CLOWN. God be with you, sir; I will. [Exil. TIT. Come, Marcus, let us go.-Publius, follow me. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. Before the Palace. Enter SATURNINUS, TAMORA, DEMETRIUS, CHIRON, Lords, and others; SATURNINUS with the arrows in his hand that TITUS shot. SAT. Why, lords, what wrongs are these! was ever seen An emperor in Rome thus overborne, Troubled, confronted thus; and, for the extent Of egal justice, us'd in such contempt? My lords, you know, as doa the mightful gods, Buzz in the people's ears, there nought hath pass'd, TAM. My gracious lord, my lovely Saturnine, Whose loss hath pierc'd him deep, and scarr'd his heart; Than prosecute the meanest or the best For these contempts.-[Aside.] Why thus it shall become But, Titus, I have touch'd thee to the quick, Old copies, he. as do-] These words are an addition by Rowe, the line in the old text reading imperfectly, "My lords, you know the mightful gods." ↳ — his wreaks,—] Capell, and Mr. Collier's annotator, reads, freaks. Thy life-blood out: if Aaron now be wise, Enter Clown. How now, good fellow! wouldst thou speak with us? CLOWN. "Tis he.-God and saint Stephen give you good den: I have brought you a letter and a couple of pigeons here.b [SATURNINUS reads the letter. SAT. Go, take him away, and hang him presently. CLOWN. How much money must I have? TAM. Come, sirrah, you must be hanged. CLOWN. Hanged! by 'r lady then I have brought up a neck to a fair end. SAT. Despiteful and intolerable wrongs! Shall I endure this monstrous villany? I know from whence this same device proceeds: May this be borne,-as if his traitorous sons, Enter EMILIUS. What news with thee, Emilius? [Exit, guarded. ÆMIL. Arm, my lords,-Rome never had more cause! The Goths have gather'd head, and with a power Of high-resolved men, bent to the spoil, I have touch'd thee to the quick, Thy life-blood out:] Touch'd means pricked: I have lanced thy life-blood out; but as she refers, it would appear, to some plot between her paramour and her, against the life of Lucius, we ought, perhaps, to point the line thus : "Thy life-blood out, if Aaron now be wise: " b and a couple of pigeons here.] Mr. Collier's annotator presents this and the poor Clown's subsequent speech in rhyme of the following cast: And this, which almost caps the memorable couplet, by the same authority, in Henry VI." Part II. Act II. Sc. 3, "My staff! here, noble Henry, is my staff: To think I fain would keep it, makes me laugh,”— Mr. Collier has the barbarity to impute to Shakespeare ! They hither march amain, under conduct Who threats, in course of this revenge, to do SAT. Is warlike Lucius general of the Goths? As flowers with frost, or grass beat down with storms: And they have wish'd that Lucius were their emperor. And will revolt from me to succour him. TAM. King, be thy thoughts imperious, like thy name. And is not careful what they mean thereby, With words more sweet, and yet more dangerous, SAT. But he will not entreat his son for us. For I can smooth, and fill his aged ear Yet should both ear and heart obey my tongue.-- Say that the emperor requests a parley Of warlike Lucius, and appoint the meeting, Even at his father's house, the old Andronicus.c And if he stand on† hostage for his safety, (*) Old text, wings. [To EMILIUS. (†) Old text, in. • Myself hath often heard them say,-] A mutilated line, which Theobald rendered whole by printing,-" Myself have often overheard," &c., and Mr. Collier's annotator would perfect by reading,-" Myself hath very often heard," &c. b-be our ambassador;] The quartos have, The folio reads, "Goe thou before to be our Embassadour," &c. "Goe thou before to our Embassadour," &c. - the old Andronicus.] A line found only in the 4to. 1600. VOL. VI. EMIL. Your bidding shall I do effectually. To pluck proud Lucius from the warlike Goths. And bury all thy fear in my devices. a SAT. Then go successantly, and plead to him. [Exit. [Exeunt. ACT V. SCENE I.-Plains near Rome. Flourish. Enter LUCIUS, and an Army of 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, Therefore, great lords, be, as your titles witness, 1 GOTH. Brave slip, sprung from the great Andronicus, Whose 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,— And be aveng'd on cursed Tamora. GOTHS. And, as he saith, so say we all with him. But who comes here, led by a lusty Goth? Enter a Goth, leading AARON, with his Child in his arms. 2 GOTH. Renowned Lucius, from our troops I stray'd, To gaze upon a ruinous monastery; I made unto the noise; when soon I heard (*) First folio, for. successantly,-] Rowe prints, successfully; and Capell, who is followed here by Mr. Collier's annotator, incessantly. GOTHS.] The prefix being omitted in the earlier copies, this line forms part of the preceding speech there. The crying babe controll'd with this discourse :- Peace, villain, peace!-even thus he rates the babe,- Who, when he knows thou art the empress' babe, Luc. O, worthy Goth, this is the incarnate devil AARON. Touch not the boy,-he is of royal blood. Get me a ladder! b AARON. [A ladder brought, which AARON is made to ascend. Lucius, save the child, And bear it from me to the empress. If thou do this, I'll show thee wond'rous things, I'll speak no more but-vengeance rot you all! LUC. Say on; and if it please me which thou speak'st, Thy child shall live, and I will see it nourished. AARON. And if it please thee! why, assure thee, Lucius, 'T will vex thy soul to hear what I shall speak; For I must talk of murders, rapes, and massacres, Luc. Tell on thy mind; I say thy child shall live. AARON. Swear that he shall, and then I will begin. This is the pearl-] An allusion to the old proverb,-" A black man is a pearl in a fair woman's eye." Get me a ladder!] These words are erroneously given to Aaron in the old copies. |