Flattering myself, as if it were the Moor, Yet I do think we are not brought so low, That comes in likeness of a coal-black Moor. Mar. Alas, poor man! grief has so wrought on him, He takes false shadows for true substances. Tit. Come, take away.-Lavinia, go with me: Come, boy, and go with me; thy sight is young, ACT IV. [Exeunt. The same. SCENE I. Before Titus's house. Enter TITUS and MARCUS. Then enter YOUNG LUCIUS, Boy. Help, grandsire, help! my aunt Lavinia Mar. Stand by me, Lucius; do not fear thine aunt. SHAK. X. Y Tit. She loves thee, boy, too well to do thee harm. Boy. Ay, when my father was in Rome, she did. Mar. What means my niece Lavinia by these signs? Tit. Fear her not, Lucius. Somewhat doth she mean. See, Lucius, see, how much she makes of thee: Read to her sons, than she hath read to thee, Canst thou not guess wherefore she plies thee thus ? Ran mad through sorrow: that made me to fear; 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; I will most willingly attend your ladyship. [Lavinia turns over the books 1 Cicero's Treatise on Eloquence, entitled Orator. Tit. How now, Lavinia ?—Marcus, what means this? Some book there is that she desires to see. Confederate in the fact ;-ay, more there was: Mar. For love of her that's gone, Perhaps she cull'd it from among the rest. Tit. Soft! see, how 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 thine annoy. Mar. See, brother, see; note, how she quotes the leaves. Tit. Lavinia, wert thou thus surprised, sweet girl, Ravish'd, and wrong'd, as Philomela was, 1 Observes. Forced in the ruthless,1 vast, and gloomy woods? Ay, such a place there is, where we did hunt, Unless the gods delight in tragedies? Tit. 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? Mar. Sit down, sweet niece;-brother, sit down by me. Apollo, Pallas, Jove, or Mercury, Inspire me, that I may this treason find! This sandy plot is plain: guide, if thou canst, Without the help of any hand at all. [he writes his name with his staff, and guides it with his feet and mouth. Cursed be that heart that forced us to this shift! Write thou, good niece; and here display, at last, What God will have discover'd for revenge. Heaven guide thy pen to print thy sorrows plain, 1 Pitiless. That we may know the traitors and the truth! ་ [she takes the staff in her mouth, and guides it with her stumps, and writes. Tit. O, do you read, my lord, what she hath writ? Stuprum-Chiron—Demetrius.' Mar. What, what!-the lustful sons of Tamora Performers of this heinous, bloody deed? Tit. Magne Dominator poli, Tam lentus audis scelera? tam lentus vides? Mar. O, calm thee, gentle lord! although, I know, There is enough written upon this earth, My lord, kneel down with me; Lavinia, kneel; 1 Husband. |