Titus Andronicus

A Forest.

Horns and cry of hounds heard.Enter TITUS ANDRONICUS, with Hunters, &c.; MARCUS, LUCIUS, QUINTUS, and MARTIUS.

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.

Enter SATURNINUS, 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.—[To TAMORA.]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.