Tit. When will this fearful slumber have an end?
Marc. Now, farewell, flattery: die, Andronicus;[4394]
Thou dost not slumber: see, thy two sons' heads, 255
Thy warlike hand, thy mangled daughter here,[4395]
Thy other banish'd son with this dear sight[4396]
Struck pale and bloodless, and thy brother, I,[4397]
Even like a stony image, cold and numb.
Ah, now no more will I control thy griefs:[4398] 260
Rend off thy silver hair, thy other hand[4399]
Gnawing with thy teeth; and be this dismal sight[4400]
The closing up of our most wretched eyes:
Now is a time to storm; why art thou still?
Marc. Why dost thou laugh? it fits not with this hour.
Tit. Why, I have not another tear to shed:
Besides, this sorrow is an enemy,
And would usurp upon my watery eyes
And make them blind with tributary tears: 270
Then which way shall I find Revenge's cave?[4401]
For these two heads do seem to speak to me,
And threat me I shall never come to bliss
Till all these mischiefs be return'd again
Even in their throats that have committed them. 275
Come, let me see what task I have to do.
You heavy people, circle me about,
That I may turn me to each one of you,
And swear unto my soul to right your wrongs.
The vow is made. Come, brother, take a head; 280
And in this hand the other will I bear.
Lavinia, thou shalt be employ'd in these things;[4402][4403]
Bear thou my hand, sweet wench, between thy teeth.[4403][4404]
As for thee, boy, go get thee from my sight;
Thou art an exile, and thou must not stay:
Hie to the Goths, and raise an army there: 285
And, if you love me, as I think you do,[4405]
Let's kiss and part, for we have much to do.
[Exeunt all but Lucius.[4406]
Luc. Farewell, Andronicus, my noble father,[4407]
The wofull'st man that ever lived in Rome: 290
Farewell, proud Rome; till Lucius come again,[4408]
He leaves his pledges dearer than his life:[4409]
Farewell, Lavinia, my noble sister;
O, would thou wert as thou tofore hast been!
But now nor Lucius nor Lavinia lives 295
But in oblivion and hateful griefs.
If Lucius live, he will requite your wrongs;[4410]
And make proud Saturnine and his empress[4411]
Beg at the gates, like Tarquin and his queen.[4412]
Now will I to the Goths and raise a power, 300
To be revenged on Rome and Saturnine. [Exit.[4413]
Scene II. A room in Titus's house. A banquet set out.
Enter Titus, Marcus, Lavinia, and young Lucius, a Boy.[4414]
Tit. So, so; now sit: and look you eat no more
Than will preserve just so much strength in us
As will revenge these bitter woes of ours.
Marcus, unknit that sorrow-wreathen knot:
Thy niece and I, poor creatures, want our hands,[4415] 5
And cannot passionate our tenfold grief
With folded arms. This poor right hand of mine
Is left to tyrannize upon my breast;
Who, when my heart, all mad with misery,[4416]
Beats in this hollow prison of my flesh, 10
Then thus I thump it down.
[To Lavinia] Thou map of woe, that thus dost talk in signs![4417]
When thy poor heart beats with outrageous beating,[4418]
Thou canst not strike it thus to make it still.[4419]
Wound it with sighing, girl, kill it with groans;[4420] 15
Or get some little knife between thy teeth,
And just against thy heart make thou a hole;
That all the tears that thy poor eyes let fall
May run into that sink, and soaking in
Drown the lamenting fool in sea-salt tears.[4421] 20