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know my noble aunt Loves me as dear as e'er my mother did； And would
not； but in fury； fright my youth； Which made me down to throw my
books； and fly… Causeless； perhaps。 But pardon me； sweet aunt； And；
madam； if my uncle Marcus go； I will most willingly attend your ladyship。
MARCUS。 Lucius； I will。 ＇LAVINIA turns over with her stumps the books
which Lucius has let fall＇ TITUS。 How now； Lavinia！ Marcus； what means
this？ Some book there is that she desires to see。 Which is it； girl； of these？…
Open them； boy。… But thou art deeper read and better skill'd； Come and
take choice of all my library； And so beguile thy sorrow； till the heavens
Reveal the damn'd contriver of this deed。 Why lifts she up her arms in
sequence thus？ MARCUS。 I think she means that there were more than
one Confederate in the fact； ay； more there was； Or else to heaven she
heaves them for revenge。 TITUS。 Lucius； what book is that she tosseth so？
BOY。 Grandsire； 'tis Ovid's Metamorphoses； My mother gave it me。
MARCUS。 For love of her that's gone； Perhaps she cull'd it from among
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the rest。 TITUS。 Soft！ So busily she turns the leaves！ Help her。 What
would she find？ Lavinia； shall I read？ This is the tragic tale of Philomel
And treats of Tereus' treason and his rape； And rape； I fear； was root of thy
annoy。 MARCUS。 See； brother； see！ Note how she quotes the leaves。
TITUS。 Lavinia； wert thou thus surpris'd； sweet girl； Ravish'd and wrong'd
as Philomela was； Forc'd in the ruthless； vast； and gloomy woods？ See； see！
Ay； such a place there is where we did hunt… O； had we never； never
hunted there！… Pattern'd by that the poet here describes； By nature made
for murders and for rapes。 MARCUS。 O； why should nature build so foul a
den； Unless the gods delight in tragedies？ TITUS。 Give signs； sweet girl；
for here are none but friends； What Roman lord it was durst do the deed。
Or slunk not Saturnine； as Tarquin erst； That left the camp to sin in
Lucrece' bed？ MARCUS。 Sit down； sweet niece； brother； sit down by me。
Apollo； Pallas； Jove； or Mercury； Inspire me； that I may this treason find！
My lord； look here！ Look here； Lavinia！ ＇He writes his name with his staff；
and guides it with feet and mouth＇ This sandy plot is plain； guide； if thou
canst； This after me。 I have writ my name Without the help of any hand at
all。 Curs'd be that heart that forc'd us to this shift！ Write thou； good niece；
and here display at last What God will have discovered for revenge。
Heaven guide thy pen to print thy sorrows plain； That we may know the
traitors and the truth！ ＇She takes the staff in her mouth and guides it with
stumps； and writes＇ O； do ye read； my lord； what she hath writ？ TITUS。
'Stuprum… Chiron… Demetrius。' MARCUS。 What； what！ the lustful sons of
Tamora Performers of this heinous bloody deed？ TITUS。 Magni
Dominator poli； Tam lentus audis scelera？ tam lentus vides？ MARCUS。 O；
calm thee； gentle lord！ although I know There is enough written upon this
earth To stir a mutiny in the mildest thoughts； And arm the minds of
infants to exclaims。 My lord； kneel down with me； Lavinia； kneel； And
kneel； sweet boy； the Roman Hector's hope； And swear with me… as； with
the woeful fere And father of that chaste dishonoured dame； Lord Junius
Brutus sware for Lucrece' rape… That we will prosecute； by good advice；
Mortal revenge upon these traitorous Goths； And see their blood or die
with this reproach。 TITUS。 'Tis sure enough； an you knew how； But if you
hunt these bear…whelps； then beware： The dam will wake； and if she wind
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ye once； She's with the lion deeply still in league； And lulls him whilst she
playeth on her back； And when he sleeps will she do what she list。 You are
a young huntsman； Marcus； let alone； And come； I will go get a leaf of
brass； And with a gad of steel will write these words； And lay it by。 The
angry northern wind Will blow these sands like Sibyl's leaves abroad； And
where's our lesson； then？ Boy； what say you？ BOY。 I say； my lord； that if I
were a man Their mother's bedchamber should not be safe For these base
bondmen to the yoke of Rome。 MARCUS。 Ay； that's my boy！ Thy father
hath full oft For his ungrateful country done the like。 BOY。 And； uncle； so
will I； an if I live。 TITUS。 Come； go with me into mine armoury。 Lucius；
I'll fit thee； and withal my boy Shall carry from me to the Empress' sons
Presents that I intend to send them both。 Come； come； thou'lt do my
message； wilt thou not？ BOY。 Ay； with my dagger in their bosoms；
grandsire。 TITUS。 No； boy； not so； I'll teach thee another course。 Lavinia；
come。 Marcus； look to my house。 Lucius and I'll go brave it at the court；
Ay； marry； will we； sir！ and we'll be waited on。 Exeunt TITUS； LAVINIA；
and YOUNG LUCIUS MARCUS。 O heavens； can you hear a good man
groan And not relent； or not compassion him？ Marcus； attend him in his
ecstasy； That hath more scars of sorrow in his heart Than foemen's marks
upon his batt'red shield； But yet so just that he will not revenge。 Revenge
the heavens for old Andronicus！ Exit
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SCENE II。 Rome。 The palace
Enter AARON； DEMETRIUS and CHIRON； at one door； and at the
other door； YOUNG LUCIUS and another with a bundle of weapons； and
verses writ upon them
CHIRON。 Demetrius； here's the son of Lucius； He hath some
message to deliver us。 AARON。 Ay； some mad message from his mad
grandfather。 BOY。 My lords； with all the humbleness I may； I greet your
honours from Andronicus… ＇Aside＇ And pray the Roman gods confound
you both！ DEMETRIUS。 Gramercy； lovely Lucius。 What's the news？
BOY。 ＇Aside＇ That you are both decipher'd； that's the news； For villains
mark'd with rape。… May it please you； My grandsire； well advis'd； hath sent
by me The goodliest weapons of his armoury To gratify your honourable
youth； The hope of Rome； for so he bid me say； And so I do； and with his
gifts present Your lordships； that； whenever you have need； You may be
armed and appointed well。 And so I leave you both… ＇Aside＇ like bloody
villains。 Ex