Rom. [Several speak] Lucius, all hail; Rome's gracious governor! Luc. Thanks, gentle Romans; May I govern so, [Kisses Titus. These sorrowful drops upon thy blood-stain'd face, The last true duties of thy noble son! Mar. Tear for tear, and loving kiss for kiss, O, were the sum of these that I should pay Luc. Come hither, boy; come, come, and learn of us To melt in showers: Thy grandsire lov'd thee well: Many a time he danc'd thee on his knee, Sung thee asleep, his loving breast thy pillow; Meet, and agreeing with thine infancy; Shed yet some small drops from thy tender spring, Friends should associate friends in grief and woe: Boy. O grandsire, grandsire! even with all my heart Enter Attendants, with AARON. 1 Rom. You sad Andronici, have done with woes; Give sentence to this execrable wretch, That hath been breeder of these dire events. Luc. Set him breast-deep in earth, and famish him; There let him stand, and rave and cry for food: If any one relieves or pities him, For the offence he dies. This is our doom: Aar. O, why should wrath be mute, and fury dumb? I am no baby, I, that, with base prayers, I should repent the evils I have done; Ten thousand, worse than ever yet I did, Would I perform, if I might have my will; If one good deed in all my life I did, I do repent it from my very soul. Luc. Some loving friends convey the emperor hence, No funeral rite, nor man in mournful weeds, But throw her forth to beasts, and birds of prey: [Exeunt. All the editors and critics agree in supposing this play spurious. I see no reason for differing from them; for the colour of the style is wholly different from that of the other plays. JOHNSON. C. Whittingham, Printer, Chiswick. |