The Illustrated Works of Shakespeare/Illustrated Works of Shakespeare, The (1990)(Animated Pixels)[!][CDTV-PC].iso/shakes/text/31/04_04

Text File | 1991-04-10 | 6KB | 145 lines

Before the Palace.
 Enter SATURNINUS and TAMORA, and her two sons, CHIRON and DEMETRIUS.
 SATURNINUS brings the arrows in his hand that Titus shot at him.

Saturninus    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, used in such contempt?
    My lords, you know, as know the mightful gods-
    However these disturbers of our peace
    Buzz in the people's ears - there nought hath passed
    But even with law against the wilful sons
    Of old Andronicus. And what an if
    His sorrows have so overwhelmed his wits?
    Shall we be thus afflicted in his wreaks,
    His fits, his frenzy, and his bitterness?
    And now he writes to heaven for his redress.
    See, here's to Jove, and this to Mercury,
    This to Apollo, this to the god of war.
    Sweet scrolls to fly about the streets of Rome!
    What's this but libelling against the senate,
    And blazoning our unjustice everywhere?
    A goodly humour, is it not, my lords?
    As who would say in Rome no justice were.
    But if I live, his feignd ecstasies
    Shall be no shelter to these outrages,
    But he and his shall know that justice lives
    In Saturninus' health; whom, if she sleep,
    He'll so awake, as she in fury shall
    Cut off the proud'st conspirator that lives.

Tamora    My gracious lord, my lovely Saturnine,
    Lord of my life, commander of my thoughts,
    Calm thee, and bear the faults of Titus' age,
    Th'effects of sorrow for his valiant sons,
    Whose loss hath pierced him deep and scarred his heart;
    And rather comfort his distressd plight
    Than prosecute the meanest or the best
    For these contempts. [Aside.] Why, thus it shall become
    High-witted Tamora to gloze with all.
    But, Titus, I have touched thee to the quick:
    Thy life-blood out, if Aaron now be wise,
    Then is all safe, the anchor in the port.

                               Enter CLOWN.

    How now, good fellow! Wouldst thou speak with us?

Clown    Yea, forsooth, an your mistress-ship be emperial.

Tamora    Empress I am, but yonder sits the emperor.

Clown    'Tis he. God and Saint Stephen give you god-den.
    I have brought you a letter and a couple of pigeons here.
                                                    [He reads the letter.

Saturninus    Go, take him away, and hang him presently.

Clown    How much money must I have?

Tamora    Come, sirrah, you must be hanged.

Clown    Hanged? By'lady, then I have brought up a neck to a fair
    end!
                                                    [Exit, guarded.
Saturninus    Despiteful and intolerable wrongs!
    Shall I endure this monstrous villainy?
    I know from whence this same device proceeds.
    May this be borne? As if his traitorous sons
    That died by law for murder of our brother
    Have by my means been butchered wrongfully!
    Go, drag the villain hither by the hair;
    Nor age nor honour shall shape privilege.
    For this proud mock I'll be thy slaughterman,
    Sly frantic wretch, that holp'st to make me great
    In hope thyself should govern Rome and me.

                         Enter NUNTIUS AEMILIUS.

    What news with thee, Aemilius?

Aemilius    Arm, arm, my lords! Rome never had more cause.
    The Goths have gathered head, and with a power
    Of high-resolvd men, bent to the spoil,
    They hither march amain, under conduct
    Of Lucius, son to old Andronicus,
    Who threats, in course of his revenge, to do
    As much as ever Coriolanus did.

Saturninus    Is warlike Lucius general of the Goths?
    These tidings nip me, and I hang the head
    As flowers with frost, or grass beat down with storms.
    Ay, now begins our sorrows to approach.
    'Tis he the common people love so much;
    Myself hath often heard them say,
    When I have walkd like a private man,
    That Lucius' banishment was wrongfully,
    And they have wished that Lucius were their emperor.

Tamora    Why should you fear? Is not your city strong?

Saturninus    Ay, but the citizens favour Lucius,
    And will revolt from me to succour him.

Tamora    King, be thy thoughts imperious, like thy name.
    Is the sun dimmed 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 mayst 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,
    Whenas the one is wounded with the bait,
    The other rotted with delicious feed.

Saturninus    But he will not entreat his son for us.

Tamora    If Tamora entreat him, then he will;
    For I can smooth and fill his agd ear
    With golden promises, that, were his heart
    Almost impregnable, his old ears deaf,
    Yet should both ear and heart obey my tongue.
    [To AEMILIUS.] Go thou before, be our ambassador.
    Say that the emperor requests a parley
    Of warlike Lucius, and appoint the meeting
    Even at his father's house, the old Andronicus.

Saturninus    Aemilius, do this message honourably,
    And if he stand on hostage for his safety,
    Bid him demand what pledge will please him best.

Aemilius    Your bidding shall I do effectually.
                                                    [Exit.
Tamora    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.

Saturninus    Then go incessantly, and plead to him.
                                                    [Exeunt.