Full well, Andronicus, Agree these deeds with that proud brag of thine, TIT. O monstrous! what reproachful words are these? 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? Sith priest and holy water are so near, And tapers burn so bright, and everything 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, accompany Your noble emperor and his lovely bride, Sent by the heavens for prince Saturnine, Whose wisdom hath her fortune conquered : There shall we consummate our spousal rites. [Exeunt SATURNINE and his Followers; TAMORA, and her Sons; 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 challenged 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, QUINT., 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. QUINT. Not I, till Mutius' bones be buried. [The Brother and the Sons kneel. His noble nephew here in virtue's nest, Thou art a Roman, be not barbarous : Let not young Mutius then, that was thy joy, TIT. Rise, Marcus, rise! [They put MUTIUS in the tomb. LUC. There lie thy bones, sweet Mutius, with thy friends, Till we with trophies do adorn thy tomb. No man shed tears for noble Mutius; [They all kneel, and say, He lives in fame that died in virtue's cause. [Exeunt all but MARCUS and TITUS. MARC. My lord, to step out of these sudden 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: Whether by device, or no, the heavens can tell ; Is she not then beholding to the man That brought her for this high good turn so far? 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, SAT. "T is good, sir; you are very short with us; But, if we live, we 'll be as sharp with you. With his own hand did slay his youngest son, TIT. Prince Bassianus, leave to plead my deeds: 'T is 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 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 I'll find a day to massacre them all; [The preceding fourteen lines are spoken aside. SAT. Rise, Titus, rise; 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, That what we did was mildly, as we might, Tend'ring our sister's honour and our own. MARC. That on mine honour here I do protest. SAT. Away, and talk not; trouble us no more.— TAM. Nay, nay, sweet emperor, we must all be friends: The tribune and his nephews kneel for grace ; I will not be denied. Sweet heart, look back. SAT. Marcus, for thy sake, and thy brother's here, And at my lovely Tamora's entreats, I do remit these young men's heinous faults. Stand up. Lavinia, though you left me like a churl, I would not part a bachelor from the priest. |