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Titus Andronicus

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Act II, Scene 2

A forest near Rome. Horns and cry of hounds heard.

       
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[Enter TITUS ANDRONICUS, with Hunters, &c., MARCUS,] [p]LUCIUS, QUINTUS, and MARTIUS]

  • Titus Andronicus. 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 700
    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, 705
    But dawning day new comfort hath inspired.
    [A cry of hounds and horns, winded in a peal. Enter]
    SATURNINUS, TAMORA, BASSIANUS, LAVINIA, DEMETRIUS,
    CHIRON, and Attendants]
    Many good morrows to your majesty; 710
    Madam, to you as many and as good:
    I promised your grace a hunter's peal.
  • Saturninus. And you have rung it lustily, my lord;
    Somewhat too early for new-married ladies.
  • Lavinia. I say, no;
    I have been broad awake two hours and more.
  • Saturninus. Come on, then; horse and chariots let us have,
    And to our sport.
    [To TAMORA] 720
    Madam, now shall ye see
    Our Roman hunting.
  • Marcus Andronicus. I have dogs, my lord,
    Will rouse the proudest panther in the chase,
    And climb the highest promontory top. 725
  • Titus Andronicus. And I have horse will follow where the game
    Makes way, and run like swallows o'er the plain.
  • Demetrius. Chiron, we hunt not, we, with horse nor hound,
    But hope to pluck a dainty doe to ground.

[Exeunt]