Sat. Thanks, sweet Lavinia.-Romans, let us go: Ransomeless here we set our prisoners free : Proclaim our honours, lords, with trump and drum. Bas. Lord Titus, by your leave, this maid is mine. [Seizing LAVINIA. Tit. How, sir? Are you in earnest then, my lord? Bas. Ay, noble Titus; and resolv'd withal, To do myself this reason and this right. [The Emperor courts TAMORA in dumb show. Mar. 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 surpriz'd. Sat. Surpriz'd! By whom? Bas. By him that justly may Bear his betroth'd from all the world away. [Exeunt MARCUS and BASSIANUS, with LA VINIA. 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. Barr'st me my way in Rome? Mut. What, villain boy! [TITUS kills MUTIUS. Help, Lucius, help! Re-enter LUCIUS. Luc. My lord, you are unjust; and, more than so, My sons would never so dishonour me: Luc. Dead, if you will; but not to be his wife, Was there none else in Rome to make a stale of, Agree these deeds with that proud brag of thine, 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: To ruffle in the commonwealth of Rome.3 Tit. These words are razors to my wounded heart. That like the stately Phoebe 'mongst her nymphs, Speak, queen of Goths, dost thou applaud my choice? And here I swear by all the Roman Gods,— -changing piece-] Spoken of Lavinia. Piece was then, as it is now, used personally as a word of contempt. 3 To ruffle in the commonwealth of Rome.] A ruffler was a kind of cheating bully; and is so called in a statute made for the punishment of vagabonds in the 27th year of King Henry VIII. Hence, perhaps, this sense of the verb, to ruffle. Rufflers are likewise enumerated among other vagabonds, by Holinshed, Vol. I. p. 188. Sith priest and holy water are so near, I will not re-salute the streets of Rome, Tam. And here, in sight of heaven, to Rome I swear, If Saturnine advance the queen of Goths, Sat, Ascend, fair queen, Pantheon :-Lords, accompany Your noble emperor, and his lovely bride, Re-enter MARCUS, LUCIUS, QUINTUS, and MARTIUS. 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: * I am not bid-] i. e. invited, Here none but soldiers, and Rome's servitors, ; Quin. Mart. And shall, or him we will accompany. Tit. And shall? What villain was it spoke that word? Quin. He that would vouch't in any place but here. Tit. What, would you bury him in my despite ? Mar. 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. Mart. He is not with himself; let us withdraw. Quin. Not I, till Mutius' bones be buried. [MARCUS and the Sons of TITUS kneel. Mar. Brother, for in that name doth nature plead. Quin. Father, and in that name doth nature speak. Tit. Speak thou no more, if all the rest will speed. Mar. Renowned Titus, more than half my soul, Luc. Dear father, soul and substance of us all,- Let not young Mutius then, that was thy joy, Tit. Rise, Marcus, rise :— The dismall'st day is this, that e'er I saw, [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. 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; That brought her for this high good turn so far? Flourish. Re-enter at one side, SATURNINUS, attended; TAMORA, CHIRON, DEMETRIUS, and AARON: At 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-betrothed love, and now my wife? But let the laws of Rome determine all; Mean while I am possess'd of that is mine. play'd your prize;] A technical term in the ancient fencing-school. |