Daunt all your hopes: madam, he comforts you Lav. Not I, my lord; sith true nobility Sat. Thanks, sweet Lavinia.-Romans, let us go: [Flourish. Saturninus courts Tamora in dumb show. Bas. Lord Titus, by your leave, this maid is mine. [Seizing Lavinia. Tit. How, sir! are you in earnest, then, my lord? 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? Bas. By him that justly may Bear his betroth'd from all the world away. [Exeunt Bassianus and Marcus 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! [Stabbing Mutius. Help, Lucius, help! [Dies. 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; My sons would never so dishonour me: Luc. Dead, if you will; but not to be his wife, That is another's lawful promis'd love. Sat. No, Titus, no; the emperor needs her not, (13) 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, Was none in Rome to make a stale,(14) Agree these deeds with that proud brag of thine, [Exit. Tit. O monstrous! what reproachful words are these? Sat. But go thy ways; go, give that changing piece To him that flourish'd for her with his sword: A valiant son-in-law thou shalt enjoy; One fit to bandy with thy lawless sons, To ruffle in the commonwealth of Rome. Tit. These words are razors to my wounded heart. Speak, Queen of Goths, dost thou applaud my choice? I will not re-salute the streets of Rome, Or climb my palace, till from forth this place I lead espous'd my bride along with me. Tam. And here, in sight of heaven, to Rome I swear, If Saturnine advance the Queen of Goths, She will a handmaid be to his desires, A loving nurse, a mother to his youth. Sat. Ascend, fair queen, Pantheon.-Lords, accom pany Your noble emperor and his lovely bride, Sent by the heavens for Prince Saturnine, Whose wisdom hath her fortune conquerèd: There shall we cónsummate our spousal rites. [Exeunt Saturninus attended, Tamora, Demetrius, Chiron, Aaron, and Goths. Tit. I am not bid to wait upon this bride:— Titus, when wert thou wont to walk alone, Dishonour'd thus, and challengèd of wrongs? Re-enter MARCUS, LUCIUS, QUINTUS, and MARTIUS. Tit. No, foolish tribune, no; no son of mine,— Luc. But let us give him burial, as becomes; Tit. Traitors, away! he rests not in this tomb :— Here none but soldiers and Rome's servitors Quin. Mart. And shall, or him we will accompany. 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. Mart. He is not with himself; let us withdraw. Quin. Not I, till Mutius' bones be buried. [Marcus and the Sons of Titus kneel. Marc. Brother, for in that name doth nature plead,— Tit. [Mutius is put into the tomb. Luc. There lie thy bones, sweet Mutius, with thy friends, Till we with trophies do adorn thy tomb. All. [kneeling] No man shed tears for noble Mutius; He lives in fame that died in virtue's cause.(16) Marc. My lord,-to step out of these dreary(17) dumps,— How comes it that the subtle Queen of Goths Is of a sudden thus advanc'd in Rome? Tit. I know not, Marcus; but I know it is,- That brought her for this high good turn so far? Flourish. Re-enter, from one side, SATURNINUS attended, TAMORA, DEMETRIUS, CHIRON, and AARON; from the other, BASSIANUS, LAVINIA, and others. Sat. So, Bassianus, you have play'd your prize: God give you joy, sir, of your gallant bride! Bas. 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. Bas. Rape, call you it, my lord, to seize my own, My true-betrothèd 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; Bas. 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: Tam. My worthy lord, if ever Tamora Sat. What, madam! be dishonour'd openly, And basely put it up without revenge? 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. |