-foot,
She would applaud Andronicus' conceit.
But let her rest in her unrest awhile.-
And now, young lords, was't not a happy star
Led us to Rome, strangers, and more than so,
Captives, to be advanced to this height?
It did me good, before the palace gate
To brave the tribune in his brother's hearing.
Dem. But me more good, to see so great a lord
Basely insinuate, and send us gifts.

dar. Had he not reason, Lord Demetrius? Did you not use his daughter very friendly? Dem. I would, we had a thousand Roman dames

Chi. Belike, for joy the emperor hath a son.
Dem. Soft: who comes here?

Enter a Nurse, with a black-a-moor Child
in her Arms.

Nur.
Good morrow, lords:
O, tell me, did you see Aaron the moor?
Aar. Well, more, or less, or ne'er a whit at all,
Here Aaron is: and what with Aaron now?

Give her good rest! What hath he sent her?
Nur.
A devil.
Aar. Why, then she's the devil's dam; a joy-
ful issue.
(issue;
Nur. A joyless, dismal, black, and sorrowful
Here is the babe, as loathsome as a toad
Amongst the fairest breeders of our clime.
The empress sends it thee, thy stamp, thy seal,
And bids thee christen it with thydagger's point.
Aar, Out, out, you whore! is black so base
a hue?

Sweet blowse, you are a beauteous blossom, sure.
Dem. Villain, what hast thou done?
Aar.
Canst not undo.
Chi.

done.

Done! that which thou

Thon hast undone our mother. Aar. Villain, I have done thy mother. Dem. And therein, hellish dog, thou hast un[choice! Woe to her chance, and damn'd her loathed Accurs'd the offspring of so foul a fiend! Chi. It shall not live. Aar. It shall not die. Nur. Aaron, it must: the mother wills it so. Aar. What, must it, nurse? then let no man Do execution on my flesh and blood. [but I Dem. I'll broach the tadpole on my rapier's point; [spatch it. Nurse, give it me; my sword shall soon deAar. Sooner this sword shall plough thy

bowels up.

[Takes the Child from the Nurse, and draws. Stay, murderous villains! will you kill your brother?

Now, by the burning tapers of the sky,
That shone so brightly when this boy was got,
He dies upon my scimitar's sharp point
That touches this my first-born son and heir!
I tell you, younglings, not Enceladus,
With all his threat'ning band of Typhon's brood,
Nor great Alcides, nor the god of war,
Shall seize this prey out of his father's hands.
What, what; ye sanguine, shallow-hearted boys!
Ye white-lim'd walls! ye alehouse painted signs!
Coal black is better than another hue,
In that it scorns to bear another hue:
For all the water in the ocean
Can never turn a swan's black legs to white,
Although she lave them hourly in the flood.
Tell the empress from me, I am of age
To keep mine own; excuse it how she can.
Dem. Wilt thou betray thy noble mistress
thus?

Aar. My mistress is my mistress! this, myself;
The vigour, and the picture of my youth:
This, before all the world, do I prefer;
This, maugre all the world, will I keep safe,
Or some of you shall smoke for it in Kome.
Dem. By this our mother is for ever sham'd.
Chi, Rome will despise her for this foul es-
cape.
[death.
Nur. The emperor, in his rage, will doom her
Chi. I blush to think upon this ignomy.
Aar. Why, there's the privilege your beauty
bears:

blushing

The close enacts and counsels of the heart.
Here's a young lad fram'd of another leer:
Look, how the black slave smiles upon the
father:

As who should say, Old lad, I am thine own.
He is your brother, lords; sensibly fed
Of that self-blood that first gave life to you;

And, from that womb, where you imprison'd
He is enfranchised and come to light: [were,
Nay, he's your brother by the surer side,
Although my seal be stamped in his face.
Nur. Aaron, what shall I say unto the empress?
Dem. Advise thee, Aaron, what is to be done,
And we will all subscribe to thy advice;
Save thou the child, so we may all be safe.
Aar. Then sit we down, and let us all consult.
My son and I will have the wind of you:
Keep there: Now talk at pleasure of your safety.
[They sit on the Ground.
Dem. How many women saw this child of his ?
Aar. Why, so, brave lords: When we all join
in league,

I am a lamb: but if you brave the Moor,
The chafed bear, the mountain lioness,
The ocean swells not so as Aaron storms.-
But, say again, how many saw the child?
Nur. Cornelia the midwife, and myself,
And no one else, but the deliver'd empress.
Aar. The empress, the midwife, and yourself:
Two may keep counsel, when the third's away:
Go to the empress; tell her, this I said:-
[Stabbing her.
Weke, weke !-so cries a pig, prepar'd to the
spit.

Dem. What mean'st thou, Aaron? Wherefore didst thou this?

Aar. O, lord, sir, 'tis a deed of policy: Shall she live to betray this guilt of ours? A long-tongu'd babbling gossip? no, lords, no. And now be it known to you my full intent. Not far, one Muliteus lives, my countryman, His wife but yesternight was brought to bed; His child is like to her, fair as you are: Go pack with him, and give the mother gold, And tell them both the circumstance of all; And how by this their child shall be advanc'd And be received for the emperor's heir. And substituted in the place of mine, To calm this tempest whirling in the court; And let the emperor dandle him for his own. Hark ye, lords, ye see, that I have given her physick, [Pointing to the Nurse. And you must needs bestow her funeral; The fields are near, and you are gallant grooms: This done, see that you take no longer days, But send the midwife presently to me. The midwife, and the nurse, well made away, Then let the ladies tattle what they please. Chi. Aaron, I see, thou wilt not trust the air With secrets.

Dem. For this care of Tamora, Herself, and hers, are highly bound to thee. [Exeunt DEM. and CHI. bearing off the Nurse. Aar. Now to the Goths, as swift as swallow flies;

There to dispose this treasure in mine arms,
And secretly to greet the empress' friends.-
Come on, you thick-lipp'd slave, I'll bear you
hence;

For it is you that puts us to our shifts:
I'll make you feed on berries, and on roots,
And feed on curds and whey, and suck the goat,
And cabin in a cave: and bring you up
To be a warrior, and command a camp.

[Exit.

SCENE III. The same. A publick Place. Enter TITUS, bearing Arrows, with letters at the ends of them; with him, MARCUS, Young LUCIUS, and other Gentlemen, with bows.

Tit. Come, Marcus, come;-Kinsmen, this is the way:

Sir boy, now let me see your archery;

Look ye draw home enough, and 'tis there
Terras Astræa reliquit :
[straight;
Be you remember'd, Marcus, she's gone, she's
filed.

Sir, take you to your tools. You, cousins, shail
Go sound the ocean, and cast your nets;
Happily you may find her in the sea;
Yet there's as little justice as at land :-
No; Publius and Sempronius, you must do it;
'Tis you must dig with mattock, and with spade,
And pierce the inmost centre of the earth:
Then, when you come to Pluto's region,
I pray you, deliver him this petition:
Tell him, it is for justice, and for aid:
And that it comes from old Androniens,
Shaken with sorrows in ungrateful Rome.-
Ah, Rome!-Well, well: I made thee miserable,
What time I threw the people's suffrages
On him that thus doth tyrannize o'er me.--
Go, get you gone: and pray be careful all,
And leave you not a man of war unsearch'd;
This wicked emperor may have shipp'd her
hence,

And, kinsmen, then we may go pipe for justice.
Mar. O. Publius, is not this a heavy case,
To see thy noble uncle thus distract?

Pub. Therefore, my lord, it highly us concerns,
By day and night to attend him carefully;
And feed his humour kindly as we may,
Till time beget some careful remedy.

Mar. Kinsmen, his sorrows are past remedy. Join with the Goths; and with revengeful war Take wreak on Rome for this ingratitude, And vengeance on the traitor Saturnine.

Tit. Publius, how now? how now, my masHave you met with her? [ters? What.

Pub. No, my good lord: but Pluto sends you word

If you will have revenge from hell, you shall:
Marry, for Justice she is so employ'd, [else,
He thinks, with Jove in heaven, or some where
So that perforce you must needs stay a time.
Tit. He doth me wrong to feed me with de-
I'll dive into the burning lake below, [lays.
And pull her out of Acheron by the heels.-
Marcus, we are but shrubs, no cedars we:
No big-bon'd men, fram'd of the Cyclops' size:
But metal, Marcus, steel to the very back;
Yet wrung with wrongs, more than our backs

can bear:

And sith there is no justice in earth nor hell,
We will solicit heaven: and move the gods,
To send down justice for to wreak our wrongs:
Come, to this gear. You are a good archer,
Marcus. [He gives them the Arrows.
Ad Jovem, that's for you:-Here, ad Apollinem.—
Ad Martem, that's for myself:
Here, boy, to Pallas:-Here, to Mercury:
To Saturn, Caius, not to Saturnine,-
You were as good to shoot against the wind.
To it, boy. Marcus, loose you when I bid:
O' my word, I have written to effect;
There's not a god left unsolicited.

Mar. Kinsmen, shoot all your shafts into the court:

We will afflict the emperor in his pride.
Tit. Now, masters, draw. [They shoot.] O, well
said, Lucius!

Good boy, in Virgo's lap; give it Pallas.
Mar. My lord, I aim a mile beyond the moon;
Your letter is with Jupiter by this. [done?

Tit. Ha! Publius, Publius, what hast thou See, see, thou hast shot off one of Taurus' horns. Mar. This was the sport, my lord: when

Publius shot,

Myself hath often overheard them say
(When I have walked like a private man),
That Lucius' banishment was wrongfully,
And they have wish'd that Lucius were their
emperor.
[strong?
Tam. Why should you fear? is not your city
Sat. Ay, but the citizens favour Lucius:
Aud will revolt from me, to succour him.
Tam. King, be thy thoughts imperious, like
thy name.

Is the sun dimm'd, that gnats do fly in it?
The eagle suffers little birds to sing,
And is not careful what they mean thereby;
Knowing that, with the shadow of his wings,
He can at pleasure stint their melody:
Even so may'st thou the giddy men of Rome.
Then cheer thy spirit; for know, thou emperor,
I will enchant the old Andronicus,

With words more sweet, and yet more dangerous,

Than baits to fish, or honey-stalks to sheep; When as the one is wounded with the bait, The other rotted with delicious feed.

Sat. But he will not entreat his son for us. Tam. If Tamora entreat him, then he will: For I can smooth and fill his aged ear With golden promises; that were his heart Almost impregnable, his old ears deaf, Yet should both ear and heart obey my tongue.Go thou before, be our ambassador;

[To EMILIUS. Say, that the emperor requests a parley Of warlike Lucius, and appoint the meeting, Even at his father's house, the old Andronicus. Sat. Emilius, do this message honourably: And if he stand on hostage for his safety, Bid him demand what pledge will please him best.

Emil. Your bidding shall I do effectually. [Exit EMILIUS. Tam. Now will I to that old Andronicus; And temper him with all the art I have, To pluck proud Lucius from the warlike Goths. And now, sweet emperor, be blithe again, And bury all thy fear in my devices. Sat. Then go successfully, and plead to him. [Exeunt.

Art Fifth.

SCENE I. Plains near Rome. Enter LUCIUS, and Goths, with Drum and Colours. Luc. Approved warriors, and my faithful friends,

I have received letters from great Rome, Which signify, what hate they bear their emperor,

And how desirous of our sight they are. Therefore, great lords, be, as your titles witness, Imperious, and impatient of your wrongs; And, wherein Rome hath done you any scath, Let him make treble satisfaction. [dronicus,

1 Goth. Brave slip, sprung from the great AnWhose name was once our terror, now our

comfort;

Whose high exploits, and honourable deeds, Ingrateful Rome requites with foul contempt, Be bold in us: we'll follow where thou lead'st,Like stinging bees in hottest summer's day, Led by their master to the flower'd fields,And be aveng'd on cursed Tamora.

Goths. And, as he saith, so say we all with him. Luc. I humbly thank him, and I thank you all. But who comes here, led by a lusty Goth?

Enter a Goth, leading AARON, with his Child in his arms.

[stray'd,

2 Goth. Renowned Lucius, from our troops I To gaze upon a ruinous monastery; And as I earnestly did fix mine eye Upon the wasted building, suddenly I heard a child cry underneath a wall: I made unto the noise; when soon I heard The crying babe controll'd with this discourse: Peace, tawny slave; half me, and half thy dam! Did not thy hue bewray whose brat thou art, Had nature lent thee but thy mother's look, Villain, thou might'st have been an emperor : But where the bull and cow are both milk-white, They never do beget a coal-black calf. Peace, villain, peace! even thus he rates the For I must bear thee to a trusty Goth; [babe.Who, when he knows thou art the empress babe, Will hold thee dearly for thy mother's sake. With this, my weapon drawn, I rush'd upon him, Surpris'd him suddenly; and brought him hither To use as you think needful of the man.

Luc. O worthy Goth! this is the incarnate devil,

That robb'd Andronicus of his good hand: This is the pearl that pleas'd your empress' eye; And here's the base fruit of his burning lust.Say, wall-ey'd slave, whither would'st thou convey

This growing image of thy fiend-like face? Why dost not speak? What! deaf? No; not a word?

A halter, soldiers; hang him on this tree,
And by his side his fruit of bastardy.

Aar. Touch not the boy, he is of royal blood.
Luc. Too like the sire for ever being good.-
First, hang the child, that he may see it sprawl;
A sight to vex the father's soul withal.
Get me a ladder.

[4 ladder is brought, which AARON is obliged to ascend.

Aar. Lucius, save the child; And bear it from me to the empress. If thou do this, I'll show thee wondrous things, That highly may advantage thee to hear: If thou wilt not, befall what may befall, I'll speak no more: But vengeance rot you all! Luc. Say on; and if it please me which thou

no god;

That granted, how canst thou believe an oath?
Aar. What if I do not? as, indeed, I do not:
Yet, for I know thou art religious,
And bast a thing within thee, called conscience;
With twenty popish tricks and ceremonies,
Which I have seen thee careful to observe,-
Therefore I urge thy oath :-For that, I know
An idiot holds his bauble for a god,
And keeps the oath, which by that God he
[vow
To that I'll urge him:-Therefore, thou shalt

swears: