Page 2152 - Shakespeare - Vol. 1

ACT III IT

Scene I IT

Enter the Judges and Senators with Titus’ two sons bound, passing on
the stage to the place of execution, and Titus going before, pleading.

T IT US

Hear me, grave, fathers! noble tribunes, stay!
For pity of mine age, whose youth was spent
In dangerous wars, whilst you securely slept;
For all my blood in Rome’s great quarrel shed,
For all the frosty nights that I have watched,
And for these bitter tears, which now you see
Filling the agèd wrinkles in my cheeks,
Be pitiful to my condemnèd sons,
Whose souls are not corrupted as ’tis thought.
For two and twenty sons I never wept, [10]
Because they died in honour’s lofty bed;

Andronicus lieth down and the Judges pass by him.

For these, tribunes, in the dust I write
My heart’s deep languor and my soul’s sad tears.
Let my tears staunch the earth’s dry appetite;
My sons’ sweet blood will make it shame and blush.
O earth, I will befriend thee more with rain,

Exeunt.

That shall distil from these two ancient ruins,
Than youthful April shall with all his showers.
In summer’s drought I’ll drop upon thee still;
In winter with warm tears I’ll melt the snow, [20]
And keep eternal spring-time on thy face,
So thou refuse to drink my dear sons’ blood.