My noble lord and father, live in fame! The cordial of mine age to glad my heart!- Mar. Long live lord Titus, my beloved brother, Gracious triumpher in the eyes of Rome! Marcus. Mar. And welcome, nephews, from successful wars, You that survive, and you that sleep in fame. swords: But safer triumph is this funeral pomp, Tit. A better head her glorious body fits, Mar. Titus, thou shalt obtain and ask the empery. Sat. Proud and ambitious tribune, canst thou tell? Tit. Patience, prince Saturnine. Sat. Romans, do me right; I will most thankful be: and thanks, to men Tit. People of Rome, and people's tribunes That you create your emperor's eldest son, I give thee thanks in part of thy deserts, 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 SaturnineKing and commander of our common-weal, The wide world's emperor,-do I consecrate My sword, my chariot, and my prisoners; Receive them then, the tribute that I owe, Presents well worthy Rome's imperial lord: 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 The least of these unspeakable deserts, Romans, forget your fealty to me. Tit. Now, madam, are you prisoner to emperor; [To TAMOR To him, that for your honour and your state, Will use you nobly, and your followers. Sat. A goodly lady, trust me; of the hue 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, Patricians, draw your swords, and sheath Thou com'st not to be made a scorn in Rome: them not Till Saturninus be Rome's emperor :- 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. Princely shall be thy usage every way. you, [GothsLavinia, you are not displeas'd with this? Can make you greater than the queen d Lav. Not I, my lord; sith true nobility Warrants these words in princely courtesy. Sat. Thanks, sweet Lavinia.-Romans, let Ransomless here we set our prisoners free: Proclaim our honours, lords, with trump and drum. us go: 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, 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 emper- Treason, my lord; Lavinia is surpris'd. Mut. Brothers, help to convey her hence away, And with my sword I'll keep this door safe. TIUS. Tit. Follow my lord, and I'll soon bring her Mut. My lord, you pass not here. Tam. And here, in sight of heaven, to Rome If Saturnine advance the queen of Goths, accompany Your noble emperor, and his lovely bride, ers; TAMORA, and her Sons; AARON, Tit. I am not bid to wait upon this bride;Titus, when wert thou wont to talk alone, Dishonour'd thus, and challenged of wrongs? Re-enter MARCUS, LUCIUS, QUINTUS, and MARTIUS. Mar. O, Titus, see, O, see, what thou hast In a bad quarrel slain a virtuous son. [done! Tit. No, foolish tribune, no; no son of mine, Nor thon, nor these, confederates in the deed [TITUS kills MUTIUS. That hath dishonour'd all our family; Mut. Help, Lucius, help. Re-enter LUCIUS. [of, Not her, nor thee, nor any of thy stock: That said'st, I begg'd the empire at thy hands. Sat. But go thy ways; go, give that changing piece To him that flourish'd for her with his sword: Sat. And therefore, lovely Tamora, queen choice? 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, Mar. My lord, this is impiety in you: Quin. Mart. And shall, or him we will ac company. 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 My foes I do repute you every one; Quin. Not I, till Mutius' bones be buried. Quin. Father, and in that name doth nature 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, Mar. Suffer thy brother Marcus to inter * Invited. Did graciously plead for his funerals. Then, at my suit, look graciously on him; Let not young Mutius then, that was thy joy, Lose not so noble a friend on vain suppose, Be barr'd his entrance here. 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; He lives in fame that died in virtue's cause. Mar. My lord,-to step out of these dreary 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 beholden to the man That brought her for this high good turn so far? Yes, and will nobly him remunerate. . may, Answer I must, and shall do with my life. With his own hand did slay his youngest son, deeds; 'Tis 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 Were gracious in those princely eyes of thine, Then hear me speak indifferently for all; And at my suit, sweet, pardon what is past. Sat. What! madam! be dishonour'd openly, I should be author to dishonour you! * Forbid. Nor with sour looks afflict his gentle heart.- Come, come, sweet emperor,—come, Androm prevail'd. Tit. I thank your majesty, and her, my lord These words, these looks, infuse new life in me. A Roman now adopted happily, Luc. We do; and vow to heaven, and to his more. Tum. Nay, nay, sweet emperor, we must all The tribune and his nephews kneel for grace; Lavinia, though you left me like a churl, brides, This day shall be a love-day, Tamora. Tit. To-morrow, an it please your majesty, To hunt the panther and the hart with me, With horn and hound, we'll give your grace bonjour. Sat. Be it so, Titus, and gramercy too. ACT II. [Exeunt. SCENE 1.-The same. Before the Palace. Enter AARON. Aar. Now climbeth Tamora Olympus' top, Safe out of fortune's shot: and sits aloft, Secure of thunder's crack, or lightning's flash; Advanc'd above pale envy's threat'ning reach. Upon her wit doth earthly honour wait, To mount aloft with thy imperial mistress, And mount her pitch; whom thou in triumph long Hast prisoner held, fetter'd in amorous chains; Enter CHIRON and DEMETRIUS, braving. Dem. Chiron, thy years want wit, thy wit wants edge, And manners, to intrude where I am grac'd; To serve, and to deserve my mistress' grace; Dem. Why, boy, although our mother, un- Gave you a dancing-rapiert by your side, Are you so desperate grown, to threat your friends? [sheath, Go to; have your lath glued within your Till you know better how to handle it. Chi. Mean while, Sir, with the little skill I have, Full well shalt thou perceive how much I dare. Dem. Ay, boy, grow ye so brave? [They draw. Aar. Why, how now, lords? So near the emperor's palace dare you draw, And maintain such a quarrel openly? Full well I wots the ground of all this grudge; I would not for a million of gold, [cerns: The cause were known to them it most conNor would your noble mother, for much more, Be so dishonour'd in the court of Rome. For shame, put up. Dem. Not I; till I have sheath'd My rapier in his bosom, and, withal, Thrust these reproachful speeches down his throat, That he hath breath'd in my dishonour here. Now by the gods, that warlike Goths adore, * Favour. + This was the usual outcry for assistance, when any riot in the street happened. Know. A sword worn in dancing. It is to jut upon a prince's right? know I love Lavinia more than all the world. Dem. Youngling, learn thou to make some meaner choice: Lavinia is thine elder brother's hope. Aur. Why, are ye mad? or know ye not, in How furious and impatient they be, [Rome And cannot brook competitors in love? I tell you, lords, you do but plot your deaths By this device. Chi. Aaron, a thousand deaths Would I propose, to achieve her whom I love. Aar. To achieve her!-How? Dem. Why makest thou it so strange? She is a woman, therefore may be woo'd; She is a woman, therefore may be won; She is Lavinia, therefore must be lov'd. What, man! more water glideth by the mill Than wots the miller of; and easy it is Of a cut loaf to steal a shive,* we know: Though Bassianus be the emperor's brother, Better than he have yet worn Vulcan's badge. Aar. Ay, and as good as Saturninus may. [Aside. Dem. Then why should he despair, that knows to court it With words, fair looks, and liberality? Chi. Ay, so the turn were serv'd. Then should not we be tir'd with this ado. Why, hark ye, hark ye,-And are you such fools, To squaret for this? Would it offend you then That both should speed? Chi. I'faith, not me. So I were one. Aar. For shame, be friends; and join for that you jar. 'Tis policy and stratagem must do [wit, Enter TITUS ANDRONICUS, with Hunters, &c. grey, And rouse the prince; and ring a hunter's peal, Horns wind a Peal. Enter SATURNINUS, TAMO- Tit. Many good morrows to your majesty ;Madam, to you as many and as good!I promised your grace a hunter's peal. Sat. And you have rung it lustily, my lords, Somewhat too early for new-married ladies. Bas. Lavinia, how say you? Lav. I say, no; I have been broad awake two hours and more. Sat. Come on then, horse and chariots let us have, And to our sport:-Madam, now shall ye see Our Roman hunting. [To TAMORA. Mar. I have dogs, my lord, Will rouse the proudest panther in the chase, And climb the highest promontory top. Tit. And I have horse will follow where the game [plain. Makes way, and run like swallows o'er the Dem. Chiron, we hunt not, we, with horse nor hound, But hope to pluck a dainty doe to ground. [Exeunt. SCENE III.-A desert Part of the Forest. Enter AARON, with a Bag of Gold. When every thing doth make a gleeful boast! Replying shrilly to the well-tun'd horns, Be unto us, as is a nurse's song Of lullaby, to bring her babe asleep. Aar. Madam, though Venus govern your Saturn is dominator over mine: desires, What signifies my deadly-standing eye, My fleece of woolly hair that now uncurls, My silence, and my cloudyanelancholy? Even as an adder, when she doth unroll To do some fatal execution? No, madam, these are no venereal signs; Vengeance is in my heart, death in my hand, Blood and revenge are hammering in my head. Hark, Tamora,-the empress of my soul, Which never hopes more heaven than rests in thee, This is the day of doom for Bassianus; Aar. No more, great empress, Bassianus Enter BASSIANUS and LAVINIA. Unfurnish'd of her well-beseeming troop? Aar. He, that had wit, would think that I Thy temples should be planted presently had none, To bury so much gold under a tree, And never after to inherit* it. Let him, that thinks of me so abjectly, A very excellent piece of villany; With horns, as was Acteon's; and the hounds Should drive upon thy new transformed limbs, Unmannerly intruder as thou art! Lav. Under your patience, gentle emperess, 'Tis thought you have a goodly gift in horning; And to be doubted, that your Moor and you Are singled forth to try experiments: [day! Jove shield your husband from his hounds to"Tis pity, they should take him for a stag. Bus. Believe me, queen, your swarth Cim merian Doth make your honour of his body's hue, Tam. My lovely Aaron, wherefore look'st Spotted, detested, and abominable. thou sad, * Possess. + Disquict. *Sce Ovid's Metamorphoses, Book VI. + Part. |