"Till we with trophies do adorn thy tomb!. [They all kneel, and fay; No man fhed tears for noble Mutius; He lives in fame, that died in virtue's cause. Mar. My Lord, to ftep out of these dreary dumps, How comes it, that the fubtle. Queen of Goths Is of a fudden thus advanc'd in Rome? Tit. I know not, Marcus; but I know it is: If by device or no, the heav'ns can tell: Is the not then beholden to the man, That brought her for this high good turn fo far? Flourish. Re-enter the Emperor, Tamora, Chiron, and Sat. Traitor, if Rome have law, or we have power, Thou and thy faction fhall repent this rape. Baf. 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; Mean while I am poffeft of that is mine. Sat. 'Tis good, Sir; you are very fhort with us. But, if we live, we'll be as fharp with you. Baf. My Lord, what I have done, as best I may, With his own hand did flay his youngest fon, A father and a friend to thee, and Rome. Tit. Prince Bafianus, leave to plead my deeds. า Tam. Not fo, my Lord; the gods of Rome fore-fend, I should be author to difhonour you! But, on mine honour dare I undertake For good Lord Titus' innocence in all; Whofe fury, not diffembled, fpeaks his griefs: Then, at my fuit, look gracioufly on him, Lofe not fo noble a friend on vain fuppofe, Nor with four looks afflict his gentle heart.. My Lord, be rul'd by me, be won at last, Diffemble all your griefs and difcontents: You are but newly planted in your throne; Left then the people and patricians too, Upon a juft furvey, take Titus' part; And fo fupplant us for ingratitude, Which Rome reputes to be a hainous fin, Yield at intreats, and then let me alone; I'll find a day to maffacre them all, And raze their faction, and their family, The cruel father, and his traiterous fons, To whom I fued for my dear fon's life: [Afide. And make them know, what 'tis to let a Queen Sat. Rife, Titus, rife; my Empress hath prevail'd. A Roman now adopted happily: And must advise the Emperor for his good. Luc. We do, and vow to heaven and to his Highness, Mar. That on mine honour here I do proteft. Sat. Away, and talk not; trouble us no more. Tam. Nay, nay, fweet Emperor, we muft all be friends. The tribune and his nephews kneel for grace, I will not be denied; sweet-heart, look back. Sat. Marcus, for thy fake and thy brother's here, And at my lovely Tamora's intreats, I do remit these young men's hainous faults, I found a friend; and, fure as death, I fwore, I would not part a batchelor from the priest. Tit. To-morrow, an it please your majesty, To hunt the Panther and the Hart with me, With horn and hound, we'll give your grace Bon-jour. Sat. Be it fo, Titus, and gramercy too. XX [Exeunt. ACT N ACT II. SCENE, before the Palace. Enter Aaron alone. AARON. OW climbeth Tamora Olympus' top, (8) Upon her wit doth earthly honour wait, (9) And mount her pitch; whom thou in triumph long (8) Now climbeth Tamora Olympus' top, Safe out of fortune's foot; aud fits aloft, Secure of thunder's crack, or lightning flash;] The images here feem to be borrow'd from Claudian's description of the fummit of Olympus, in his poem on Mallius Theodorus's confulship. ut altus Olympi Vertex, qui ftatio ventos biemefque relinquit, (9) Upon her wit doth early honour wait,] Mr. Warburton. I don't know for what reafon, or whether by chance, Mr. Rorve and Mr. Pope adopted this reading: I have reftor'd with all the old copies, earthly. Away with flavifh weeds, and idle thoughts, Enter Chiron and Demetrius, braving. Dem. Chiron, thy years want wit, thy wit wants edge To ferve, and to deferve my miftrefs' grace; Aar. Clubs, clubs!--thefe lovers will not keep the peace. Dem. Why, boy, although our mother (unadvis'd). Gave you a dancing rapier by your fide, Are you fo defperate grown to threat your friends? Chi. Mean while, Sir, with the little fkill I have, Aar. Why, how now, Lords? [They draw. So near the Emp'ror's palace dare you draw? Full well I wot the ground of all this grudge: 'The caufe were known to them it moft concerns. For fhame, put up. |