Page:Titus Andronicus (1926) Yale.djvu/105

Titus Andronicus, V. iii

Our father's tears despis'd, and basely cozen'd

Of that true hand that fought Rome's quarrel out,

And sent her enemies unto the grave:

Lastly, myself unkindly banished,

The gates shut on me, and turn'd weeping out,

To beg relief among Rome's enemies;

Who drown'd their enmity in my true tears,

And op'd their arms to embrace me as a friend:

And I am turn'd forth, be it known to you,

That have preserv'd her welfare in my blood,

And from her bosom took the enemy's point,

Sheathing the steel in my adventurous body.

Alas! you know I am no vaunter, I;

My scars can witness, dumb although they are,

That my report is just and full of truth.

But, soft! methinks I do digress too much,

Citing my worthless praise: O, pardon me!

For when no friends are by, men praise themselves.

Mar. Now is my turn to speak. Behold this child;

Of this was Tamora delivered,

The issue of an irreligious Moor,

Chief architect and plotter of these woes.

The villain is alive in Titus' house,

Damn'd as he is, to witness this is true.

Now judge what cause had Titus to revenge

These wrongs, unspeakable, past patience,

Or more than any living man could bear.

Now you have heard the truth, what say you Romans?

Have we done aught amiss, show us wherein,

 101 and basely cozen'd: and [he] basely cheated

124 Damn'd as he is; cf. n.

