Page:Titus Andronicus (1926) Yale.djvu/71

Titus Andronicus, IV. i

Tit. 'Tis sure enough, an you knew how;

But if you hunt these bear-whelps, then beware:

The dam will wake, an if she wind you once:

She's with the lion deeply still in league,

And lulls him whilst she playeth on her back,

And when he sleeps will she do what she list.

You're a young huntsman, Marcus; let it alone;

And, come, I will go get a leaf of brass,

And with a gad of steel will write these words,

And lay it by: the angry northern wind

Will blow these sands like Sibyl's leaves abroad,

And where's your lesson then? Boy, what say you?

Boy. I say, my lord, that if I were a man,

Their mother's bed-chamber should not be safe

For these bad bondmen to the yoke of Rome.

Mar. Ay, that's my boy! thy father hath full oft

For his ungrateful country done the like.

Boy. And, uncle, so will I, an if I live.

Tit. Come, go with me into mine armoury:

Lucius, I'll fit thee; and withal my boy

Shall carry from me to the empress' sons

Presents that I intend to send them both:

Come, come! thou'lt do thy message, wilt thou not?

Boy. Ay, with my dagger in their bosoms, grandsire.

Tit. No, boy, not so; I'll teach thee another course.

Lavinia, come. Marcus, look to my house;

Lucius and Ill go brave it at the court:

Ay, marry, will we, sir; and we'll be waited on.

Exeunt [Titus, Lavinia, and young Lucius].

Mar. O heavens! can you hear a good man groan,

And not relent or not compassion him?

 97 wind: scent

103 gad: point

105 Sibyl's leaves; cf. n.

124 compassion: have compassion on

