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Alexander Pope [1747], The works of Shakespear in eight volumes. The Genuine Text (collated with all the former Editions, and then corrected and emended) is here settled: Being restored from the Blunders of the first Editors, and the Interpolations of the two Last: with A Comment and Notes, Critical and Explanatory. By Mr. Pope and Mr. Warburton (Printed for J. and P. Knapton, [and] S. Birt [etc.], London) [word count] [S11301].
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SCENE IV.

Tit.
O hear!—I lift this one hand up to heav'n,
And bow this feeble ruin to the earth;
If any Power pities wretched tears,
To that I call: What, wilt thou kneel with me?
Do then, dear heart, for heav'n shall hear our prayers,
Or with our sighs we'll breathe the welkin dim,
And stain the sun with fogs, as sometime clouds,
When they do hug him in their melting bosoms.

Mar.
Oh! brother, speak with possibilities,
3 note


And do not break into these woe-extremes.

Tit.
Is not my sorrow deep, having no bottom?
Then be my passions bottomless with them.

Mar.
But yet let reason govern thy Lament.

-- 287 --

Tit.
If there were reason for these miseries,
Then into limits could I bind my woes.
When heav'n doth weep, doth not the earth o'erflow?
If the winds rage, doth not the sea wax mad,
Threatning the welkin with his big-swol'n face?
And wilt thou have a reason for this coil?
I am the sea; hark, how her sighs do blow;
She is the weeping welkin, I the earth:
Then must my sea be moved with her sighs,
Then must my earth with her continual tears
Become a deluge, overflow'd and drown'd:
For why, my bowels cannot hide her woes,
But, like a drunkard, must I vomit them;
Then give me leave, for losers will have leave
To ease their stomachs with their bitter tongues.
Enter a Messenger, bringing in two heads and a hand.

Mes.
Worthy Andronicus, ill art thou repay'd
For that good hand thou sent'st the Emperor;
Here are the heads of thy two noble sons,
And here's thy hand in scorn to thee sent back;
Thy grief's their sport, thy resolution mockt:
That woe is me to think upon thy woes,
More than remembrance of my father's death.
[Exit.

Mar.
Now let hot Ætna cool in Sicily,
And be my heart an ever-burning hell;
These miseries are more than may be borne!
To weep with them that weep doth ease 4 notesome deal,
But sorrow flouted at is double death.

Luc.
Ah, that this sight should make so deep a wound,
And yet detested life not shrink thereat;
That ever death should let life bear his name,
Where life hath no more interest but to breathe.

Mar.
Alas, poor heart, that kiss is comfortless,

-- 288 --


As frozen water to a starved snake.

Tit.
When will this fearful slumber have an end?

Mar.
Now, farewel, flattery! die, Andronicus;
Thou dost not slumber; see, thy two sons' heads,
Thy warlike hand, thy mangled daughter here;
Thy other banish'd son 5 notewith this dear sight
Struck pale and bloodless; and thy brother I,
Even like a stony image, cold and numb.
Ah! now no more will I controul thy griefs;
Rend off thy silver hair, thy other hand
Gnawing with thy teeth, and be this dismal sight
The closing up of your most wretched eyes!
Now is a time to storm, why art thou still?

Tit.
Ha, ha, ha!—

Mar.
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 watry eyes,
And make them blind with tributary tears;
Then which way shall I find Revenge's Cave?
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 commited them.
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,
And in this hand the other will I bear;
Lavinia, thou shalt be employ'd in these things;
Bear thou my hand, sweet wench, between thy teeth;
As for thee, boy, go get thee from my sight,

-- 289 --


Thou art an Exile, and thou must not stay.
Hie to the Goths, and raise an army there;
And if you love me, as I think you do,
Let's kiss and part, for we have much to do. [Exeunt.
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Alexander Pope [1747], The works of Shakespear in eight volumes. The Genuine Text (collated with all the former Editions, and then corrected and emended) is here settled: Being restored from the Blunders of the first Editors, and the Interpolations of the two Last: with A Comment and Notes, Critical and Explanatory. By Mr. Pope and Mr. Warburton (Printed for J. and P. Knapton, [and] S. Birt [etc.], London) [word count] [S11301].
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