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As Pompey was, am I compell'd to set

Upon one battle all our liberties.

You know that I held Epicurus strong,
And his opinion: now I change my mind,
And partly credit things that do presage.
Coming from Sardis, on our former ensign
Two mighty eagles fell; and there they perch'd,
Gorging and feeding from our soldiers' hands,
Who to Philippi here consorted us:

This morning are they fled away and gone;

And in their steads do ravens, crows, and kites,
Fly o'er our heads, and downward look on us,
As we were sickly prey; their shadows seem
A canopy most fatal, under which

Our army lies, ready to give up the ghost.

MES. Believe not so.
CAS.

I but believe it partly; For I am fresh of spirit, and resolv'd

To meet all perils very constantly.

[Advancing.

BRU. Even so, Lucilius.
CAS.
The gods to-day stand friendly, that we may,
Lovers in peace, lead on our days to age!
But, since the affairs of men rest still incertain,
Let's reason with the worst that may befall,
If we do lose this battle, then is this
The very last time we shall speak together:
What are you, then, determined to do?

Now, most noble Brutus,

BRU. Even by the rule of that philosophy
By which I did blame Cato for the death
Which he did give himself:-I know not how,
But I do find it cowardly and vile,

For fear of what might fall, so to prevent
The time of life:-arming myself with patience,
To stay the providence of some high powers,
That govern us below.

CAS.

Then, if we lose this battle,

You are contented to be led in triumph

Thorough the streets of Rome?

BRU. No, Cassius, no: think not, thou noble

Roman,

That ever Brutus will go bound to Rome;

He bears too great a mind. But this same day
Must end that work the ides of March begun;
And whether we shall meet again I know not.
Therefore our everlasting farewell take:-
For ever, and for ever, farewell, Cassius!
If we do meet again, why, we shall smile;

If not, why, then, this parting was well made.

CAS. For ever, and for ever, farewell, Brutus!

If we do meet again, we 'll smile indeed;

If not, 't is true this parting was well made.

BRU. Why then, lead on.-O, that a man might

know

The end of this day's business ere it come!

But it sufficeth that the day will end,

And then the end is known.-Come, ho! away!

Mark Antony is in your tents, my lord!
Fly therefore, noble Cassius, fly far off!

CAS. This hill is far enough. Look, look, Titinius;
Are those my tents where I perceive the fire?
TIT. They are, my lord.
CAS.
Titinius, if thou lov'st me
Mount thou my horse, and hide thy spurs in him,
Till he have brought thee up to yonder troops,
And here again; that I may rest assur'd
Whether yond troops are friend or enemy.
TIT. I will be here again, even with a thought.

CAS. Go, Pindarus, get higher on that hill;

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[Exit.

Far from this country Pindarus shall run,
Where never Roman shall take note of him. [Exit.

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Another Part of the

Alarum. Enter CASSIUS and TITINIUS.
CAS. O, look, Titinius, look, the villains fly!
Myself have to mine own turn'd enemy:
This ensign here of mine was turning back;
I slew the coward, and did take it from him.

TIT. O, Cassius, Brutus gave the word too early:
Who, having some advantage on Octavius,
Took it too eagerly; his soldiers fell to spoil,
Whilst we by Antony are all inclos'd.

Enter PINDARUS.

PIN. Fly further off, my lord, fly further off!

Come down behold no more

My sight was ever thick; regard Titinius,
And tell me what thou not'st about the field.-
[Exit PINDARUS.
This day I breathed first: time is come round, .
And where I did begin, there shall I end;
My life is run his compass.-Sirrah, what news?
PIN. [Above.] O my lord!

CAS. What news?

PIN. [Above.] Titinius is inclosed round about With horsemen that make to him on the spur;Yet he spurs on.-Now they are almost on him;Now, Titinius!-Now some 'light:-O, he 'lights too:He's ta'en;-and hark! they shout for joy. [Shout. CAS. Come down, behold no more. O, coward that I am, to live so long, To see my best friend ta'en before my face! Enter PINDARUS.

Come hither, sirrah:

In Parthia did I take thee prisoner;
And then I swore thee, saving of thy life,

Re-enter TITINIUS, with MESSALA. MES. It is but change, Titinius; for Octavius Is overthrown by noble Brutus' power,

As Cassius' legions are by Antony.

TIT. These tidings will well comfort Cassius.
MES. Where did you leave him?
TIT.

All disconsolate,
With Pindarus his bondman, on this hill.
MES. Is not that he that lies upon the ground?
TIT. He lies not like the living.-O, my heart!
MES. Is not that he?
TIT.
No, this was he, Messala,
But Cassius is no more.-O, setting sun!
As in thy red rays thou dost sink to night,
So in his red blood Cassius' day is set,-
The sun of Rome is set! Our day is gone;
Clouds, dews, and dangers come; our deeds are done!
Mistrust of my success hath done this deed.

MES. Mistrust of good success hath done this deed.

O, hateful Error, Melancholy's child!

Why dost thou show to the apt thoughts of men
The things that are not? O, Error, soon conceiv'd,
Thou never com'st unto a happy birth,
But kill'st the mother that engender'd thee.

TIT. What, Pindarus! where art thou, Pindarus?
MES. Seek him, Titinius: whilst I go to meet
The noble Brutus, thrusting this report
Into his ears: I may say, thrusting it;
For piercing steel, and darts envenomed,
Shall be as welcome to the ears of Brutus
As tidings of this sight.

TIT.

Hie you, Messala,

And I will seek for Pindarus the while.

[Exit MESSALA.
Why didst thou send me forth, brave Cassius?
Did I not meet thy friends? and did not they
Put on my brows this wreath of victory,

LUCIL. O, young and noble Cato, art thou down? Thou know'st that we two went to school together;
Why, now thou diest as bravely as Titinius;
Even for that our love of old, I pr'ythee,
And mayst be honour'd, being Cato's son.
Hold thou my sword-hilts, whilst I run on it.
I SOLD. Yield, or thou diest!
VOL. That's not an office for a friend, my lord.
LUCIL.
Only I yield to die:
[Alarum stil
There is so much that thou wilt kill me straight;
CLI. Fly, fly, my lord! there is no tarrying here.
[Offering money.
BRU. Farewell to you; and you;-and you,
Volumnius.-

Kill Brutus, and be honour'd in his death.
I SOLD. We must not.-A noble prisoner!

2 SOLD. Room, ho! Tell Antony, Brutus is ta'en.
I SOLD. I'll tell the news.-Here comes the
general:-

Enter ANTONY.

Brutus is ta'en, Brutus is ta'en, my lord!
ANT. Where is he?

LUCIL. Safe, Antony; Brutus is safe enough:

And bid me give it thee? Didst thou not hear their I dare assure thee that no enemy

shouts?.

Alas, thou hast misconstru'd everything!

But hold thee, take this garland on thy brow;
Thy Brutus bid me give it thee, and I
Will do his bidding.-Brutus, come apace,
And see how I regarded Caius Cassius.-
By your leave, gods:-this is a Roman's part:
Come, Cassius' sword, and find Titinius' heart. [Dies.

Alarum. Re-enter MESSALA, with BRUTUS, YOUNG
CATO, STRATO, VOLUMNIUS, and LUCILIUS.
BRU. Where, where, Messala, doth his body lie?
MES. Lo, yonder; and Titinius mourning it.
BRU. Titinius' face is upward.
CATO.

He is slain.

BRU. O, Julius Cæsar, thou art mighty yet!
Thy spirit walks abroad, and turns our swords
In our own proper entrails.
CATO.

[Low alarums.

Brave Titinius!

Look, whêr he have not crown'd dead Cassius!
BRU. Are yet two Romans living such as these ?-
The last of all the Romans, fare thee well!
It is impossible that ever Rome

Should breed thy fellow.-Friends, I owe more tears
To this dead man than you shall see me pay.-

I shall find time, Cassius, I shall find time.-
Come, therfeore, and to Thassos send his body;
His funerals shall not be in our camp,
Lest it discomfort us.-Lucilius, come;
And come, young Cato; let us to the field.-
Labeo, and Flavius, set our battles on:-
'Tis three o'clock; and, Romans, yet ere night
We shall try fortune in a second fight.

[Exeunt.

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Shall ever take alive the noble Brutus:
The gods defend him from so great a shame'
When you do find him, or alive or dead,
He will be found like Brutus, like himself.
ANT. This is not Brutus, friend; but, I assure

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CLI. O, Dardanius!
DAR. O, Clitus!

CLI. What ill request did Brutus make to thee?
DAR. To kill him, Clitus. Look, he meditates.
CLI. Now is that noble vessel full of grief,
That it runs over even at his eyes.

BRU. Come hither, good Volumnius; list a word.
VOL. What says my lord?
BRU.
Why, this, Volumnius:
The ghost of Cæsar hath appear'd to me
Two several times by night,-at Sardis once,
And, this last night, here in Philippi fields.
I know my hour is come.
VOL.
Not so, my lord.
BRU. Nay, I am sure it is, Volumnius.
Thou seest the world, Volumnius, how it goes;
Our enemies have beat us to the pit:

[Loud alarums.

It is more worthy to leap in ourselves,
Than tarry till they push us. Good Volumnius,

Strato, thou hast been all this while asleep;
Farewell to thee too, Strato.-Countrymen,
My heart doth joy that yet, in all my life,
I found no man but he was true to me.
I shall have glory by this losing day,
More than Octavius and Mark Antony
By this vile conquest shall attain unto.
So, fare you well at once; for Brutus' tongue
Hath almost ended his life's history:

Night hangs upon mine eyes; my bones would rest,
That have but labour'd to attain this hour.

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I pr'ythee, Strato, stay thou by thy lord:
Thou art a fellow of a good respect;

Thy life hath had some smatch of honour in it:
Hold then my sword, and turn away thy face,
While I do run upon it. Wilt thou, Strato?

STRA. Give me your hand first: fare you well, my
lord.

BRU. Farewell, good Strato.-Cæsar, now be stil: I kill'd not thee with half so good a will.

[Runs on his sword, and dies.
Alarum. Retreat. Enter OCTAVIUS, ANTONY,
MESSALA, LUCILIUS, and Army.
OCT. What man is that?
MES. My master's man.-Strato, where is thy
master?

STRA. Free from the bondage you are in, Messala:
The conquerors can but make a fire of him;
For Brutus only overcame himself.
And no man else hath honour by his death.
LUCIL. So Brutus should be found.-I thank thee,
Brutus,

That thou hast prov'd Lucilius' saying true.
OCT. All that serv'd Brutus, I will entertain
them.-

Fellow, wilt thou bestow thy time with me?
STRA. Ay, if Messala will prefer me to you.
OCT. Do so, good Messala.

MES.

How died my master, Strato?
STRA. I held the sword, and he did run on it.
MES. Octavius, then take him to follow thee,
That did the latest service to my master.

ANT. This was the noblest Roman of them all:
All the conspirators, save only he,
Did that they did in envy of great Cæsar;
He only, in a general honest thought,
And common good to all, made one of them.
His life was gentle; and the elements
So mix'd in him, that Nature might stand up,
And say to all the world, This was a man!

OCT. According to his virtue let us use him,
With all respect and rites of burial.
Within my tent his bones to-night shall lie
Most like a soldier, order'd honourably. -
So, call the field to rest: and let's away,
To part the glories of this happy day.

[Exeunt.

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The Tomb of the Andronici appearing, Tribunes and Senators, aloft; and then enter, below, SATURNINUS and his Followers from one side, and BASSIANUS and his Followers from the other, with drum and colours.

SAT. Noble patricians, patrons of my right, Defend the justice of my cause with arms;

ACT I.

SCENE I.-Rome. Before the Capitol. And, countrymen, my loving followers, I am his first-born son, that was the last Plead my successive title with your swords : That wore the imperial diadem of Rome; Then let my father's honours live in me, Nor wrong mine age with this indignity. BASS. Romans, friends, followers, favourers my right,

If ever Bassianus, Cæsar's son,
Were gracious in the eyes of royal Rome,
Keep, then, this passage to the Capitol;
And suffer not dishonour to approach
The imperial seat, to virtue consecrate,
To justice, continence, and nobility:
of But let desert in pure election shine;

And, Romans, fight for freedom in your choice.

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Enter MARCUS ANDRONICUS, aloft, with the crown. MARC. Princes,-that strive by factions and by friends

Ambitiously for rule and empery,

Know that the people of Rome, for whom we stand
A special party, have, by common voice,

In election for the Roman empery,
Chosen Andronicus, surnamed Pius,

For many good and great deserts to Rome:
A nobler an, a braver warrior,

Lives not this day within the city walls.

He by the senate is accited home,

From weary wars against the barbarous Goths;
That, with his sons, a terror to our foes,
Hath yok'd a nation strong, train'd up in arms.

BASS. Marcus Andronicus, so do I affy
In thy uprightness and integrity,
And so I love and honour thee and thine,
Thy noble brother Titus and his sons,
And her to whom my thoughts are humbled all,
Gracious Lavinia, Rome's rich ornament,
That I will here dismiss my loving friends;
And to my fortunes and the people's favour
Commit my cause in balance to be weigh'd.

[Exeunt the Followers of BASSIANUS. SÁT. Friends, that have been thus forward in my right,

I thank you all, and here dismiss you all ;
And to the love and favour of my country
Commit myself, my person, and the cause.

[Exeunt the Followers of SATURNINUS.

And at thy feet I kneel, with tears of joy.

Ten years are spent since first he undertook This cause of Rome, and chastised with arms Our enemies' pride: five times he hath return'd Bleeding to Rome, bearing his valiant sons

In coffins from the field;

And now at last, laden with honour's spoils,
Returns the good Andronicus to Rome,

Renowned Titus, flourishing in arms.

Let us retreat,-by honour of his name,

Whom worthily you would have now succeed,

And in the Capitol and senate's right,
Whom you pretend to honour and adore,-

That you withdraw you, and abate your strength;
Dismiss your followers, and, as suitors should,
Plead your deserts in peace and humbleness.

Rome, be as just and gracious unto me, As I am confident and kind to thee.Open the gates and let me in. BASS. Tribunes, and me, a poor competitor. [Flourish. SATURNINUS and BASSIANUS go up into the Capitol.

Enter a Captain, and others.

CAP. Romans, make way: the good Andronicus, Patron of virtue, Rome's best champion, Successful in the battles that he fights, With honour and with fortune is return'd From where he circumscribed with his sword, And brought to yoke, the enemies of Rome.

SAT. How fair the tribune speaks to calm my [Drums and trumpets sound, and then enter MARTIUS thoughts! and MUTIUS. After them two Men bearing a coffin

covered with black: then LUCIUS and QUINTUS. After them TITUS ANDRONICUS; and then TAMORA, the Queen of Goths, with ALARBUS, DEMETRIUS, CHIRON, AARON the Moor, and other Goths, prisoners, Soldiers, and People following. The Bearers set down the coffin, and TITUS speaks.

TIT. Hail, Rome, victorious in thy mourning weeds!

Lo, as the bark that hath discharg'd his fraught,
Returns with precious lading to the bay
From whence at first she weigh'd her anchorage,
Cometh Andronicus, bound with laurel boughs,
To re-salute his country with his tears,
Tears of true joy for his return to Rome.-
Thou great defender of this Capitol,
Stand gracious to the rites that we intend!-
Romans, of five-and-twenty valiant sons,
Half of the number that king Priam had,
Behold the poor remains, alive and dead!
These that survive, let Rome reward with love;
These that I bring unto their latest home,

With burial amongst their ancestors:

Here Goths have given me leave to sheathe my sword.
Titus, unkind, and careless of thine own,
Why suffer'st thou thy sons, unburied yet,
To hover on the dreadful shore of Styx?
Make way to lay them by their brethren.-

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[They open the tomb.

There greet in silence, as the dead are wont,
And sleep in peace, slain in your country's wars!
O, sacred receptacle of my joys,

Sweet cell of virtue and nobility,

How many sons of mine hast thou in store,

That thou wilt never render to me more!

Luc. Give us the proudest prisoner of the Goths, That we may hew his limbs, and, on a pile,

Ad manes fratrum, sacrifice his flesh,

Before this earthy prison of their bones;

That so the shadows be not unappeas'd,

Nor we disturb'd with prodigies on earth.

TIT. I give him you,-the roblest that survives.

The eldest son of this distressed queen.

TAM. Stay, Roman brethren!-Gracious conqueror, Victorious Titus, rue the tears I shed,

A mother's tears in passion for her son:

And if thy sons were ever dear to thee,

O, think my sons to be as dear to me!
Sufficeth not, that we are brought to Rome

To beautify thy triumphs and return,

Captive to thee and to thy Roman yoke;
But must my sons be slaughter'd in the streets,
For valiant doings in their country's cause?
O, if to fight for king and commonweal
Were piety in thine, it is in these!
Andronicus, stain not thy tomb with blood:
Wilt thou draw near the nature of the gods?
Draw near them, then, in being merciful:
Sweet mercy is nobility's true badge.
Thrice-noble Titus, spare my first-born son.

TIT. Patient yourself, madam, and pardon me.
These are their brethren, whom you Goths beheld
Alive and dead; and for their brethren slain
Religiously they ask a sacrifice:

To this your son is mark'd; and die he must,
To appease their groaning shadows that are gone.
LUC. Away with him! and make a fire straight;
And with our swords, upon a pile of wood,
Let's hew his limbs till they be clean consum'd.
[Exeunt LUCIUS, QUINTUS, MARTIUS, and
MUTIUS, with ALARBUS.
TAM. O cruel, irreligious piety!

CHI. Was ever Scythia half so barbarous ? DEMET. Oppose not Scythia to ambitious Rome. Alarbus goes to rest; and we survive

To tremble under Titus' threatening looks.
Then, madam, stand resolv'd; but hope withal.
The self-same gods, that arm'd the queen of Troy
With opportunity of sharp revenge

Upon the Thracian tyrant in his tent,
May favour Tamora, the queen of Goths,
(When Goths were Goths, and Tamora was queen)
To quit the bloody wrongs upon her foes.
Re-enter LUCIUS, QUINTUS, MARTIUS, and MUTIUS,
with their swords bloody.

Luc. See, lord and father, how we have perform'd Our Roman rites: Alarbus' limbs are lopp'd, And entrails feed the sacrificing fire, Whose smoke, like incense, doth perfume the sky. Remaineth nought, but to inter our brethren, And with loud "larums welcome them to Rome. TIT. Let it be so; and let Andronicus

Make this his latest farewell to their souls.

[Fourish of Trumpets, and they lay the coffin
in the tomb.

In peace and honour rest you here, my sons;
Rome's readiest champions, repose you here in rest,
Secure from worldly chances and mishaps!
Here lurks no treason, here no envy swells,

Here grow no damned grudges; here are no storms,
No noise, but silence and eternal sleep:

In peace and honour rest you here, my sons!

Enter LAVINIA.

LAV. In peace and honour live lord Titus long;
My noble lord and father, live in fame!
Lo, at this tomb my tributary tears
I render for my brethren's obsequies:
And at thy feet I kneel, with tears of joy
Shed on the earth for thy return to Rome.

, bless me here with thy victorious hand,
Whose fortunes Rome's best citizens applaud!
TIT. Kind Rome, that hast thus lovingly reserv'd
The cordial of mine age to glad my heart!
Lavinia, live; outlive thy father's days,
And fame's eternal date, for virtue's praise!

Enter, below, MARCUS ANDRONICUs and Tribunes, re-enter SATURNINUS and BASSIANUS, attended. MARC. Long live lord Titus, my beloved brother, Gracious triumpher in the eyes of Rome!

TIT. Thanks, gentle tribune, noble brother Marcus. MARC. And welcome, nephews, from successful

wars,

You that survive, and you that sleep in fame!
Fair lords, your fortunes are alike in all,
That in your country's service drew your swords;

But safer triumph is this funeral pomp,
That hath aspir'd to Solon's happiness,
And triumphs over chance in honour's bed.-
Titus Andronicus, the people of Rome,
Whose friend in justice thou hast ever been,
Send thee by me, their tribune and their trust,
This palliament of white and spotless hue,
And name thee in election for the empire,
With these our late deceased emperor's sons:
Be candidatus, then, and put it on,
And help to set a head on headless Rome.

TIT. A better head her glorious body fits
Than his that shakes for age and feebleness.
What should I don this robe and trouble you?
Be chosen with proclamations to-day,
To-morrow yield up rule, resign my life,
And set abroad new business for you all?
Rome, I have been thy soldier forty years,
And led my country's strength successfully,
And buried one-and-twenty valiant sons,
Knighted in field, slain manfully in arms,
In right and service of their noble country:
Give me a staff of honour for mine age,
But not a sceptre to control the world:
Upright he held it, lords, that held it last.

MARC. Titus, thou shalt obtain and ask the empery.
SAT. Proud and ambitious tribune, canst thou tell?
TIT. Patience, prince Saturninus.
SAT.
Romans, do me right;-
Patricians, draw your swords, and sheathe them not
Till Saturninus be Rome's emperor.-
Andronicus, would thou wert shipp'd to hell,
Rather than rob me of the people's hearts!

LUC. Proud Saturnine, interrupter of the good That noble-minded Titus means to thee!

TIT. Content thee, prince, I will restore to thee The people's hearts, and wean them from themselves. BASS. Andronicus, I do not flatter thee,

But honour thee, and will do till I die:
My faction if thou strengthen with thy friends,

I will most thankful be; and thanks to men

Of noble minds is honourable meed.

TIT. People of Rome, and noble tribunes here,

I ask your voices and your suffrages:

Will you bestow them friendly on Andronicus?
TRIBUNES. To gratify the good Andronicus,

And gratulate his safe return to Rome,

And say, Long live our emperor, Saturnine!
[A long flourish.
SAT. Titus Andronicus, for thy favours done
To us in our election this day,

I give thee thanks in part of thy deserts,
And will with deeds requite thy gentleness:
And, for an onset, Titus, to advance
Thy name and honourable family,
Lavinia will I make my empress,

Rome's royal mistress, mistress of my heart,
And in the sacred Pantheon her espouse:

Tell me, Andronicus, doth this motion please thee?
TIT. It doth, my worthy lord; and in this match
I hold me highly honour'd of your grace:
And here, in sight of Rome, to Saturnine,-
King and commander of our commonweal,
The wide world's emperor,-do I consecrate
My sword, my chariot, and my prisoners;
Presents well worthy Rome's imperial lord:
Receive them, then, the tribute that I owe,
Mine honour's ensigns humbled at thy feet.
SAT. Thanks, noble Titus, father of my life!
How proud I am of thee and of thy gifts,
Rome shall record; and when I do forget
Romans, forget your fealty to me.
The least of these unspeakable deserts,

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That, like the stately Phoebe 'mongst her nymphs,
Dost overshine the gallant'st dames of Rome,
If thou be pleas'd with this my sudden choice,
Behold I choose thee, Tamora, for my bride,
And will create thee empress of Rome.

Speak, queen of Goths, dost thou applaud my choice?
And here I swear by all the Roman gods,
Sith priest and holy water are so near,
And tapers burn so bright, and everything
In readiness for Hymenæus stand,-

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

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TIT. Now, madam, are you prisoner to an emperor;
[To TAMORA.
To him that, for your honour and your state,
Will use you nobly and your followers.
SAT. [Aside.] Á goodly lady, trust me; of the hue There shall we consummate our spousal rites.
That I would choose, were I to choose anew.--
Clear up, fair queen, that cloudy countenance:
Though chance of war hath wrought this change of
cheer,

Thou com'st not to be made a scorn in Rome:
Princely shall be thy usage every way.
Rest on my word, and let not discontent
Daunt all your hopes: madam, he comforts you
Can make you greater than the queen of Goths.-
Lavinia, you are not displeas'd with this?

LAV. Not I, my lord, sith true nobility
Warrants these words in princely courtesy.
SAT. Thanks, sweet Lavinia.-Romans, let us go:
Ransomless here we set our prisoners free.
Proclaim our honours, lords, with trump and drum.
[Flourish. SATURNINUS courts TAMORA
in dumb show.
BASS. Lord Titus, by your leave, this maid is mine.
[Seizing LAVINIA.
TIT. How, sir! are you in earnest, then, my lord?
BASS. Ay, noble Titus, and resolv'd withal
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?
BASS.
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! barr'st me my way in Rome? [Stabbing MUTIUS. MUT. 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:
Traitor, restore Lavinia to the emperor.

Luc. Dead, if you will; but not to be his wife,
That is another's lawful promis'd love. [Exit.

SAT. No, Titus, no; the emperor needs her not,
Nor her, nor thee, nor any of thy stock:

TIT. Tribunes, I thank you: and this suit I make, I'll trust, by leisure, him that mocks me once;

The people will accept whom he admits.

That you create your emperor's eldest son,

Lord Saturnine, whose virtues will, I hope,

Reflect on Rome as Titan's rays on earth,

And ripen justice in this commonweal:

Then, if you will elect by my advice,

Crown him, and say, Long live our emperor!

MARC. With voices and applause of every sort, Patricians, and plebeians, we create Lord Saturninus Rome's great emperor;

Thee never, nor thy traitorous haughty sons,
Confederates all, thus to dishonour me.
Was there none else in Rome to make a stale
But Saturnine? Full well, Andronicus,
Agree these deeds with that proud brag of thine,
That said'st, I begg d the empire at thy hands.
TIT. O, monstrous! what reproachful words are

these?

SAT. But go thy ways; go, give that changing piece

[Exeunt SAT., 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 challenged of wrongs?

Re-enter MARCUS, LUCIUS, QUINtus, and Martius. MARC. O, Titus, see! O, see what thou hast done' In a bad quarrel slain a virtuous son.

TIT. No, foolish tribune, no; no son of minc,-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: Here none but soldiers and Rome's servitors Repose in fame; none basely slain in brawls: Bury him where you can; he comes not here.

MARC. My lord, this is impiety in you: My nephew Mutius' deeds do plead for him, He must be buried with his brethren.

QUINT., MART. And shall, or him we will accompany.

TIT. And shall! What villain was it spake that word?

QUINT. He that would vouch 't in any place but

here.

TIT. What! would you bury him in my despite? MARC. 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.
QUINT. Not I, till Mutius' bones be buried.
[MARCUS and the Sons of TITUS kneel.
MARC. Brother, for in that name doth nature
plead,-

QUINT. Father, and in that name doth nature speak,

TIT. Speak thou no more, if all the rest will speed. MARC. Renowned Titus, more than half my soul,Luc. Dear father, soul and substance of us ali, MARC. Suffer thy brother Marcus to inter His noble nephew here in virtue's nest, That died in honour and Lavinia's cause. Thou art a Roman,-be not barbarous: The Greeks upon advice did bury Ajax That slew himself; and wise Laertes' son Did graciously plead for his funerals: Let not young Mutius, then, that was thy joy, Be barr'd his entrance here.

TIT. Rise, Marcus, rise:The dismall'st day is this that e'er I saw, To be dishonour'd by my sons in Rome!Well, bury him, and bury me the next.

[They put MUTIUS in the tomb.

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