And here I swear by all the Roman gods, I will not re-falute the streets of Rome, Or climb my palace, 'till from forth this place Tam. And here in fight of heav'n to Rome I swear, She will a handmaid be to his defires, A loving nurse, a mother to his youth. Sat. Afcend, fair Queen, Pantheon; Lords, accompany Your noble Emperor, and his lovely bride, Sent by the heavens for Prince Saturnine; Whose wisdom hath her fortune conquered: There fhall we confummate our fpoufal rites. Manet Titus Andronicus. Tit. I am not bid to wait upon this bride. Titus, when were thou wont to walk alone, Dishonour'd thus, and challenged of wrongs? [Exeunt. Enter Marcus Andronicus, Lucius, Quintus, and Marcus. Mar. Oh, Titus, fee, oh, fee, what thou haft done! In a bad quarrel flain a virtuous fon. Tit. No, foolish tribune, no: no fon of mine, Unworthy brother, and unworthy fons. Luc. But let us give him burial, as becomes; Give Mutius burial with our bretheren. Tit. Traitors, away! he refts not in this tomb; Here none but foldiers, and Rome's fervitors, Sons. Sons. And shall, or him we will accompany. Tit. And shall ? what villain was it fpake that word? [Titus's fon peaks. Quin. He, that would vouch't in any place but here. Tit. What, would you bury him in my defpight? Mar. No, noble Titus; but intreat of thee To pardon Mutius, and to bury him. Tit. Marcus, ev'n thou haft ftruck upon my creft, So trouble me no more, but get you gone. [The brother and his fons kneel. The Greeks, upon advice, did bury Ajax, (7) Let not young Mutius then, that was thy joy, Tit. Rife, Marcus, rife The difmall'ft day is this, that e'er I faw, [They put him in the Tomb. Luc. There liethy bones, fweet Mutius, with thy friends, (7) The Greeks, upon advice, did bury Ajax, That flew bimfelf--] As the author before fhew'd himself acquainted with a circumftance glean'd from Euripides, we find him there, no less converfant with the Ajax of SOPHOCLES; in which Uyes and Teucer ftrenuously contend for permiffion to bury the body of Ajax, tho' he had been declared an enemy to the confederate ftates of Greece, VOL. VI. K 'Till 'Till we with trophies do adorn thy tomb! [They all kneel and fag; No man fhed tears for noble Mutius ; He lives in fame, that died in virtue's cause. Mar. My Lord, to ftep out of thefe 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 Demetrius, with Aaron the Moor, at one door. At the other door, Baffianus and Lavinia with others. Sat. So, Baffianus, you have plaid your prize; God give you joy, Sir, of your gallant bride. Baf. And you of yours, my Lord; I fay no more, Nor with no less, and so I take my leave. 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 feize 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 short with us. But, if we live, we'll be as fharp with you. my Baf. My Lord, what I have done, as best I may, With his own hand did flay his youngest fon, 2 A father and a friend to thee, and Rome. Tit. Prince Baffianus, leave to plead my deeds. Tam. Not fo, my Lord; the gods of Rome fore fend, I should be author to dishonour 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 graciously 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 Emprefs hath prevail'd. Tit. I thank your majefty, and her; my Lord, Thefe words, these looks infufe new life in me. Tam. Titus, I am incorporate in Rome, A Roman now adopted happily: your 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 protest. Sat. Away, and talk not; trouble us no more. Tam. Nay, nay, fweet Emperor, we must all be friends. The tribune and his nephews kneel for grace, I will not be denied; fweet-heart, look back. Sat. Marcus, for thy fake and thy brother's here, I do remit these young men's hainous faults. I found a friend; and, fure as death, I swore, This day fhall be a love-day, Tamora. Tit. To-morrow, an it please your majefty, 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. [Exeunt. |