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thou hast shot off one of Taurus' horns。 MARCUS。 This was the sport； my
lord： when Publius shot； The Bull； being gall'd； gave Aries such a knock
That down fell both the Ram's horns in the court； And who should find
them but the Empress' villain？ She laugh'd； and told the Moor he should
not choose But give them to his master for a present。 TITUS。 Why； there it
goes！ God give his lordship joy！
Enter the CLOWN； with a basket and two pigeons in it
News； news from heaven！ Marcus； the post is come。 Sirrah； what
tidings？ Have you any letters？ Shall I have justice？ What says Jupiter？
CLOWN。 Ho； the gibbet…maker？ He says that he hath taken them down
again； for the man must not be hang'd till the next week。 TITUS。 But what
says Jupiter； I ask thee？ CLOWN。 Alas； sir； I know not Jupiter； I never
drank with him in all my life。 TITUS。 Why； villain； art not thou the carrier？
CLOWN。 Ay； of my pigeons； sir； nothing else。 TITUS。 Why； didst thou not
come from heaven？ CLOWN。 From heaven！ Alas； sir； I never came there。
God forbid I should be so bold to press to heaven in my young days。 Why；
I am going with my pigeons to the Tribunal Plebs； to take up a matter of
brawl betwixt my uncle and one of the Emperal's men。 MARCUS。 Why；
sir； that is as fit as can be to serve for your oration； and let him deliver the
pigeons to the Emperor from you。 TITUS。 Tell me； can you deliver an
oration to the Emperor with a grace？ CLOWN。 Nay； truly； sir； I could
never say grace in all my life。 TITUS。 Sirrah； come hither。 Make no more
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ado； But give your pigeons to the Emperor； By me thou shalt have justice
at his hands。 Hold； hold！ Meanwhile here's money for thy charges。 Give
me pen and ink。 Sirrah； can you with a grace deliver up a supplication？
CLOWN。 Ay； sir。 TITUS。 Then here is a supplication for you。 And when
you come to him； at the first approach you must kneel； then kiss his foot；
then deliver up your pigeons； and then look for your reward。 I'll be at hand；
sir； see you do it bravely。 CLOWN。 I warrant you； sir； let me alone。
TITUS。 Sirrah； hast thou a knife？ Come let me see it。 Here； Marcus； fold it
in the oration； For thou hast made it like a humble suppliant。 And when
thou hast given it to the Emperor； Knock at my door； and tell me what he
says。 CLOWN。 God be with you； sir； I will。 TITUS。 Come； Marcus； let us
go。 Publius； follow me。 Exeunt
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SCENE IV。 Rome。 Before the
palace Enter the EMPEROR； and the
EMPRESS and her two sons； DEMETRIUS and
CHIRON； LORDS and others。 The EMPEROR
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； us'd 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 pass'd But even with law against the
wilful sons Of old Andronicus。 And what an if His sorrows have so
overwhelm'd 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 every where？
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。 TAM