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Scene II.—: A Forest. - William Shakespeare, Titus Andronicus [1594]

Edition used:

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (The Oxford Shakespeare), ed. with a glossary by W.J. Craig M.A. (Oxford University Press, 1916).

Part of: The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (The Oxford Shakespeare)

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Scene II.—

A Forest.

Horns and cry of hounds heard. EnterTitus Andronicus,with Hunters, &c.;Marcus, Lucius, Quintus,andMartius.

Tit.

The hunt is up, the morn is bright and grey,

The fields are fragrant and the woods are green.

Uncouple here and let us make a bay,

And wake the emperor and his lovely bride,

And rouse the prince and ring a hunter’s peal,

That all the court may echo with the noise.

Sons, let it be your charge, as it is ours,

To attend the emperor’s person carefully:

I have been troubled in my sleep this night,

But dawning day new comfort hath inspir’d.

[A cry of hounds, and horns winded in a peal.

EnterSaturninus, Tamora, Bassianus, Lavinia, Demetrius, Chiron,and Attendants.

Many good morrows to your majesty;

Madam, to you as many and as good;

I promised your Grace a hunter’s peal.

Sat.

And you have rung it lustily, my lord;

Somewhat too early for new-married ladies.

Bas.

Lavinia, how say you?

Lav.

I say, no;

I have been broad awake two hours and more.

Sat.

Come on, then; horse and chariots let us have,

And to our sport.—[ToTamora.] Madam, now shall ye see

Our Roman hunting.

Mar.

I have dogs, my lord,

Will rouse the proudest panther in the chase,

And climb the highest promontory top.

Tit.

And I have horse will follow where the game

Makes way, and run like swallows o’er the plain.

Dem.

[Aside.] Chiron, we hunt not, we, with horse nor hound,

But hope to pluck a dainty doe to ground.

[Exeunt.