Scattered by winds and high, tempestuous gusts, Sen. Lest Rome herself be bane unto herself, But if my frosty signs and chaps of age, Cannot induce you to attend my words, Speak, Rome's dear friend; [To LUCIUS;] as erst our ancestor, When with his solemn tongue he did discourse The story of that baleful, burning night, When subtle Greeks surprised king Priam's Troy. Or who hath brought the fatal engine in, That gives our Troy, our Rome, the civil wound.- But floods of tears will drown my oratory, And break my very utterance; even i' the time Here is a captain; let him tell the tale: Your hearts will throb and weep to hear him speak. Were they that murdered our emperor's brother; Lastly, myself unkindly banished, The gates shut on me, and turned weeping out, Who drowned their enmity in my true tears, Alas! you know I am no vaunter, I; ' My scars can witness, dumb although they are, The issue of an irreligious Moor, Chief architect and plotter of these woes; Damned as he is, to witness this is true. Now you have heard the truth, what say you, Romans? Will, hand in hand, all headlong cast us down, Emil. Come, come, thou reverend man of Rome, Lucius our emperor; for, well I know, The common voice do cry, it shall be so. Rom. [Several speak.] Lucius, all hail; Rome's royal emperor ! LUCIUS, &c. descend. Mar. Go, go into old Titus' sorrowful house; [To an Attendant. And hither hale that misbelieving Moor, To be adjudged some direful, slaughtering death, As punishment for his most wicked life. Rom. [Several speak.] Lucius, all hail; Rome's gracious governor! Luc. Thanks, gentle Romans. May I govern so, To heal Rome's harms, and wipe away her woe! But, gentle people, give me aim awhile, For nature puts me to a heavy task; [Kisses TITUS. These sorrowful drops upon thy blood-stained face, The last true duties of thy noble son! Mar. Tear for tear, and loving kiss for kiss, Luc. Come hither, boy; come, come, and learn of us To melt in showers. Thy grandsire loved thee well; Many a time he danced thee on his knee, Sung thee asleep, his loving breast thy pillow; Meet and agreeing with thine infancy; In that respect, then, like a loving child, Shed yet some small drops from thy tender spring, Friends should associate friends in grief and woe. Do him that kindness, and take leave of him. Boy. O grandsire, grandsire! even with all my heart Would I were dead, so you did live again!O Lord, I cannot speak to him for weeping; My tears will choke me if I ope my mouth. Enter Attendants with AARON. 1 Rom. You sad Andronici, have done with woes; Give sentence on this execrable wretch, That hath been breeder of these dire events. Luc. Set him breast-deep in earth, and famish him; There let him stand, and rave and cry for food. If any one relieves or pities him, For the offence he dies. This is our doom: Some stay, to see him fastened in the earth. Aar. O, why should wrath be mute, and fury dumb? I am no baby, I, that, with base prayers, I should repent the evils I have done; Luc. Some loving friends convey the emperor hence, No funeral rite, nor man in mournful weeds, But throw her forth to beasts and birds of prey. [Exeunt. |