Tit. Thanks, gentle tribune, noble brother Marcus. Marc. And welcome, nephews, from successful wars, You that survive, and you that sleep in fame: That in your country's service drew your swords. Tit. A better head her glorious body fits, Marc. Titus, thou shalt obtain and ask the empery. Sat. Proud and ambitious tribune, canst thou tell? Bass. Andronicus, I do not flatter thee, But honour thee, and will do till I die: My faction if thou strengthen with thy friends, I will most thankful be, and thanks to men Of noble minds is honourable meed. Tit. People of Rome, and people's tribunes here, I ask your voices and your suffrages; Will you bestow them friendly on Andronicus? Tit. Tribunes, I thank you: and this suit I make, That you create your emperor's eldest son, Sat. Titus Andronicus, for thy favours done I give thee thanks in part of thy deserts, Rome's royal mistress, mistress of my heart, Sat. Thanks, noble Titus, father of my life! peror; Tit. Now, madam, are you prisoner to an em[TO TAMORA. To him that, for your honour and your state, Will use you nobly, and your followers. Sat. A goodly lady, trust me, of the hue Thou com'st not to be made a scorn in Rome : Lav. Not I, my lord, sith true nobility Sat. Thanks, sweet Lavinia. Romans, let us go: Ransomless here we set our prisoners free. Proclaim our honours, lords, with trump and drum. [The Emperor courts TAMORA in aumb show. Bass. Lord Titus, by your leave, this maid is mine. [Seizing LAVINIA. Tit. How, sir? are you in earnest then, my lord? Bass. Ay, noble Titus, and resolv'd withal To do myself this reason and this right Marc. Suum cuique is our Roman justice : This prince in justice seizeth but his own. Luc. And that he will and shall, if Lucius live. Tit. Traitors, avaunt! where is the emperor's guard? Treason, my lord! Lavinia is surpris'd. Sat. Surpris'd! by whom? Bass. By him that justly may Bear his betroth'd from all the world away. [Exeunt MARCUs, and Bassianus, with LAVINIA. Mut. Brothers, help to convey her hence away, And with my sword I'll keep this door safe. [Exeunt LUCIUS, QUINTUS, and MARTIUS, Tit. Follow, my lord, and I'll soon bring her back. Mut. My lord, you pass not here. Tit. What! villain boy, barr'st me my way in [TITUS kills him. Re-enter LUCIUS. Luc. My lord, you are unjust, and more than so; In wrongful quarrel you have slain your son. Tit. Nor thou, nor he, are any sons of mine: Luc. Dead, if you will, but not to be his wife, [Exit. Enter aloft the EMPEROR, with TAMORA, and her two Sons, and AARON the Moor. Sat. No, Titus, no; the emperor needs her not, Nor her, nor thee, nor any of thy stock: I'll trust, by leisure, him that mocks me once; Thee never, nor thy traitorous haughty sons, Confederates all, thus to dishonour me. Was none in Rome to make a stale but Saturnine? Agree these deeds with that proud brag of thine, Sat. But go thy way; go, give that changing piece To him that flourish'd for her with his sword: Tit. These words are razors to my wounded Sat. And therefore, lovely Tamora, queen of That, like the stately Phoebe 'mongst her nymphs, Speak, queen of Goths; dost thou applaud my choice? swear, If Saturnine advance the queen of Goths, Sat. Ascend, fair queen, Pantheon: Lords, accompany Your noble emperor and his lovely bride, [Exeunt SATURNINUS and his Followers; Tit. I am not bid to wait upon this bride;- Re-enter MARCUS, LUCIUS, QUINTUS, and Marc. O, Titus, see! O see what thou hast done! In a bad quarrel slain a virtuous son. Tit. No, foolish tribune, no: no son of mine,Nor thou, nor these, confederates in the deed That hath dishonour'd all our family; Unworthy brother, and unworthy sons! Luc. But let us give him burial as becomes: Give Mutius burial with our brethren. Tit. Traitors, away! he rests not in this tomb: This monument five hundred years hath stood, Which I have sumptuously re-edified: Here none but soldiers, and Rome's servitors, Quint., Mart. And shall, or him we will accom Tit. What! would you bury him in my despite? Marc. No, noble Titus; but entreat of thee To pardon Mutius, and to bury him. Tit. Marcus, even thou hast struck upon my crest, And with these boys mine honour thou hast wounded: My foes I do repute you every one. So trouble me no more, but get you gone. [The Brother and the Sons kneel. Marc. Brother, for in that name doth nature plead. Quint. Father, and in that name doth nature speak. Tit. Speak thou no more, if all the rest will speed. Marc. Renowned Titus, more than half my soul! Luc. Dear father, soul and substance of us all! Marc. Suffer thy brother Marcus to inter His noble nephew here in virtue's nest, That died in honour and Lavinia's cause. Thou art a Roman, be not barbarous : The Greeks, upon advice, did bury Ajax, That slew himself: and wise Laertes' son Did graciously plead for his funerals: Let not young Mutius then, that was thy joy, Be barr'd his entrance here. The dismall'st day is this that e'er I saw, [They put MUTIUS in the Tomb. Luc. There lie thy bones, sweet Mutius, with thy friends, Till we with trophies do adorn thy tomb. [They all kneel and say, No man shed tears for noble Mutius; How comes it that the subtle queen of Goths Tit. I know not, Marcus: but I know it is; Enter the EMPEROR, TAMORA, and her two Sons, with the Moor, at one side; enter at the other side, BASSIANUS, and LAVINIA, with others. Sat. So, Bassianus, you have play'd your prize! God give you joy, sir, of your gallant bride! Bass. And you of yours, my lord. I say no more, Nor wish no less; and so I take my leave. Sat. Traitor, if Rome have law, or we have power, Thou and thy faction shall repent this rape. Bass. Rape call you it, my lord, to seize my own, My true betrothed love, and now my wife? But let the laws of Rome determine all; Meanwhile I am possess'd of that is mine. Sat. 'Tis good, sir; you are very short with us; But, if we live, we'll be as sharp with you. Bass. My lord, what I have done, as best I may With his own hand did slay his youngest son, Tit. Prince Bassianus, leave to plead my deeds: 'Tis thou, and those, that have dishonour'd me. Rome, and the righteous heavens, be my judge, How I have lov'd and honour'd Saturnine. Tam. My worthy lord, if ever Tamora Sat. What, madam! be dishonour'd openly, Tam. Not so, my lord; the gods of Rome forfend I should be author to dishonour you. But on mine honour, dare I undertake For good lord Titus' innocence in all; Whose fury not dissembled speaks his griefs: Then, at my suit, look graciously on him: Lose not so noble a friend on vain suppose; Nor with sour looks afflict his gentle heart. My lord, be rul'd by me, be won at last; Dissemble all your griefs and discontents: You are but newly planted in your throne; Lest then the people, and patricians too, Upon a just survey take Titus' part, And so supplant us for ingratitude, Which Rome reputes to be a heinous sin, Yield at entreats, and then let me alone: I'll find a day to massacre them all; [The preceding fourteen lines are spoken aside. Come, come, sweet emperor; come, Andronicus; Take up this good old man, and cheer the heart That dies in tempest of thy angry frown. King. Rise, Titus, rise; my empress hath prevail'd. Tit. I thank your majesty, and her, my lord. These words, these looks, infuse new life in me. Tam. Titus, I am incorporate in Rome, A Roman now adopted happily, And must advise the emperor for his good. This day all quarrels die, Andronicus; And let it be mine honour, good my lord, That I have reconcil'd your friends and you. For you, prince Bassianus, I have pass'd My word and promise to the emperor, That you will be more mild and tractable : And fear not, lords: and you, Lavinia, By my advice, all humbled on your knees, You shall ask pardon of his majesty. Luc. We do; and vow to heaven, and to his highness, That what we did was mildly, as we might, Marc. That on mine honour here I do protest. The tribune and his nephews kneel for grace; I do remit these young men's heinous faults. I would not part a bachelor from the priest. Tit. To-morrow, an it please your majesty, 17 Aaron. Now climbeth Tamora Olympus' top, Upon her wit doth earthly honour wait, Enter CHIRON, and DEMETRIUS, braving. Demet. Chiron, thy years want wit, thy wit wants edge, And manners, to intrude where I am grac'd; Chi. Demetrius, thou dost overween in all; 'Tis not the difference of a year or two To serve, and to deserve my mistress's grace; Aaron. Clubs, clubs! these lovers will not keep the peace. Demet. Why, boy, although our mother, unadvis'd. 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. Chi. Meanwhile, sir, with the little skill I have. Full well I wot the ground of all this grudge; The cause were known to them it most concerns. Demet. Chi. For that I am prepar'd, and full resolv'd, Foul-spoken coward, that thund'rest with thy tongue, And with thy weapon nothing dar'st perform. Now, by the gods that warlike Goths adore, Why, lords, and think you not how dangerous That for her love such quarrels may be broach'd, Young lords, beware; and should the empress know This discord's ground, the music would not please. Chi. I care not, I, knew she, and all the world, I love Lavinia more than all the world. Demet. Youngling, learn thou to make some meaner choice: Lavinia is thine elder brother's hope. 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 Chi. Aaron, a thousand deaths would I propose, To achieve her whom I do love. Aaron. To achieve her, how? Demet. Why mak'st thou it so strange? She is a woman, therefore may be woo'd; She is a woman, therefore may be won; She is Lavinia, therefore must be lov'd. What, man! more water glideth by the mill Than wots the miller of; and easy it is Of a cut loaf to steal a shive, we know: Though Bassianus be the emperor's brother, Better than he have worn Vulcan's badge. Aaron. Ay, and as good as Saturninus may. Demet. Then why should he despair that knows to court it With words, fair looks, and liberality? 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 A speedier course than ling'ring languishment Enter TITUS ANDRONICUS, his three Sons, and MARCUS, making a noise with hounds and horns. 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. Here a cry of hounds, and wind horns in a peal; then enter SATURNINUS, TAMORA, BASSIANUS, LAVINIA, CHIRON, DEMETRIUS, and their Attend ants. Tit. Many good morrows to your majesty; I say no: And to our sport: madam, now shall ye see Marc. Tit. And I have horse will follow where the game Makes way, and run like swallows o'er the plain. Demet. Chiron, we hunt not, we, with horse nor hound; But hope to pluck a dainty doe to ground. [Exeunt. SCENE III.-The Forest. Enter AARON. Aaron. He that had wit would think that I had none, To bury so much gold under a tree, A very excellent piece of villainy : Enter TAMORA. Tam. My lovely Aaron, wherefore look'st thou sad, |