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O Tamora； be call'd a gentle queen； And with thine own hands kill me in
this place！ For 'tis not life that I have begg'd so long； Poor I was slain
when Bassianus died。 TAMORA。 What beg'st thou； then？ Fond woman；
let me go。 LAVINIA。 'Tis present death I beg； and one thing more； That
womanhood denies my tongue to tell： O； keep me from their worse than
killing lust； And tumble me into some loathsome pit； Where never man's
eye may behold my body； Do this； and be a charitable murderer。
TAMORA。 So should I rob my sweet sons of their fee； No； let them satisfy
their lust on thee。 DEMETRIUS。 Away！ for thou hast stay'd us here too
long。 LAVINIA。 No grace？ no womanhood？ Ah； beastly creature； The blot
and enemy to our general name！ Confusion fall… CHIRON。 Nay； then I'll
stop your mouth。 Bring thou her husband。
This is the hole where Aaron bid us hide him。
DEMETRIUS throws the body of BASSIANUS into the pit； then
exeunt DEMETRIUS and CHIRON； dragging off LAVINIA
TAMORA。 Farewell； my sons； see that you make her sure。 Ne'er let
my heart know merry cheer indeed Till all the Andronici be made away。
Now will I hence to seek my lovely Moor； And let my spleenful sons this
trull deflower。 Exit
Re…enter AARON； with two of TITUS' sons； QUINTUS and
MARTIUS
AARON。 Come on； my lords； the better foot before； Straight will I
bring you to the loathsome pit Where I espied the panther fast asleep。
QUINTUS。 My sight is very dull； whate'er it bodes。 MARTIUS。 And mine；
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I promise you； were it not for shame； Well could I leave our sport to sleep
awhile。 ＇Falls into the pit＇ QUINTUS。 What； art thou fallen？ What subtle
hole is this； Whose mouth is covered with rude…growing briers； Upon
whose leaves are drops of new…shed blood As fresh as morning dew
distill'd on flowers？ A very fatal place it seems to me。 Speak； brother； hast
thou hurt thee with the fall？ MARTIUS。 O brother； with the dismal'st
object hurt That ever eye with sight made heart lament！ AARON。 ＇Aside＇
Now will I fetch the King to find them here； That he thereby may have a
likely guess How these were they that made away his brother。 Exit
MARTIUS。 Why dost not comfort me； and help me out From this
unhallow'd and blood…stained hole？ QUINTUS。 I am surprised with an
uncouth fear； A chilling sweat o'er…runs my trembling joints； My heart
suspects more than mine eye can see。 MARTIUS。 To prove thou hast a
true divining heart； Aaron and thou look down into this den； And see a
fearful sight of blood and death。 QUINTUS。 Aaron is gone； and my
compassionate heart Will not permit mine eyes once to behold The thing
whereat it trembles by surmise； O； tell me who it is； for ne'er till now Was
I a child to fear I know not what。 MARTIUS。 Lord Bassianus lies beray'd
in blood； All on a heap； like to a slaughtered lamb； In this detested； dark；
blood…drinking pit。 QUINTUS。 If it be dark； how dost thou know 'tis he？
MARTIUS。 Upon his bloody finger he doth wear A precious ring that
lightens all this hole； Which； like a taper in some monument； Doth shine
upon the dead man's earthy cheeks； And shows the ragged entrails of this
pit； So pale did shine the moon on Pyramus When he by night lay bath'd in
maiden blood。 O brother； help me with thy fainting hand… If fear hath
made thee faint； as me it hath… Out of this fell devouring receptacle； As
hateful as Cocytus' misty mouth。 QUINTUS。 Reach me thy hand； that I
may help thee out； Or； wanting strength to do thee so much good； I may be
pluck'd into the swallowing womb Of this deep pit； poor Bassianus' grave。
I have no strength to pluck thee to the brink。 MARTIUS。 Nor I no strength
to climb without thy help。 QUINTUS。 Thy hand once more； I will not
loose again； Till thou art here aloft； or I below。 Thou canst not come to
me… I come to thee。 ＇Falls in＇
Enter the EMPEROR and AARON the Moor
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TITUS ANDRONICUS
SATURNINUS。 Along with me！ I'll see what hole is here； And what
he is that now is leapt into it。 Say； who art thou that lately didst descend
Into this gaping hollow of the earth？ MARTIUS。 The unhappy sons of old
Andronicus； Brought hither in a most unlucky hour； To find thy brother
Bassianus dead。 SATURNINUS。 My brother dead！ I know thou dost but
jest： He and his lady both are at the lodge Upon the north side of this
pleasant chase； 'Tis not an hour since I left them there。 MARTIUS。 We
know not where you left them all alive； But； out alas！ here have we found
him dead。
Re…enter TAMORA； with attendants； TITUS ANDRONICUS and
Lucius
TAMORA。 Where is my lord the King？ SATURNINUS。 Here；
Tamora； though griev'd with killing grief。 TAMORA。 Where is thy brother
Bassianus？ SATURNINUS。 Now to the bottom dost thou search my
wound； Poor Bassianus here lies murdered。 TAMORA。 Then all too late I
bring this fatal writ； The complot of this timeless tragedy； And wonder
greatly that man's face can fold In pleasing smiles such murderous tyranny。
＇She giveth SATURNINE a letter＇ SATURNINUS。 ＇Reads＇ 'An if we miss
to meet him handsomely； Sweet huntsman… Bassianus 'tis we mean… Do
thou so much as dig the grave for him。 Thou know'st our meaning。 Look
for thy reward Among the nettles at the elder…tree Which overshades the
mouth of that same pit Where we decreed to bury Bassianus。 Do this； and
purchase us thy lasting friends。' O Tamora！ was ever heard the like？ This
is the pit and this the elder…tree。 Look； sirs； if you can find the huntsman
out That should have murdered Bassianus here。 AARON。 My gracious
lord； here is the bag of gold。 SATURNINUS。 ＇To TITUS＇ Two of thy
whelps； fell curs of bloody kind； Have here bereft my brother of his life。
Sirs； drag them from the pit unto the prison； There let them bide until we
have devis'd Some never…heard…of torturing pain for them。 TAMORA。
What； are they in this pit？ O wondrous thing！ How easily murder is
discovered！ TITUS。 High Emperor； upon my feeble knee I beg this boon；
with tears not lightly shed； That this fell fault of my accursed sons…
Accursed if the fault be prov'd in them… SATURNINUS。 If it be prov'd！
You see it is apparent。 Who found this letter？ Tamora； was it you？
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TAMORA。 Andronicus himself did take it up。 TITUS。 I did； my lord； yet
let me be their bail； For； by my fathers' reverend tomb； I vow They shall
be ready at your Highness' will To answer their suspicion with their lives。
SATURNINUS。 Thou shalt not bail them； see thou follow me。 Some bring
the murdered body； some the murderers； Let them not speak a word… the
guilt is plain； For； by my soul； were there worse end than death； That end
upon them should be executed。 TAMORA。 Andronicus； I will entreat the
King。 Fear not thy sons； they shall do well e