Open Source Shakespeare

Speeches (Lines) for Chiron
in "Titus Andronicus"

Total: 30

# Act, Scene, Line
(Click to see in context)
Speech text

1

I,1,149

Tamora. O cruel, irreligious piety!

Chiron. Was ever Scythia half so barbarous?


2

II,1,577

Demetrius. Chiron, thy years want wit, thy wit wants edge,
And manners, to intrude where I am graced;
And may, for aught thou know'st, affected be.

Chiron. Demetrius, thou dost over-ween in all;
And so in this, to bear me down with braves.
'Tis not the difference of a year or two
Makes me less gracious or thee more fortunate:
I am as able and as fit as thou
To serve, and to deserve my mistress' grace;
And that my sword upon thee shall approve,
And plead my passions for Lavinia's love.


3

II,1,592

Demetrius. Why, boy, although our mother, unadvised,
Gave you a dancing-rapier by your side,
Are you so desperate grown, to threat your friends?
Go to; have your lath glued within your sheath
Till you know better how to handle it.

Chiron. Meanwhile, sir, with the little skill I have,
Full well shalt thou perceive how much I dare.


4

II,1,609

Demetrius. Not I, till I have sheathed
My rapier in his bosom and withal
Thrust these reproachful speeches down his throat
That he hath breathed in my dishonour here.

Chiron. For that I am prepared and full resolved.
Foul-spoken coward, that thunder'st with thy tongue,
And with thy weapon nothing darest perform!


5

II,1,623

Aaron. Away, I say!
Now, by the gods that warlike Goths adore,
This petty brabble will undo us all.
Why, lords, and think you not how dangerous
It is to jet upon a prince's right?
What, is Lavinia then become so loose,
Or Bassianus so degenerate,
That for her love such quarrels may be broach'd
Without controlment, justice, or revenge?
Young lords, beware! and should the empress know
This discord's ground, the music would not please.

Chiron. I care not, I, knew she and all the world:
I love Lavinia more than all the world.


6

II,1,632

Aaron. Why, are ye mad? or know ye not, in Rome
How furious and impatient they be,
And cannot brook competitors in love?
I tell you, lords, you do but plot your deaths
By this device.

Chiron. Aaron, a thousand deaths
Would I propose to achieve her whom I love.


7

II,1,651

Aaron. Why, then, it seems, some certain snatch or so
Would serve your turns.

Chiron. Ay, so the turn were served.


8

II,1,658

Aaron. Would you had hit it too!
Then should not we be tired with this ado.
Why, hark ye, hark ye! and are you such fools
To square for this? would it offend you, then
That both should speed?

Chiron. Faith, not me.


9

II,1,690

Aaron. For shame, be friends, and join for that you jar:
'Tis policy and stratagem must do
That you affect; and so must you resolve,
That what you cannot as you would achieve,
You must perforce accomplish as you may.
Take this of me: Lucrece was not more chaste
Than this Lavinia, Bassianus' love.
A speedier course than lingering languishment
Must we pursue, and I have found the path.
My lords, a solemn hunting is in hand;
There will the lovely Roman ladies troop:
The forest walks are wide and spacious;
And many unfrequented plots there are
Fitted by kind for rape and villany:
Single you thither then this dainty doe,
And strike her home by force, if not by words:
This way, or not at all, stand you in hope.
Come, come, our empress, with her sacred wit
To villany and vengeance consecrate,
Will we acquaint with all that we intend;
And she shall file our engines with advice,
That will not suffer you to square yourselves,
But to your wishes' height advance you both.
The emperor's court is like the house of Fame,
The palace full of tongues, of eyes, and ears:
The woods are ruthless, dreadful, deaf, and dull;
There speak, and strike, brave boys, and take
your turns;
There serve your lusts, shadow'd from heaven's eye,
And revel in Lavinia's treasury.

Chiron. Thy counsel, lad, smells of no cowardice,


10

II,3,854

(stage directions). [Stabs BASSIANUS]

Chiron. And this for me, struck home to show my strength.


11

II,3,866

Demetrius. Stay, madam; here is more belongs to her;
First thrash the corn, then after burn the straw:
This minion stood upon her chastity,
Upon her nuptial vow, her loyalty,
And with that painted hope braves your mightiness:
And shall she carry this unto her grave?

Chiron. An if she do, I would I were an eunuch.
Drag hence her husband to some secret hole,
And make his dead trunk pillow to our lust.


12

II,3,871

Tamora. But when ye have the honey ye desire,
Let not this wasp outlive, us both to sting.

Chiron. I warrant you, madam, we will make that sure.
Come, mistress, now perforce we will enjoy
That nice-preserved honesty of yours.


13

II,3,887

Lavinia. When did the tiger's young ones teach the dam?
O, do not learn her wrath; she taught it thee;
The milk thou suck'dst from her did turn to marble;
Even at thy teat thou hadst thy tyranny.
Yet every mother breeds not sons alike:
[To CHIRON]
Do thou entreat her show a woman pity.

Chiron. What, wouldst thou have me prove myself a bastard?


14

II,3,925

Lavinia. No grace? no womanhood? Ah, beastly creature!
The blot and enemy to our general name!
Confusion fall—

Chiron. Nay, then I'll stop your mouth. Bring thou her husband:
This is the hole where Aaron bid us hide him.
[DEMETRIUS throws the body of BASSIANUS into the]
pit; then exeunt DEMETRIUS and CHIRON, dragging
off LAVINIA]


15

II,4,1065

Demetrius. So, now go tell, an if thy tongue can speak,
Who 'twas that cut thy tongue and ravish'd thee.

Chiron. Write down thy mind, bewray thy meaning so,
An if thy stumps will let thee play the scribe.


16

II,4,1068

Demetrius. See, how with signs and tokens she can scrowl.

Chiron. Go home, call for sweet water, wash thy hands.


17

II,4,1071

Demetrius. She hath no tongue to call, nor hands to wash;
And so let's leave her to her silent walks.

Chiron. An 'twere my case, I should go hang myself.


18

IV,2,1680

(stage directions). [Enter, from one side, AARON, DEMETRIUS, and]
CHIRON; from the other side, Young LUCIUS, and an
Attendant, with a bundle of weapons, and verses
writ upon them]

Chiron. Demetrius, here's the son of Lucius;
He hath some message to deliver us.


19

IV,2,1706

Demetrius. What's here? A scroll; and written round about?
Let's see;
[Reads]
'Integer vitae, scelerisque purus,
Non eget Mauri jaculis, nec arcu.'

Chiron. O, 'tis a verse in Horace; I know it well:
I read it in the grammar long ago.


20

IV,2,1728

Demetrius. I would we had a thousand Roman dames
At such a bay, by turn to serve our lust.

Chiron. A charitable wish and full of love.


21

IV,2,1730

Aaron. Here lacks but your mother for to say amen.

Chiron. And that would she for twenty thousand more.


22

IV,2,1736

Demetrius. Why do the emperor's trumpets flourish thus?

Chiron. Belike, for joy the emperor hath a son.


23

IV,2,1764

Aaron. That which thou canst not undo.

Chiron. Thou hast undone our mother.


24

IV,2,1769

Demetrius. And therein, hellish dog, thou hast undone.
Woe to her chance, and damn'd her loathed choice!
Accursed the offspring of so foul a fiend!

Chiron. It shall not live.


25

IV,2,1803

Demetrius. By this our mother is forever shamed.

Chiron. Rome will despise her for this foul escape.


26

IV,2,1805

Nurse. The emperor, in his rage, will doom her death.

Chiron. I blush to think upon this ignomy.


27

IV,2,1862

Aaron. O Lord, sir, 'tis a deed of policy:
Shall she live to betray this guilt of ours,
A long-tongued babbling gossip? no, lords, no:
And now be it known to you my full intent.
Not far, one Muli lives, my countryman;
His wife but yesternight was brought to bed;
His child is like to her, fair as you are:
Go pack with him, and give the mother gold,
And tell them both the circumstance of all;
And how by this their child shall be advanced,
And be received for the emperor's heir,
And substituted in the place of mine,
To calm this tempest whirling in the court;
And let the emperor dandle him for his own.
Hark ye, lords; ye see I have given her physic,
[Pointing to the nurse]
And you must needs bestow her funeral;
The fields are near, and you are gallant grooms:
This done, see that you take no longer days,
But send the midwife presently to me.
The midwife and the nurse well made away,
Then let the ladies tattle what they please.

Chiron. Aaron, I see thou wilt not trust the air
With secrets.


28

V,2,2402

Demetrius. Show me a murderer, I'll deal with him.

Chiron. Show me a villain that hath done a rape,
And I am sent to be revenged on him.


29

V,2,2461

(stage directions). [Exit TAMORA]

Chiron. Tell us, old man, how shall we be employ'd?


30

V,2,2477

(stage directions). [PUBLIUS, &c. lay hold on CHIRON and DEMETRIUS]

Chiron. Villains, forbear! we are the empress' sons.