That brought her for this high good turn so far?
Yes, and will nobly him remunerate.
Re-enter, at one side, SATURNINUS, attended; TAMORA, CHIRON, DEMETRIUS, and Aaron: at the other, BASSIANUS, LAVINIA, and others.
Sat. So, Bassianus, you have play'd your prize! 1 God give you joy, sir, of your gallant bride.
Bas. 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
Thou and thy faction shall repent this rape.
Bas. Rape, call you it, my lord, to seise my own, My true-betrothed love, and now my wife? But let the laws of Rome determine all: Meanwhile I am possess'd of that is mine.
Sat. 'Tis good, sir: you are very short with us; But, if we live, we 'll be as sharp with you.
Bas. My lord, what I have done, as best I may,
Answer I must, and shall do with my life.
Only thus much I give your grace to know :—
By all the duties that I owe to Rome,
This noble gentleman, lord Titus here,
Is in opinion and in honor wrong'd;
That, in the rescue of Lavinia,
With his own hand did slay his youngest son,
In zeal to you, and highly moved to wrath
1 A technical term in the ancient fencing-school.
To be control'd in that he frankly gave.
Receive him then to favor, Saturnine;
That hath express'd himself, in all his deeds,
A father and a friend to thee and Rome.
Tit. Prince Bassianus, leave to plead my deeds: 'Tis thou, and those, that have dishonor'd me. Rome and the righteous Heavens be my judge, How I have loved and honor'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 dishonor'd openly,
And basely put it up without revenge?
Tam. Not so, my lord: the gods of Rome forefend,1
I should be author to dishonor you!
But, on mine honor, dare I undertake
For good lord Titus' innocence in all,
Whose fury, not dissembled, speaks his griefs.
Then, at my suit, look graciously on him;
Lose not so noble a friend on vain suppose,
Nor with sour looks afflict his gentle heart.-
My lord, be ruled by me; be won at last;
Dissemble all your griefs and discontents.
You are but newly planted in your throne.
Lest then the people and patricians too,
Upon a just survey, take Titus' part,
And so supplant us for ingratitude,
(Which Rome reputes to be a heinous sin)
Yield at entreats, and then let me alone:
I'll find a day to massacre them all,
And rase their faction, and their family,
The cruel father, and his traitorous sons,
To whom I sued for my dear son's life;
And make them know, what 'tis to let a queen
Kneel in the streets, and beg for grace in vain.
Come, come, sweet emperor; come, Andronicus,
Take up
this good old man, and cheer the heart
That dies in tempest of thy angry frown.
Sat. Rise, Titus, rise; my empress hath prevail'd.
Tit. I thank your majesty, and her, my lord. These words, these looks, infuse new life in me. Tam. Titus, I am incorporate in Rome,
A Roman now adopted happily,
And must advise the emperor for his good.
This day all quarrels die, Andronicus;
And let it be mine honor, good my lord,
That I have reconciled your
friends and you.
For you, prince Bassianus, I have pass'd
My word and promise to the emperor,
That you will be more mild and tractable.
And fear not, lords ;-and you, Lavinia :-
By my advice, all humbled on your knees,
You shall ask pardon of his majesty.
Lucius. We do; and vow to Heaven, and to his highness,
That, what we did, was mildly, as we might,
Tendering our sister's honor and our own.
Mar. That on mine honor 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 found a friend; and sure as death I swore,
I would not part a bachelor from the priest.
Come, if the emperor's court can feast two brides,
You are my guest, Lavinia, and your friends:
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 bon
Sat. Be it so, Titus, and gramercy 1 too.
1 Probably here a contraction of grand merci, i. e. I thank you.
The same. Before the palace.
Aaron. Now climbeth Tamora Olympus' top,
Safe out of fortune's shot; and sits aloft,
Secure of thunder's crack, or lightning's flash;
Advanced above pale envy's threatening reach.
As when the golden sun salutes the morn;
And, having gilt the ocean with his beams,
Gallops the zodiac in his glistering coach,
And overlooks the highest-peering hills;-
So Tamora.
Upon her wit doth earthly honor wait,
And virtue stoops and trembles at her frown.
Then, Aaron, arm thy heart, and fit thy thoughts,
To mount aloft with thy imperial mistress,
And mount her pitch; whom thou in triumph long
Hast prisoner held, fetter'd in amorous chains;
And faster bound to Aaron's charming eyes,
Than is Prometheus tied to Caucasus.
Away with slavish weeds and idle thoughts!
I will be bright, and shine in pearl and gold,
To wait upon this new-made emperess.
To wait, said I? to wanton with this queen,
This goddess, this Semiramis ;-this nymph,
This siren, that will charm Rome's Saturnine,
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