Tit. Kill'd her, for whom my tears have made me blind. I am as woful as Virginius was: And have a thousand times more cause than he To do this outrage; -and it is now done. Sut. What, was she ravish'd? tell, who did the deed.. Tit. Will't please you eat? will't please your highness feed? Tam. Why hast thou slain thine only daughter thus? Tit. Not I; 'twas Chiron, and Demetrius: They ravish'd her, and cut away her tongue, Tit. Why, there they are both, baked in that pie; Whereof their mother daintily hath fed, Eating the flesh that she herself hath bred. 'Tis true, 'tis true; witness my knife's sharp point. [Killing Tamora. Sat. Die, frantick wretch, for this accursed deed. [Killing Titus, Luc. Can the son's eye behold his father bleed? There's meed for meed, death for a deadly deed. [Kills Saturninus. A great tumult. The people in confusion disperse. Marcus, Lucius, and their partisans ascend the steps before Titus's house. Mar. You sad-fac'd men, people and sons of Rome, By uproar sever'd, like a flight of fowl Scatter'd by winds and high tempestuous gusts, This scatter'd corn into one mutual sheaf, Sen. Lest Rome herself be bane unto herself; Do shameful execution on 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 surpriz'd king Priam's Troy; That gives our Troy, our Rome, the civil wound.- Nor can I utter all our bitter grief, 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. Luc. Then, noble auditory, be it known to you, That cursed Chiron and Demetrius Were they that murdered our emperor's brother; Lastly, myself unkindly banished, The gates shut on me, and turn'd weeping out, My scars can witness, dumb although they are, For when no friends are by, men praise themselves. Mar. Now is my turn to speak; Behold this child, [Pointing to the child in the arms of an attendant. Of this was Tamora delivered; The issue of an irreligious Moor, Chief architect and plotter of these woes; The villain is alive in Titus' house, Damn'd as he is, to witness this is true. These wrongs, unspeakable, past patience, Or more than any living man could bear. Now you have heard the truth, what say you, Ro mans? Have we done aught amiss? Show us wherein, Will, hand in hand, all headlong cast us down, Emil. Come, come, thou reverend man of Rome, 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 adjudg'd some direful slaughtering death, 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; Stand all aloof;-but, uncle, draw you near, [Kisses Titus. These sorrowful drops upon thy blood-stain'd face, 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 lov'd thee well: Many a time he danc'd thee on his knee, Sung thee asleep, his loving breast thy pillow; Many a matter hath he told to thee, In that respect then, like a loving child, Shed yet some small drops from thy tender spring, 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. |