Titus Andronicus
Titus Andronicus
The Lamentable Tragedy of Titus Andronicus, often shortened to Titus Andronicus, is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1588 and 1593. It is thought to be Shakespeare's first tragedy and is often seen as his attempt to emulate the violent and bloody revenge plays of his contemporaries, which were extremely popular with audiences throughout the 16th century.
"In peace and honour rest you here, my sons; Romes readiest champions, repose you here in rest, Secure from worldly chances and mishaps! Here lurks no treason, here no envy swells, Here grow no damned drugs, here are no storms, No noise, but silence and eternal sleep: In peace and honour rest you here, my sons!"
"Even now I curse the day, — and yet, I think, Few come within the compass of my curse, — Wherein I did not some notorious ill; As kill a man, or else devise his death; Ravish a maid, or plot the way to do it; Accuse some innocent, and forswear myself; Set deadly enmity between two friends; Make poor mens cattle break their necks; Set fire on barns and hay-stacks in the night, And bid the owners quench them with their tears. Oft have I diggd up dead men from their graves, And set them upright at their dear friends doors, Even when their sorrows almost were forgot; And on their skins, as on the bark of trees, Have with my knife carved in Roman letters, Let not your sorrow die, though I am dead. Tut, I have done a thousand dreadful things As willingly as one would kill a fly; And nothing grieves me heartily indeed, But that I cannot do ten thousand more."
"Sweet mercy is nobilitys true badge."
"The dismallst day is this that eer I saw, To be dishonourd by my sons in Rome! Well, bury him, and bury me next."
"Content thee, prince; I will restore to thee The peoples hearts, and wean them from themselves."
"She is a woman, therefore may be wood; She is a woman, therefore may be won; She is Lavinia, therefore must be lovd. What, man! more water glideth by the mill Than wots the miller of; and easy it is Of a cut loaf to steal a shive."
"O happy man! they have befriended thee. Why, foolish Lucius, dost thou not perceive That Rome is but a wilderness of tigers? Tigers must prey, and Rome affords no prey But me and mine: how happy art thou, then, From these devourers to be banished!"
"Weke, weke! so cries a pig prepared to the spit."
"The eagle suffers little birds to sing."
"My lord, be ruld by me, be won at last; Dissemble all your griefs and discontents. You are but newly planted in your throne; Lest, then, the people, and patricians too, Upon a just survey, take Titus part, And so supplant you for ingratitude, (Which Rome reputes to be a heinous sin,) Yield at entreats; and then let me alone: Ill find a day to massacre them all, And raze their faction and their family, The cruel father and his traitorous sons, To whom I sued for my dear sons life; And make them know, what t is to let a queen Kneel in the streets and beg for grace in vain. — Come, come, sweet Emperor. — Come, Andronicus. — Take up this good old man, and cheer the heart That dies in tempest of thy angry frown."
"Villain, I have done thy mother."
"If there be devils, would I were a devil, To live and burn in everlasting fire, So I might have your company in hell, But to torment you with my bitter tongue!"
