Shall we be thus afflicted in his wreaks,
His fits, his frenzy, and his bitterness? 12
And now he writes to heaven for his redress:
See, here's to Jove, and this to Mercury;
This to Apollo; this to the god of war;
Sweet scrolls to fly about the streets of Rome! 16
What's this but libelling against the senate,
And blazoning our injustice everywhere?
A goodly humour, is it not, my lords?
As who would say, in Rome no justice were. 20
But if I live, his feigned ecstasies
Shall be no shelter to these outrages;
But he and his shall know that justice lives
In Saturninus' health; whom, if she sleep, 24
He'll so awake, as she in fury shall
Cut off the proud'st conspirator that lives.
Tam. My gracious lord, my lovely Saturnine,
Lord of my life, commander of my thoughts, 28
Calm thee, and bear the faults of Titus' age,
Th' effects of sorrow for his valiant sons,
Whose loss hath pierc'd him deep and scarr'd his heart;
And rather comfort his distressed plight 32
Than prosecute the meanest or the best
For these contempts.—[Aside.] Why, thus it shall become
High-witted Tamora to gloze with all:
But, Titus, I have touch'd thee to the quick, 36
Thy life-blood out: if Aaron now be wise,
Then is all safe, the anchor's in the port.
Enter Clown.
How now, good fellow! wouldst thou speak with us?
11 wreaks: revenges
21 ecstasies: insanity
25 as: that
35 High-witted: cunning
gloze: beguile
