Free Complete Plays, The by William Shakespeare Page B

Demetrius
    Chiron
    Villains, forbear! we are the empress’ sons.
    Publius
    And therefore do we what we are commanded.Stop close their mouths, let them not speak a word.Is he sure bound? look that you bind them fast.
    Re-enter Titus, with Lavinia; he bearing a knife, and she a basin
    Titus Andronicus
    Come, come, Lavinia; look, thy foes are bound.Sirs, stop their mouths, let them not speak to me;But let them hear what fearful words I utter.O villains, Chiron and Demetrius!Here stands the spring whom you have stain’d with mud,This goodly summer with your winter mix’d.You kill’d her husband, and for that vile faultTwo of her brothers were condemn’d to death,My hand cut off and made a merry jest;Both her sweet hands, her tongue, and that more dearThan hands or tongue, her spotless chastity,Inhuman traitors, you constrain’d and forced.What would you say, if I should let you speak?Villains, for shame you could not beg for grace.Hark, wretches! how I mean to martyr you.This one hand yet is left to cut your throats,Whilst that Lavinia ’tween her stumps doth holdThe basin that receives your guilty blood.You know your mother means to feast with me,And calls herself Revenge, and thinks me mad:Hark, villains! I will grind your bones to dustAnd with your blood and it I’ll make a paste,And of the paste a coffin I will rearAnd make two pasties of your shameful heads,And bid that strumpet, your unhallow’d dam,Like to the earth swallow her own increase.This is the feast that I have bid her to,And this the banquet she shall surfeit on;For worse than Philomel you used my daughter,And worse than Progne I will be revenged:And now prepare your throats. Lavinia, come,
    He cuts their throats
    Receive the blood: and when that they are dead,Let me go grind their bones to powder smallAnd with this hateful liquor temper it;And in that paste let their vile heads be baked.Come, come, be every one officiousTo make this banquet; which I wish may proveMore stern and bloody than the Centaurs’ feast.So, now bring them in, for I’ll play the cook,And see them ready ’gainst their mother comes.
    Exeunt, bearing the dead bodies

S CENE III. C OURT OF T ITUS ’ S HOUSE . A BANQUET SET OUT .
    Enter Lucius, Marcus, and Goths, with Aaron prisoner
    Lucius
    Uncle Marcus, since it is my father’s mindThat I repair to Rome, I am content.
    First Goth
    And ours with thine, befall what fortune will.
    Lucius
    Good uncle, take you in this barbarous Moor,This ravenous tiger, this accursed devil;Let him receive no sustenance, fetter himTill he be brought unto the empress’ face,For testimony of her foul proceedings:And see the ambush of our friends be strong;I fear the emperor means no good to us.
    Aaron
    Some devil whisper curses in mine ear,And prompt me, that my tongue may utter forthThe venomous malice of my swelling heart!
    Lucius
    Away, inhuman dog! unhallow’d slave!Sirs, help our uncle to convey him in.
    Exeunt Goths, with Aaron. Flourish within
    The trumpets show the emperor is at hand.
    Enter Saturninus and Tamora, with Aemilius, Tribunes, Senators, and others
    Saturninus
    What, hath the firmament more suns than one?
    Lucius
    What boots it thee to call thyself a sun?
    Marcus Andronicus
    Rome’s emperor, and nephew, break the parle;These quarrels must be quietly debated.The feast is ready, which the careful TitusHath ordain’d to an honourable end,For peace, for love, for league, and good to Rome:Please you, therefore, draw nigh, and take your places.
    Saturninus
    Marcus, we will.
    Hautboys sound. The Company sit down at table
    Enter Titus dressed like a Cook, Lavinia veiled, Young Lucius, and others. Titus places the dishes on the table
    Titus Andronicus
    Welcome, my gracious lord; welcome, dread queen;Welcome, ye warlike Goths; welcome, Lucius;And welcome, all: although the cheer be poor,’Twill fill your stomachs; please you eat of it.
    Saturninus
    Why art thou thus attired, Andronicus?
    Titus Andronicus
    Because I would be sure to have