Lavinia, live; outlive thy father's days,

And fame's eternal date, for virtue's praise! 1

Enter MARCUS ANDRONICUS, SATURNINUS, BASSIANUS, and others.

Mar. Long live lord Titus, my beloved brother, Gracious triumpher in the eyes of Rome!

Tit. Thanks, gentle tribune, noble brother Marcus. Mar. 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 aspired to Solon's happiness,
And triumphs over chance, in honor's bed.2
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 3 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.

1 'i. e. he wishes that her life may be longer than his, and her praise longer than fame.'-Johnson.

2 The maxim of Solon here alluded to is, that no man can be pronounced happy before his death.

3 Robe.

What! should I don1 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 honor for mine age,
But not a sceptre to control the world.
Upright he held it, lords, that held it last.

Mar. Titus, thou shalt obtain and ask the em

pery.

Sat. Proud and ambitious tribune, canst thou

tell?

Tit. Patience, prince Saturnine.

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.

Lucius. 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 them selves.

Bas. Andronicus, I do not flatter thee,

Put on.

But honor 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 honorable meed.

Tit. People of Rome, and people's tribunes here, I ask your voices and your suffrages;

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

And gratulate his safe return to Rome,
The people will accept whom he admits.

Tit. Tribunes, I thank you: and this suit I make;

1

That you create your emperor's eldest son,
Lord Saturnine; whose virtues will, I hope,
Reflect on Rome, as 'Titan's 1 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!'
Mar. With voices and applause of every sort,
Patricians and plebeians, we create

Lord Saturninus Rome's great emperor;

And say,—' Long live our emperor Saturnine!'

[a long florish.

Sat. Titus Andronicus, for thy favors 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

1 The sun's.

Thy name and honorable family,

Lavinia will I make my emperess,

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 honor'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 honor'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 an em.

peror;

[to Tamora. To him, that for your honor 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,1

Countenance.

Thou comest 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 displeased with this? :
Lav. Not I, my lord; sith 1 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 honors, lords, with trump and drum. Bas. Lord Titus, by your leave, this maid is [seising Lavinia. Tit. How, sir? Are you in earnest then, my

mine.

lord?

Bas. Ay, noble Titus; and resolved 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 seiseth but his own. Lucius. And that he will, and shall, if Lucius live.

Tit. Traitors, avaunt! Where is the emperor's

guard?

Treason, my lord; Lavinia is surprised.

Sat. Surprised! By whom?

Bas.

By him that justly may

SHAK.

1 Since.

2.