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TITUS ANDRONICUS.

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The cordial of mine age to glad my heart!—
Lavinia, live; outlive thy father's days,
And faine's eternal date, for virtue's praise ! *

Enter MARCUS ANDRONICUS, SATURNINUS,
BASSIANUS, and others.

Mar. Long live lord Titus, my beloved brother,
Gracious triumpher in the eyes of Rome!
Tit. Thanks, gentle tribune, noble brother

Marcus.

Mar. And welcome, nephews, from successful

wars,

You that survive, and you that sleep in fame.
Fair lords, your fortunes are alike in all,
That in your country's service drew your swords:
But safer triumph is this funeral pomp,
That hath aspir'd to Solon's happiness, †
And triumphs over chance in honour's bed.-
Titus Andronicus, the people of Rome,
Whose friend in justice thou hast ever been,
Send thee by me, their tribune, and their trust,
This palliament of white and spotless hue;
And name thee in election for the empire,
With these our late-deceased emperor's sons:
Be candidatus then, and put it on,
And help to set a head on headless Rome.

Tit. A better head her glorious body tits,
Than his, that shakes for age and feebleness:
What! should I dong this robe, and trouble
you?

Be chosen with proclamations to-day;
ro-morrow, yield up rule, resign my life,
And set abroad new business for you all?
Rome, I have been thy soldier forty years,
And buried one and twenty valiant sons,
Knighted in field, slain manfully in arms,
In right and service of their noble country:
Give me a staff of honour for mine age,
But not a sceptre to control the world.
Upright he held it, lords, that held it last.
Mar. Titus, thou shalt obtain and ask the
empery.

Sat. Proud and ambitious tribune, canst thou
tell?-

Tit. Patience, prince Saturnine.
Sat. Romans, do me right :-

Act I.

I ask your voices, and your suffrages-
Will you bestow them friendly on Andronicus?
Trib. To gratify the good Andronicus,
And gratulate his safe return to Rome,
The people will accept whom he admits.

Tit. Tribunes, I thank you: and this suit I
make,

That you create your emperor's eldest son,
Lord Saturnine, whose virtues will, I hope,
Reflect on Rome as Titan's rays on earth,
And ripen justice in this common-weal:
Then, if you will elect by my advice,
Crown him, and say,-Long live our emperor!
Mar. With voices and applause of every sort,
Patricians and plebeians, we create

Lord Saturninus, Rome's great emperor;
And say, Long live our emperor Saturninus.
[A long Flourish.
Sat. Titus Andronicus, for thy favours done
To us in our election this day,

I give thee thanks in part of thy deserts,
And will with deeds requite thy gentleness:
And, for an ouset, Titus, to advance
Thy name, and honourable family,
Lavinia will I make my empress,
Rome's royal mistress, mistress of my heart,
And in the sacred Pantheon her espouse:
Tell me, Andronicus, doth this motion please
thee?

Tit. It doth, my worthy lord; and, in this
match,

I hold me highly honour'd of your grace:
And here, in sight of Rome, to Saturnine,-
King and commander of our common-weal,
The wide world's einperor,-do I consecrate
My sword, my chariot, and my prisoners;
Presents well worthy Rome's imperial lord:
Receive them then, the tribute that I owe,
Mine honour's ensigns humbled at thy feet.

Sat. Thanks, noble Titus, father of my life!
How proud I am of thee, and of thy gifts,
Rome shall record; and, when I do forget
The least of these unspeakable deserts,
Romans, forget your fealty to me.

Tit. Now, madam, are you prisoner to an em-
[To TAMORA.
peror;
To him, that for your honour and your state,
Will use you nobly, and your followers.

Sat. A goodly lady, trust me; of the he
That I would choose, were I to choose anew.--
Clear up, fair queen, that cloudy countenance;
Though chance of war bath wronght this change

of cheer,

Thou com'st not to be made a scorn in Rome:
Princely shall be thy usage every way.
Rest on my word, and let not discontent
Madam, he comforts
Daunt all your hopes.

you,
Can inake yon greater than the
Goths.-

queen of

Lavinia, you are not displeas'd with this?
Lav. Not 1, my lord; sith true nobility

Patricians, draw your swords, and sheath them Warrants these words in princely courtesy.

not

Till Saturninus be Rome's emperor :-
Andronicus, 'would thou wert shipp'd to hell,
Rather than rob me of the people's hearts.

Luc. Proud Saturnine, interrupter of the good
That noble-minded Titus means to thee!

Tit. Content thee. prince; I will restore to
thee

The people's hearts, and wean them from them

selves.

Bas. Audronicus, I do not flatter thee,
But honour thee, and will do till I die :
My faction if thou strengthen with thy friends,
will most thankful be: and thanks, to men
Of noble minds, is honourable ineed.

Tit. People of Rome, and people's tribunes
here,

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Sat. Thanks, sweet Lavinia.-Romans, let

us go

Ransomless here we set our prisoners free:
Proclaim our honours, lcrds, with trump and
drum.

Bas. Lord Titus, by your leave, this maid is
mine.
[Seizing LAVINIA.
Tit. How, Sir? are you in earnest then, my
lord?

Bas. Ay, noble Titas; and resolv'd withal,
To do myself this reason and this right.

[The Emperor courts TAMORA in dumb
show.

Mar. Suum cuique is our Roman justice:
This prince in justice seizeth but his own.
Luc. And that he will, and shall, if Lucius
live.

Tit. Traitors, avant! Where is the empe
ror's guard?

Treason, my lord! Lavinia is surpris'd.

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Sat. Surpris'd! by whom? Bas. By him that justly may Bear his betroth'd from all the world away. [Exeunt MARCUS and BASSIANUS, with LAVINIA.

Mut. Brothers, help to convey her hence, away,

And with my sword I'll keep this door safe. [Exeunt LUCIUS, QUINTUS, and MARTIUS.

Tit. Follow my lord, and I'll soon bring her back.

Mut. My lord, you pass not here.

Tit. What, villain boy! Barr'st me ny way in Rome ?

[TITUS kills MUTIUS. Mut. Help, Lucius, help.

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Sat. No, Titus, no; the emperor needs ber not,

Not her, nor thee, nor any of thy stock:
I'll trust, by leisure, him that mocks me once :
Thee never, nor thy traitorous haughty sous,
Confederates all thus to dishonour me.

Was there none else in Rome to make a stale of

But Saturnine? Full well, Andronicus, Agree these deeds with that proud brag of thine,

That said'st, I begg'd the empire at thy hands. Tit. O monstrous! what reproachful words are these?

Sat. But go thy ways: go, give that changing piece

To him that flourish'd for her with his sword:
A valiant son-in-law thou shalt enjoy;
One fit to bandy with thy lawless sons,
To ruffle in the commonwealth of Roine.

Tit. These words are razors to my wounded heart.

Sat. And therefore, lovely Tamora, queen of Goths,

That like the stately Phoebe 'mongst her

nymphs,

Dost overshine the gallant'st dames of Rome,-
If thou be pleas'd with this my sudden choice,
Behold, I choose thee, Tamora, for my bride,
And will create thee emperess of Rome.
Speak, queen of Goths, dost thou applaud my
choice?

And here I swear by all the Roman gods,-
Sith priest and holy water are so near,
And tapers burn so bright, and every thing
In readiness for Hymeneus stand.-

I will not re-salute the streets of Rome,
Or climb my palace, till from forth this place
I lead espous'd my bride along with me.
Tam. And here, in sight of heaven, to Rome

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Tit. I am not bid to wait upon this bride:

Titus, when wert thou wont to talk alone, Dishonour'd thus, and challenged of wrongs ↑ Re-enter MARCUS, LUCIUS, QUINTUS, and MARTIUS.

Mar. O Titus, see, oh! see, what thou hast done!

In a bad quarrel slain a virtuous son.

Tit. No, foolish tribune, no; no son of mine,

Nor thou, nor these, confederates in the deed
That hath dishonour'd all our family;
Unworthy brother, and unworthy sons!

Luc. But let us give him burial as becomes; Give Mutius burial with our brethren.

Tit. Traitors, away! he rests not in this tomb. This monument five hundred years hath stood, Which I have sumptuously re-edited:

Here none but soldiers, and Rome's servitors,
Repose in fame: none basely slain in brawls:-
Bury him where you can, he comes not here.
Mar. My lord, this is impiety in you:
My nephew Mutius' deeds do plead for him:
He must be buried with his brethren.

Quin. Mar. And shall, or him we will ac company.

Tit. And shall? What villain was it spoke that word?

Quin. He that would vouch't in any place but bere.

Tit. What, would you bury him in my despite?

Mar. No, noble Titus; but entreat of thee To pardon Matias, and to bury him.

Tit. Marcus, even thou hast stuck upon my

crest,

And, with these boys, mine honour thou hast My foes I do repute you every one; [wounded: So trouble me no more, but get you gone.

Mart. He is not with himself; let us with

draw.

Quin. Not I, till Mutius' bones be buried.

[MARCUS and the Sons of Thus kneel, Mar. Brother, for in that name doll nature plead.

Quin. Father, and in that name doth nature speak.

Tit. Speak thou no more, if all the rest will speed.

Mar. Renowned Titus, more than half my soul,-

Luc. Dear father, soul and substance of us all,

Mar. Suffer thy brother Marcus to inter
His noble nephew here in virtue's nest,
That died in honour and Lavinia's cause.
Thou art a Roman, be not barbarous.
The Greeks, upon advice, did bury Ajax,
That slew himself; and wise Laertes' son
Did graciously plead for his funerals.
Let not young Mutius then, that was thy joy,
Be barr'd his entrance here.

Tit. Rise, Marcus, rise:

The dismall'st day is this, that e'er I saw,-
To be dishonour'd by my sons in Rome!--
Well, bury him, and bury nie the next.

[MUTIUS is put into the Tomb. Luc. There lie thy bones, sweet Mutius, with thy friends,

Till we with trophies do adorn thy tomb!

All. No man shed tears for noble Mutins: He lives in fame that died in virtue's cause. Mar. My lord,-to step out of these dreary

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Flourish. Re-enter, at one side, SATURNINUS, | For you, prince Bassianus, I have pass'd
attended; TAMORA, CHIRON, DEMETRIUS, My word and promise to the emperor,
and AARON: At the other, BASSIANUS, LA
VINIA, and others.

Sat. So, Bassianus, you have play'd your
prize :

God give you joy, Sir, of your gallant bride.
Bas. And you of your's, my lord, I say no
more,

Nor wish no less; and so I take my leave.
Sat. Traitor, if Rome have law, or we have
power,

Thou and thy faction shall repent this rape.
Bas. Rape, call you it, my lord, to seize my
own,

My true-betrothed love, and now my wife?
But let the laws of Rome determine all:
Mean while I am possess'd of what is mine.

Sat. 'Tis good, Sir: You are very short with
But, if we live, we'll be as sharp with you. [us;
Bas. My lord, what I have done, as best I

may,

Answer I must, and shall do with my life.
Only thus much I give your grace to know-
By all the duties that I owe to Rome,
This noble gentleman, lord Titus here,
Is in opinion, and in honour, wrong'd;
That, in the rescue of Lavinia,

With his own hand did slay his youngest son,
In zeal to you, and highly mov'd to wrath
To be control'd in that he frankly gave:
Receive him then to favour, Saturnine;
That hath express'd himself, in all his deeds,
A father and a friend to thee and Rome.

Tit. Prince Bassianus, leave to plead my
deeds;

'Tis thou, and those, that have dishonour'd me;
Rome and the righteous heavens be my judge.
How I have lov'd and honour'd Saturnise!

Tam. My worthy lord, if ever Tainora
Were gracious in those princely eyes of thine,
Then hear me speak indifferently for all ;
And at my suit, sweet, pardon what is past.
Sat. What! madam! be dishonour'd openly,
And basely put it up without revenge?

Tam. Not so, my lord: The gods of Rome
forefend,

1 should be author to dishonour yon!
But, on mine honour, dare I undertake
For good lord Titus' innocence in all,
Whose fury, not dissembled, speaks his griefs:
Then, at my suit, look graciously on him;
Lose not so noble a friend on vain suppose,
Nor with sour looks afflict his gentle heart.-

[Aside.

My lord, be rul'd by me, be won at last,
Dissemble all your griefs and discontents:
You are but newly planted in your throne :
Lest then the people and patricians too,
Upon a just survey, take Titus' part,
And so supplant us for ingratitude,
(Which Rome reputes to be a heinous sin,)
Yield at entreats, and then let me alone:
I'll find a day to massacre them all,
And raze their faction, and their family,
The cruel father, and his traitorous sons,
To whom I sued for my dear son's life;
And make them know, what 'tis to let a queen
Kneel in the streets, and beg for grace in
vain.-

Come, come, sweet emperor,-come, Andronicus,
Take up this good old man, and cheer the heart
That dies in tempest of thy angry frown.

Sat. Rise, Titus, rise; my empress hath pre-
vail'd.

Tit. I thank your majesty, and her, my lord;
These words, these looks, infuse new life in me.
Tam. Titus, I am incorporate in Rome,
A Roman now adopted happily,
And must advise the emperor for his good.
This day all quarrels die, Andronicus;
And let it be mine honour, good my lord,
That I have reconcil'd your friends and you.-

Forbid.

That you will be more mild and tractable.-
And fear not, lords,-and you, Lavinia;
By my advice, all humbled on your knees,
You shall ask pardon of his majesty.

Luc. We do; and vow to heaven, and to his
highness,

That what we did was mildly, as we might,
Tend'ring our sister's honour and our own.
Mar. That on mine honour here I do protest.
trouble us 11
Sat. Away, and talk not :

more.

Tam. Nay, nay, sweet emperor, we must all
be friends:

The tribune and his nephews kneel for grace :
I will not be denied. Sweet heart, look back.
Sat. Marcus, for thy sake, and thy brother's
here,

And at my lovely Tamora's entreats,

do remit these young men's heinous faults. Stand up.

Lavinia, though you left me like a churl,

I found a friend; and sure as death I swore,
I would not part a bachelor from the priest.
Come, if the emperor's court can feast two
brides.

You are my guest, Lavinia, and your friends;
This day shall be a love-day, Tamora.

Tit. To-morrow, an it please your majesty,
To hunt the panther and the hart with me,
With horn and hound, we'll give your grace
bonjour.

Sat. Be it so, Titus, and gramercy, too.

ACT II.

[Exeunt,

SCENE I.-The same.-Before the Palace.
Enter AARON.

Aar. Now climbeth Tamora Olympus' top,
Safe out of fortune's shot: and sits aloft,
Secure of thunder's crack, or lightning's flash:
Advanc'd above pale envy's threat'ning reach.
As when the golden sun salutes the morn,
And having gilt the ocean with his beams,
Gallops the zodiac in his glistering coach,
And overlooks the highest-peering hills:
So Tamora.--

Upon her wit doth early honour wait,

And virtue stoops and trembles at her frown:
Then, Aaron, arm thy heart, and fit thy thoughts,
To mount aloft with thy imperial mistress,
And mount her pitch: whom thou in triumph

long

Hast prisoner held, fetter'd in amorous chains;
And faster bound to Aaron's charming eyes,
Than is Prometheus tied to Caucasus.
Away with slavish weeds, and idle thoughts!
I will be bright, and shine in pearl and gold,
To wait upon this new-made emperess.
To wait, said I? to wanton with this queen,
This goddess, this Semiramis ;-this queen,
This syren, that will charm Rome's Saturnine,
And see his shipwreck, and his commonweal's.
Holla! what storm is this?

Enter CHIRON and DEMETRIUS, braving.
Dem. Chiron, thy years want wit, thy wit wants

edge,

And manners, to intrude where I am grac'd ;
And may, for ought thou know'st, affected be.

Chi. Demetrius, thou dost o'erween in all;
And so in this to bear me down with braves.
"Tis not the difference of a year or two,
Makes me less gracious, thee more fortunate :
I am as able and as fit as thou,

To serve and to deserve my mistress' grace;
And that my sword upon thee shall approve,
And plead my passions for Lavinia's love.
+ Favour

• Grand merci---great thanks.

Aar. Clubs, clubs! these lovers will not keep the peace.

Dem. Why, boy, although our mother, unadvis'd,

Gave you a dancing-rapier + by your side,
Are you so desperate grown, to threat your friends?
Go to have your lath glued within your sheath,
Till you know better how to handle it.
Chi. Mean while, Sir, with the little skill I have,
Full well shalt thou perceive how much I dare.
Dem. Ay, boy, grow ye so brave?

[They draw.

Aar. Why, how now, lords?
So near the emperor's palace dare you draw,
And maintain such a quarrel openly?
Full well I wot‡ the ground of all this grudge ;
I would not for a million of gold,

The cause were known to them it most concerns:
Nor would your noble mother, for much more,
Be so dishonour'd in the court of Rome.
For shame, put up,

Dem. Not I, till I have sheath'd
My rapier in his bosom, and, withal,
Thrust these reproachful speeches down his throat,
That he hath breath'd in my dishonour here.
Chi. For that I am prepar'd and full re-
soly'd,-
[tongue,
Foul spoken coward! that thunder'st with thy
And with thy weapon nothing dar'st perform.

Aar. Away, I say.

Now by the gods, that warlike Goths adore,
This petty brabble will undo us all.-

Why, lords, and think you not how dangerous
It is to jut upon a prince's right?
What, is Lavinia then become so loose,
Or Bassianus so degenerate,

That for her love such quarrels may be broach'd,
Without controlment, justice, or revenge?
Young lords, beware!-an should the empress
know

This discord's ground, the music would not please. Chi. I care not; I, knew she and all the world; I love Lavinia more than all the world.

Dem. Youngling, learn thou to make some meaner choice:

Lavinia is thine elder brother's hope.

Aar. Why, are ye mad? or know ye not, iu
Rome.

How furious and impatient they be,
And cannot brook competitors in love?

I tell you, lords, you do but plot your deaths
By this device.

Chi. Aaron, a thousand deaths

Would I propose, to achieve her whom I love.
Car. To achieve her!-How?

Dem. Why makest thou it so strange?
She is a woman, therefore may be woo'd;
She is a woman, therefore may be won;
She is Lavinia, therefore must be lov'd.
What, man! more water glideth by the mill
Than wots the miller of; and easy it is
Of a cut loaf to steal a shive, § we know:
Though Bassianus be the emperor's brother,
Better than he have yet worn Vulcan's badge.
Car. Ay, and as good as Saturninus may.

[Aside. Dem. Then why should he despair, that knows to court it

With words, fair looks and liberality?
What, hast thou not full often struck a doe,
And borne her cleanly by the keeper's nose?
Car. Why then, it seems, some certain snatch,

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Chi. I'faith, not me.
Dem. Nor me,

So I were one.

Aar. For shame, be friends; and join for that you jar.

'Tis policy and stratagem must do
That you affect; and so must you resolve:
That what you cannot, as you would, achieve,
You must perforce accomplish as you may.
Take this of me, Lucrece was not more chaste
Than this Lavinia, Bassianus' love.
A speedier course than lingering languishment
Must we pursue, and I have found the path.
My lords, a solemn hunting is in hand;
There will the lovely Roman ladies troop:
The forest walks are wide and spacious,
And many unfrequented plots there are,
Fitted by kind for rape and villainy :
Single you thither then this dainty doe.
And strike her home by force, if not by words:
This way, or not at all, stand you in hope.
Come, come, our empress, with her sacred wit,
To villainy and vengeance consecrate,
Will we acquaint with all that we intend:
And she shall file our engines with advice,
That will not suffer you to square yourselves,
But to your wishes' height advance you both.
The emperor's court is like the house of fame,
The palace full of tongues, of eyes, of ears:
The woods are ruthless, dreadful, deaf and dull:
There speak, and strike, brave boys, and take
your turns:
[eye,
There serve your lust, shadow'd from heaven's
And revel in Lavinia's treasury.

Chi. Thy counsel, lad, smells of no cowardice.
Dem. Sit fas aut nefas, till I find the stream
To cool this heat, a charm to calm these fits,
Per Styga, per manes vehor.
[Exeunt.

SCENE II-A Forest near Rome.-A Lodge seen at a distance. Horns, and cry of Hounds heard.

Enter TITUS ANDRONICUS, with Hunters, &c.
MARCUS, LUCIUS, QUINTUS, and MARTIUS.
Tit. The hunt is up, the morn is bright and
grey,
[green:
The fields are fragrant, and the woods are
Uncoupled here, and let us make a bay,
And wake the emperor and his lovely bride,
And rouse the prince; and ring a hunter's peal,
That all the court may echo with the noise.
Sons, let it be your charge, as it is ours,
To tend the emperor's person carefully:
I have been troubled in my sleep this night,
But dawning day new comfort hath inspir'd.
Horns wind a Peal. Enter SATURNINUS, TA-
MORA, BASSIANUS, LAVINIA, CHIRON, DE-
METRIUS, and attendants.

Tit. Many good morrows to your majesty :Madam, to you as many and as good!

I promised your grace a hunter's peal.
Sat. And you have rung it lustily, my lords,
Somewhat too early for new-married ladies.
Bas. Lavinia, how say you?

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Tam. My lovely Aaron, wherefore look'st thou sad,

When every thing doth make a gleeful boast?
The birds chaunt melody on every bush:
The snake lies rolled in the cheerful sun;
The green leaves quiver with the cooling wind,
And make a chequer'd shadow on the ground:
Under their sweet shade, Aaron, let us sit :
And whilst the babbling echo mocks the hounds,
Replying shrilly to the well-tun'd horns,
As if a double hunt were heard at once,-
Let us sit down, and mark their yelling noise :
And-after conflict, such as was suppos'd
The wandering prince of Dido once enjoy'd,
When with a happy storm they were surpris'd,
And curtain'd with a counsel-keeping cave,-
We may, each wreathed in the other's arms,
Our pastimes done, possess a golden slumber;
Whiles hounds, and horus, and sweet melodious
birds,

Be unto us, as is a nurse's song

Of lullaby, to bring her babe asleep.

'Tis thought you have a goodly gift in horning; And to be doubted, that your Moor and you Are singled forth to try experiments: Jove shield your husband from his hounds to-day 'Tis pity they should take him for a stag.

Bas. Believe me, queen, your swarth Cimmerian

Doth make your honour of his body's hue,
Spotted, detested, and abominable.
Why are you sequester'd from all your train ?
Dismounted from your snow-white goodly steed,
And wander'd hither to an abscure plot,
Accompanied with a barbarous Moor,
If foul desire had not conducted you?

Lav. And, being intercepted in your sport,
Great reason that my noble lord be rated
For sauciness.-I pray you, let us hence,
And let her 'joy her raven colour'd love;
This valley fits the purpose passing well.
Bas. The king, my brother, shall have note
of this.

Lav. Ay, for these slips have made him noted long:

Good king! to be so mightily abus'd 1
Tam. Why have I patience to endure all this ?

Enter CHIRON and DEMETRIUS.

Dem. How now, dear sovereign, and our gracious mother,

Why doth your highness look so pale and wan ? Tam. Have I not reason, think you, to look

pale ?

These two have 'tic'd ine hither to this place,
A barren detested vale, you see, it is:
The trees, though summer, yet forlorn and lean,
O'ercome with moss, and baleful misletoe.
Here never shines the sun; here nothing breeds,
Unless the nightly owl, or fatal raven ;

Aar. Madam, though Venus govern your de- And, when they show'd me this abhorred pit,

sires,

Saturn is dominator over mine:

What signifies my deadly standing eye,
My silence, and iny cloudy melancholy,
My feece of woolly hair that now uncuts,
Even as an adder, when she doth unroll
To do same fatal execution?

No, madam, these are no venereal signs;
Vengeance is in my heart, death in my hand,
Blood and revenge are hainiering in iny head.
Hark, Tamora--the empress of my soul,
Which never hopes more heaven than rests

thee,

in

This is the day of doom for Bassianus:
His Philomel must loose her tongue to-day:
Thy sons make pillage of her chastity,
And wash their hands in Bassianus' blood.
Seest thou this letter? Take it up, I pray thee,
And give the king this fatal-plotted scroll :-
Now question me no more, we are espied;
Here comes a parcel of our hopeful booty,
Which dreads not yet their lives' destruction.
Tam. Ah, my sweet Moor, sweeter to me than
life!

Aar. No more, great empress, Bassianus comes: Be cross with him; and I'll go fetch thy sons To back thy quarrels whatsoe'er they be.

[Exit.

Enter BASSIANUS and LAVINIA. Bas. Who have we here? Rome's royal emperess,

Unfurnish'd of her well-beseeming troop?
Or is it Dian, habited like her;
Who hath abandoned her holy groves,
To see the general hunting in this forest?
Tum. Saucy controller of our private steps!
Had I the power that some say, Dian had,
Thy temples should be planted presently
With horns, as was Acton's; and the hounds
Should drive upon thy new transformed limbs:
Unmannerly intruder as thou art!

Luv. Under your patience, gentle cmperess,
• Possess.
4 Disquiet.
* See Ovid's Metamorphoses, Book VI.

Part.

They told me, here, at dead time of the night,
A thousand fiends, a thousand hissing snakes,
Ten thousand swelling toads, as many urchins, *
Would make such fearful and confused cries,
As any mortal body, hearing it,

Should straight fall mad, or else die suddenly.
No sooner had they told this hellish tale,
But straight they told me, they would bind me
here

Unto the body of a dismal yew;

And leave me to this miserable death.
And then they call'd me, foul adulteress,
Lascivious Goth, and all the bitterest terms
That ever car did hear to such effect.
And, had you not by wondrous fortune come,
This vengeance on me had they executed:
Revenge it, as you love your mother's life,
Or be ye not henceforth call'd my children.
Dem. This is a witness that I am thy son.
[Stabs BASSIANUS.
Chi. And this for me, struck home to show
my strength.

[Stabbing him likenise. Lav. Ay, come, Semiramis,-nay, barbarous Tamora !

For no name fits thy nature but thy own! Tam. Give me thy poniard; you shall know my boys,

Your mother's hand shall right your mother's wrong.

Dem. Stay, madam, here is more belongs to

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