Tit.
Long have I been forlorn, and all for thee:
Welcome, dread fury, to my woful house;
Rapine and Murder, you are welcome too:
How like the Empress and her sons you are!
Well are you fitted, had you but a Moor;
Could not all hell afford you such a devil?
For, well I wot, the Empress never wags,
But in her company there is a Moor;
And would you represent our Queen aright,
It were convenient you had such a devil:
But welcome, as you are: what shall we do?

Tam.
What wouldst thou have us do, Andronicus?

Dem.
Shew me a murderer, I'll deal with him.

Chi.
Shew me a villain, that has done a rape,
And I am sent to be reveng'd on him.

Tam.
Shew me a thousand, that have done thee wrong;
And I will be revenged on them all.

Tit.
Look round about the wicked streets of Rome,
And when thou find'st a man that's like thyself,
Good Murder, stab him; he's a murderer.
Go thou with him, and when it is thy hap
To find another that is like to thee,
Good Rapine, stab him; he is a ravisher.
Go thou with them, and in the Emperor's Court
There is a Queen attended by a Moor;
Well may'st thou know her by thy own proportion,
For up and down she doth resemble thee;
I pray thee, do on them some violent death;
They have been violent to me and mine.

Tam.
Well hast thou lesson'd us, this shall we do.
But would it please thee, good Andronicus,
To send for Lucius thy thrice-valiant son,
Who leads tow'rds Rome a band of warlike Goths,
And bid him come and banquet at thy house.
When he is here, even at thy solemn feast,
I will bring in the Empress and her sons,
The Emperor himself, and all thy foes;
And at thy mercy shall they stoop and kneel,
And on them shalt thou ease thy angry heart:
What says Andronicus to this device?

Tit.
Marcus, my brother!—'tis sad Titus calls: Enter Marcus.
Go, gentle Marcus, to thy nephew Lucius;
Thou shalt enquire him out among the Goths:
Bid him repair to me: and bring with him
Some of the chiefest Princes of the Goths;
Bid him encamp his Soldiers where they are;
Tell him, the Emperor and the Empress too

Feast at my house, and he shall feast with them;
This do thou for my love, and so let him,
As he regards his aged father's life.

Mar.
This will I do, and soon return again. [Exit.

Tam.
Now will I hence about my business,
And take my ministers along with me.

Tit.
Nay, nay, let Rape and Murder stay with me;
Or else I'll call my brother back again,
And cleave to no revenge but Lucius.

Tam.
What say you, boys, will you abide with him,
Whiles I go tell my lord, the Emperor,
How I have govern'd our determin'd jest?
Yield to his humour, smooth and speak him fair,
And tarry with him 'till I come again.

Tit.
I know them all, tho' they suppose me mad;
And will o'er-reach them in their own devices:
A pair of cursed hell-hounds and their dam. [Aside.

Dem.
Madam, depart at pleasure, leave us here.

Tam.
Farewel, Andronicus; Revenge now goes
To lay a complot to betray thy foes. [Exit Tamora.

Tit.
I know, thou dost; and, sweet Revenge, farewel.

Chi.
Tell us, old man, how shall we be employ'd?

Tit.
Tut, I have work enough for you to do.
Publius, come hither, Caius, and Valentine! Enter Publius and Servants.

Pub.
What is your will?

Tit.
Know ye these two?

Pub.
The Empress' sons,
I take them, Chiron, and Demetrius!

Tit.
Fie, Publius, fie! thou art too much deceiv'd,
The one is Murder, Rape is th' other's name;
And therefore bind them, gentle Publius;
Caius and Valentine, lay hands on them;
Oft have you heard me wish for such an hour,
And now I find it, therefore bind them sure. [Exit Titus.

Chi.
Villains, forbear; we are the Empress' sons.

Pub.
And therefore do we what we are comanded.
Stop close their mouths; let them not speak a word.
Is he sure bound? look, that ye bind them fast.

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