Caius and Valentine, lay hands on them;
Oft have you heard me wish for such an hour, 160
And now I find it: therefore bind them sure,
[And stop their mouths, if they begin to cry.]
[Exit. Publius and the Others lay
hold on Chiron and Demetrius.]
Chi. Villains, forbear! we are the empress' sons.
Pub. And therefore do we what we are commanded. 164
Stop close their mouths, let them not speak a word.
Is he sure bound: look that you bind them fast.
Enter Titus Andronicus with a knife, and Lavinia with a basin.
Tit. Come, come, Lavinia; look, thy foes are bound.
Sirs, stop their mouths, let them not speak to me, 168
But let them hear what fearful words I utter.
O villains, Chiron and Demetrius!
Here stands the spring whom you have stain'd with mud,
This goodly summer with your winter mix'd. 172
You kill'd her husband, and for that vile fault
Two of her brothers were condemn'd to death,
My hand cut off and made a merry jest:
Both her sweet hands, her tongue, and that more dear 176
Than hands or tongue, her spotless chastity,
Inhuman traitors, you constrain'd and forc'd.
What would you say if I should let you speak?
Villains! for shame you could not beg for grace. 180
Hark, wretches! how I mean to martyr you.
This one hand yet is left to cut your throats,
Whilst that Lavinia 'tween her stumps doth hold
The basin that receives your guilty blood. 184
