My noble lord and father, live in fame
Lo! at this temb 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:
O, bless me here with thy victorious hand,
Whose fortunes Rome's best citizens applaud.
Tit. Kind Rome, that hast thus lovingly re-
serv'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 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.

Mur. And welcome, nephews, from success-
ful 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,t
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 dong this robe, and trouble
Be chosen with proclamations to-day; [you?
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 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.
Mar. Titus, thou shalt obtain and ask the
empery.

thou tell?

I will most thankful be: and thanks, to men
Of noble minds, is honourable meed.

Tit. People of Rome, and people's tribuni
I ask your voices, and your suffrages; [here,
Will you bestow them friendly on Andronicus
Trib. 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,

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 commca-weal:
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
And say,-Long live our emperor Saturnine!
Lord Saturninus, Rome's great emperor;
[A long Flourish.
Sut. Titus Andronicus, for thy favours done
To us in our election this day,

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

hold me highly honour'd of your grace: And here, in sight of Rome, to Saturnine,— King 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 an emperor; [TO TAMORA, 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.

Sut. Proud and ambitious tribune, canst Clear up, fair queen, that cloudy countenance; Though chance of war hath wrought this change of cheer,

Tit. Patience, prince Saturnine.

Sat. Romans, do me right;

them not

Till Saturninus be Rome's emperor :

Patricians, draw your swords, and sheath 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
[Goths.-
Lavinia, you are not displeas'd with this?
Can make you greater than the queen of

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.

you,

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:

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 seizeth but his own.
Luc. And that he will, and shall, if Lucius
live.

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

Tit. Traitors, avaunt! Where is the emper-Your noble emperor, and his lovely bride,

or's guard?

Treason, my lord; Lavinia is surpris'd.

Sat. Surpris'd! by whom?

Bus. By him that justly may

Bear his betroth'd from all the world away.
[Exeunt MARCUS and BASSIANUS, with
LAVINIA.

Mut. Brothers, help to convey her hence

away,

And with my sword I'll keep this door safe.
[Exeunt LUCIUS, QUINTUS, and MAR-

TIUS.

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?

Sent by the heavens for prince Saturnine, Whose wisdom hath her fortune conquered: There shall we cónsummate our spousal rites. [Exeunt SATURNINUS, 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 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.

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,

[of,

Not her, nor thee, nor any of thy stock:
I'll trust, by leisure, him that mocks me once;
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

To him that flourish'd for her with his sword:
A valiant son-in-law thou shalt enjoy;
One fit to bandy with thy lawless sons,
To rufflet in the commonwealth of Rome.
Tit. These words are razors to my wounded
heart.

Sat. And therefore, lovely Tamora, queen
of Goths,-
[nymphs,
That like the stately Phoebe 'mongst her
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 emperess of Rome.
Speak, queen of Goths, dost thou applaud my

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

Quin. Not I, till Mutius' bones be buried.
[MARCUS and the Sons of TITUS kneel,
Mar. Brother, for in that name doth nature
plead.

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

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
His noble nephew here in virtue's nest,
That died in honour and Livinia's cause.
Thou art a Roman, be not barbarous.
The Greeks upon advice, did bury Ajax
That slew himself; and wise Laertes' son
* Invited

804

TITUS ANDRONICUS.

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,-
To be dishonour'd by my sons in Rome!-
Well, bury him, and bury me the next.

[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
ls 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.

Flourish. Re-enter, at one side, SATURNINUS,
attended; TAMORA, CHIRON, DEMETRIUS,
and AARON: At the other, BASSIANUS, LAVI-
NIA, and others.

Sut. So Bassianus, you have play'd your
prize;

God give you joy, Sir, of your gallant bride.
Bus. 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.
Bas. Rape, call you it, my lord, to seize my

own,

My true-betrothed love, and now my wife?
But let the laws of Rome determine all;
Mean while I am possess'd of that is mine.
Sat. 'Tis good, Sir: You are very short with

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 honour, wrong'd;
That, in the rescue of Lavinia,

With his own hand did slay his youngest son,
In zeal to you, and highly mov'd to wrath
To be control'd in that he frankly gave:
Receive him then to favour, 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 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,
And basely put it up without revenge?

Tam. Not so, my lord; The gods of Rome
forefend,*

1 should be author to dishonour you!
But, on mine honour, dare I undertake
For good lord Titus' innocence in all,
Whose fury, not dissembled, speaks his griefs:
* Forbid

Nor with sour looks afflict his gentle heart.—
My lord, be rul'd by me, be won at last, [Aside.
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 raze 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.-

cus,

Come, come, sweet emperor,-come, Androni-
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 honour, good my lord,
That I have reconcil'd 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.

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.
Mar. That on mine honour here I do pro-

test.

Sat. Away, and talk not; trouble us no

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
And at my lovely Tamora's entreats, [here,
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
You are my guest, Lavinia, and your friends:
This day shall be a love-day, Tamora.

brides,

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.
[Exeunt.

ACT II.

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;

Chi. I'faith, not me.
Dem. Nor me,
So I were one.

Aar. For shame, be friends; and join for
that you jar.

"Tis policy and stratagem must do
That you affect; and so must you resolve;
That what you cannot, as you would, achieve,
You must perforce accomplish as you may.
Take this of me, Lucrece was not more chaste
Than this Lavinia, Bassianus' love.
A speedier course than lingering languishment
Must we pursue, and I have found the path.
My lords, a solemn hunting is in hand;
There will the lovely Roman ladies troop:
The forest walks are wide and spacious;
And many unfrequented plots there are,
Fitted by kind for rape and villany:
Single you thither then this dainty doe,
| And strike her home by force, if not by words:
This way, or not at all, stand you in hope.
Come, come, our empress, with her sacreds
To villany and vengeance consecrate,
Will we acquaint with all that we intend;
And she shall file our engines with advice,
That will not suffer you to square yourselves,
Slice.
+ Quarrel.
↑ By nature,
Sacred here signifies accursed; a Latima

Enter TITUS ANDRONICUS, with Hunters, &c.
MARCUS, LUCIUS, QUINTUS, and MARTIUS.

grey,

Tit. The hunt is up, the morn is bright and
[green:
The fields are fragrant, and the woods are
Uncouple here, and let us make a bay,
And wake the emperor and his lovely bride,
And rouse the prince; and ring a hunter's peal,
That all the court may echo with the noise.
Sons, let it be your charge, as it is ours,
To tend the emperor's person carefully:
I have been troubled in my sleep this night,
But dawning day new comfort hath inspir'd.
Horns wind a Peal. Enter SATURNINUS, TAMO-
RA, BASSIANUS, LAVINIA, CHIRON, DEME-
TRIUS, and Attendants.

When every thing doth make a gleeful boast?
The birds chant melody on every bush;
The snake lies rolled in the cheerful sun;
The green leaves quiver with the cooling wind,
And make a chequer'd shadow on the ground:
Under their sweet shade, Aaron, let us sit,
And-whilst the babbling echo mocks the
hounds,

Replying shrilly to the well-tun'd horns,
As if a double hunt were heard at once,-
Let us sit down, and mark their yelling noise:
And-after conflict, such as was suppos'd
The wandering prince of Dido once enjoy'd,
When with a happy storm they were surpris'd,
And curtain'd with a counsel-keeping cave,--
We may, each wreathed in the other's arms,
Our pastimes done, possess a golden slumber;
Whiles hounds, and horns, and sweet melo
dious birds,

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 cloudy melancholy?
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; Tit. Many good morrows to your majesty ;- His Philomel* must lose her tongue to-day: 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? Lar. 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.

Thy sons make pillage of her chastity,
And wash their hands in Bassianus' blood.
Seest thou this letter? Take it up I pray thee,
And give the king this fatal-plotted scroll:-
Now question me no more, we are espied;
Here comes a parcelt of our hopeful booty,
Which dreads not yet their lives' destruction.
Tam. Ah, my sweet Moor, sweeter to me
than life!

Aar. No more, great empress, Bassianus

comes:

Be cross with him; and I'll go fetch thy sons
To back thy quarrels, whatsoe'er they be.

[Exit.

Enter BASSIANUS and LAVINIA.
Bus. Who have we here? Rome's royal em-
peress,

Unfurnish'd of her well-beseeming troop?
Or is it Dian, habited like her;
Who hath abandoned her holy groves,
To see the general hunting in this forest?

Tam. Saucy controller of our private steps!
Had I the power, that, some say, Dian had,

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,
Know, that this gold must coin a stratagem;
Which, cunningly effected, will beget
A very excellent piece of villany;
And so repose, sweet gold, for their unrest,t
[Hides the Gold.
f'hat have their alms out of the empress' chest.
Enter TAMORA.

With horns, as was Actæon'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 Cir merian

Doth make your honour of his body's hue, Tam. My lovely Aaron, wherefore look'st Spotted, deiested, and abominable.

thou sad,