I give to baser life.-So,-have you done? Have I the aspic in my lips? Dost fall? IRAS falls and dies. Dost thou lie still? If thus thou vanishest, thou tell'st the world It is not worth leave-taking. Char. Dissolve, thick cloud, and rain; that I may say, The gods themselves do weep! Cleo. This proves me base: If she first meet the curled Antony, He'll make demand of her; and spend that kiss Which is my heaven to have. Come, thou mortal wretch, [To the asp, which she applies to her breast. With thy sharp teeth this knot intrinsicate Of life at once untie: poor venomous fool, Be angry, and despatch. O, could'st thou speak! Unpolicied! Char. O eastern star! Cleo. Peace, peace! Dost thou not see my baby at my breast, That sucks the nurse asleep? Char. O, break! O, break! Cleo. As sweet as balm, as soft as air, as gentle,O Antony !-Nay, I will take thee too :- [Applying another asp to her arm. What should I stay- Of eyes again so royal! Your crown 's awry ; Enter the Guard, rushing in. 1 Guard. Where is the queen? Char I Guard. Speak softly, wake her not. Cæsar hath sent Too slow a messenger. O, come; apace, despatch: I partly feel thee. 1 Guard. Approach, ho! All's not well: Cæsar 's beguil'd. 2 Guard. There's Dolabella sent from Cæsar ;-call him. I Guard. What work is here?—Charmian, is this well done? Char. It is well done, and fitting for a princess Descended of so many royal kings. Ah, soldier! [Dies. Cæsar, thy thoughts Touch their effects in this: Thyself art coming Within. A way there, a way for Cæsar! Enter CESAR and Attendants. Dol. O, sir, you are too sure an augurer : That you did fear is done. Bravest at the last; Cas. I do not see them bleed. Dol. Who was last with them? Poison'd then. 1 Guard. A simple countryman, that brought her figs. This was his basket. Cæs. 1 Guard. O Cæsar, This Charmian liv'd but now; she stood, and spake: I found her trimming up the diadem On her dead mistress; tremblingl, she stood, Cas. O noble weakness! If they had swallow'd poison 't would appear : In her strong toil of grace. Dol. Here, on her breast, There is a vent of blood, and something blown : The like is on her arm. 1 Guard. This is an aspic's trail: and these fig-leaves Have slime upon them, such as the aspic leaves Upon the caves of Nile. Cæs. Most probable That so she died; for her physician tells me She hath pursued conclusions infinite Of easy ways to die.-Take up her bed; And bear her women from the monument : She shall be buried by her Antony : No grave upon the earth shall clip in it A pair so famous. High events as these Strike those that make them; and their story is No less in pity than his glory, which Brought them to be lamented. Our army shall, And then to Rome.- Come, Dolabella, see [Exeunt. TITUS ANDRONICUS. PERSONS REPRESENTED. SATURNINUS, son to the late Emperor of ALARBUS, CHIRON, DEMETRIUS, sons to Tamora. A Captain, Tribune, Messenger, and Clown. TAMORA, Queen of the Goths. LAVINIA, daughter to Titus Andronicus. Kinsmen of Titus, Senators, Tribunes, ACT I. SCENE I.-Rome. Flourish. Enter the Tribunes and Senators, aloft: and then enter SATURNINUS and his Followers at one door, and BASSIANUS and his Followers at the other, with drum and colours. Sat. Noble patricians, patrons of my right, Bass. Romans, friends, followers, favourers of my right, Were gracious in the eyes of royal Rome, And suffer not dishonour to approach Th' imperial seat; to virtue consecrate, To justice, continence, and nobility: And, Romans, fight for freedom in your choice. Enter MARCUS ANDRONICUS, aloft, with the crown. Marc. Princes, that strive by factions and by friends Know that the people of Rome, for whom we stand VOL. III. S2 A special party, have by common voice, For many good and great deserts to Rome : Lives not this day within the city walls. From weary wars against the barbarous Goths, And now at last, laden with honour's spoils, Plead your deserts in peace and humbleness. Sat. How fair the tribune speaks to calm my thoughts. In thy uprightness and integrity, And so I love and honour thee and thine, Thy noble brother Titus and his sons, And her to whom my thoughts are humbled all, [Exeunt Followers of BASSIANUS. [Exeunt Followers of SATURNINUS. Rome, be as just and gracious unto me, Open the gates and let me in. Bass. Tribunes, and me, a poor competitor. [Flourish. They go up into the Senate-house. SCENE II. The same. Enter a Captain, and others. Cap. Romans, make way: the good Andronicus, Patron of virtue, Rome's best champion, Successful in the battles that he fights, With honour and with fortune is return'd, [Sound drums and trumpets, and then enter two of TITUS' Sons. After them two Men bearing a coffin covered with black: then two other Sons. After them TITUS ANDRONICUS; and then TAMORA, the queen of Goths, and her two Sons, CHIRON and DEMETRIUS, with AARON the Moor, and others, as many as can be. They set down the coffin, and TITUS speaks. Tit. Hail, Rome, victorious in thy mourning weeds! From whence at first she weigh'd her anchorage, Stand gracious to the rights that we intend! These that survive let Rome reward with love: These that I bring unto their latest home, With burial amongst their ancestors. Here Goths have given me leave to sheathe my sword. Why suffer'st thou thy sons, unburied yet, To hover on the dreadful shore of Styx? Make way to lay them by their brethren. [They open the tomb. There greet in silence, as the dead are wont, And sleep in peace, slain in your country's wars : O sacred receptacle of my joys, Sweet cell of virtue and nobility, How many sons of mine hast thou in store, That thou wilt never render to me more! Luc. Give us the proudest prisoner of the Goths, Ad manes fratrum, sacrifice his flesh, Nor we disturb'd with prodigies on earth. Tit. I give him you, the noblest that survives, Tam. Stay, Roman brethren, gracious conqueror, |