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A goodly humour； is it not； my lords？ As who would say in Rome no
justice were。 But if I live； his feigned 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 he 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 pierc'd him deep and scarr'd his heart； And rather comfort his
distressed 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 touch'd 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。 Yes； forsooth； an your mistriship be Emperial。 TAMORA。
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Empress I am； but yonder sits the Emperor。 CLOWN。 'Tis he。… God and
Saint Stephen give you godden。 I have brought you a letter and a couple of
pigeons here。 ＇SATURNINUS 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 hang'd。 CLOWN。 Hang'd！
by'r 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； my lords！ Rome
never had more cause。 The Goths have gathered head； and with a power
Of high resolved men； bent to the spoil； They hither march amain； under
conduct Of Lucius； son to old Andronicus； Who threats in course of this
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 walked like a private man… That
Lucius' banishment was wrongfully； And they have wish'd 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 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 mayest 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。
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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 aged ears
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 to 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 successantly； and plead to him。
Exeunt
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ACT V。
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SCENE I。 Plains near Rome
Enter LUCIUS with an army of GOTHS with drums and colours
LUCIUS。 Approved warriors and my faithful friends； I have received
letters from great Rome Which signifies 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。 FIRST
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； Like stinging bees in hottest summer's day； Led
by their master to the flow'red fields； And be aveng'd on cursed Tamora。
ALL THE GOTHS。 And as he saith； so say we all with him。 LUCIUS。 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
SECOND GOTH。 Renowned Lucius； from our troops I stray'd 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 mightst 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 babe… 'For I must bear thee to a trusty Goth；
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。 LUCIUS。 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 her burning lust。 Say； wall…
ey'd slave； whither wouldst thou convey This growing image of thy fiend…
like face？ Why dost not speak？ What； deaf？ Not a word？ A halter； soldiers！
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Hang him on this tree； And by his side his fruit of bastardy。 AARON。
Touch not the boy； he is of royal blood。 LUCIUS。 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。 ＇A la