Sat.
Why, lords, ^note what wrongs are these! was ever seen
An ^note emperor in ^note Rome thus overborne,
Troubled, confronted thus, and for the extent

Of egal ^note justice used in such contempt? ^note
My lords, you know, as know the mightful gods ^note,
However these ^note disturbers of our peace
Buzz in the people's ears, there nought hath pass'd
But even with law ^note against the wilful sons
Of old Andronicus. And what an if ^note
His sorrows have so overwhelm'd his wits,
Shall we be thus afflicted in his wreaks ^note,
His fits, his frenzy and his bitterness?
And now he writes to heaven for his redress:
See, here's to Jove, and this to Mercury;
This to Apollo; this to the god of war:
Sweet scrolls to fly about the streets of Rome!
What's this but libelling against the senate,
And blazoning ^note our unjustice ^note every where?
A goodly humour, is it not, my lords?
As who would say, in Rome no justice were.
But if I live, his feigned ecstasies ^note
Shall be no shelter to these outrages:
But he and his shall know that justice lives
In Saturninus' health ^note; whom ^note, if he sleep,
He'll so awake, as he ^note in fury shall
Cut off the proud'st ^note conspirator that lives.

Tam.
My gracious lord, my lovely ^note Saturnine,
Lord of my life, commander of my thoughts ^note,
Calm thee, and bear the faults of Titus' age ^note,
The effects of sorrow for his valiant sons,
Whose loss hath pierced him deep and scarr'd his heart;

And rather comfort ^note his distressed plight
Than prosecute the meanest or the best
For these contempts. [Aside ^note] Why, thus it shall become
High-witted Tamora to gloze with all ^note:
But, Titus, I have touch'd thee to the quick,
Thy ^note life-blood out ^note: if Aaron now be wise, ^note
Then is all safe, the anchor ^note in the port. Enter Clown.
How now, good fellow! wouldst thou speak with us?

Clo.

Yea ^note, forsooth, an ^note your mistership ^note be emperial.

Tam.

Empress I am, but yonder sits the emperor.

Clo.

'Tis he. God and Saint Stephen give you god-den ^note: I have brought you a letter and a couple of pigeons here ^note. ^note

Sat.

Go, take him away, and hang him presently. ^note

Clo.

How much money must I have? ^note

Tam.

Come, sirrah, you ^note must be hanged.

Clo.

Hanged! by'r ^note lady, then ^note I have brought up a ^note neck to a fair end.

Sat.
Despiteful and intolerable wrongs!
Shall I endure this monstrous villany?

I know from whence this same device ^note proceeds:
May this be borne? As ^note if his traitorous sons,
That died by law for murder of our brother,
Have by my means been butcher'd ^note wrongfully!
Go, drag the villain hither by the hair;
Nor age nor honour shall shape ^note privilege:
For this proud mock I'll be thy slaughter-man;
Sly frantic wretch, that holp'st to make me great,
In hope thyself should govern Rome and me. Enter Æmilius. ^note
What ^note news with thee, Æmilius?

Æmil.
Arm, my lords ^note; Rome never had more cause.
The Goths have gather'd ^note head, and with a power
Of high-resolved men, bent to the spoil,
They hither march amain, under conduct ^note
Of Lucius, son to old Andronicus;
Who threats, in course of this ^note revenge, to do
As much as ever Coriolanus did.

Sat. ^note
Is warlike Lucius general of the Goths? ^note
These tidings nip me, and I hang the head
As flowers with frost or grass beat down with storms:
Ay, now begin ^note our sorrows to approach:
'Tis he the common people love so much;
Myself hath often heard ^note them say ^note,

When I have walked like a private man,
That Lucius' banishment was wrongfully,
And they have ^note wish'd that Lucius ^note were their emperor.

Tam.
Why should you fear? is not your ^note city strong?

Sat. ^note
Ay, but the citizens favour Lucius,
And will revolt from me to succour him.

Tam.
King, be thy thoughts imperious, like thy name.
Is the sun dimm'd, that gnats do fly in it ^note? ^note
The eagle suffers little birds to sing,
And is not careful what they mean thereby,
Knowing that with the shadow of his wings ^note
He can at pleasure stint their melody:
Even so mayst ^note thou the giddy men of Rome.
Then cheer thy spirit: for know, thou emperor,
I will enchant the old Andronicus
With words more sweet, and yet more dangerous,
Than baits to fish, or honey-stalks to sheep;
Whenas the one is wounded with the bait,
The other rotted with delicious feed ^note.

Sat. ^{note note}
But he will not entreat his son for us.

Tam.
If Tamora entreat him, then ^note he will:
For I can smooth ^note, and fill his aged ears ^note
With golden promises; that, were his heart
Almost impregnable, his old ears ^note deaf,
Yet should both ear and heart obey my tongue. [To Æmilius ^note]
Go thou before, be ^note our ambassador:
Say that the emperor requests a parley
Of warlike Lucius, and appoint the meeting

Even at his father's house, the old Andronicus. ^note

Sat. ^{note note}
Æmilius, do this message honourably:
And if he stand on ^note hostage for his safety,
Bid him demand what pledge will please him best.

Æmil.
Your bidding shall I do effectually. [Exit.

Tam.
Now will I to that old Andronicus,
And temper him with all ^note the art I have,
To pluck proud Lucius from the warlike Goths.
And now, sweet emperor, be blithe again,
And bury all thy fear in my devices ^note.

Sat.
Then go successantly ^note, and plead ^note to him ^note. [Exeunt. ^note

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