But not a sceptre to control the world: Mar. Titus, thou shalt obtain and ask the empery. 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. Bas. Andronicus, I do not flatter thee, But honour thee, and will do till I die; Of noble minds, is honourable meed. Tit. People of Rome, and people's tribunes here, Will you bestow them friendly on Andronicus? And gratulate his safe return to Rome, Tit. Tribunes, I thank you: and this suit I make, Lord Saturninus, Rome's great emperor; [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: Rome's royal mistress, mistress of my heart, 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. 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 Lav. Not I, my lord; sith true nobility Sat. Thanks, sweet Lavinia.-Romans, let us go: Ransomeless here we set oùr prisoners free: Proclaim our honours, lords, with trump and drum. Bas. Lord Titus, by your leave, this maid is mine. To do myself this reason and this right. [The Emperor courts TAM. in dumb show. Mar. Suum cuique is our Roman justice: This prince in justice seizeth but his own. Sat. Surpriz'd! By whom? Bas. By him that justly may [Exeunt MAR. and BAS. with LAV. Mut. Brothers, help to convey her hence away, And with my sword I 'll keep this door safe. [Exeunt Luc. QUIN. and MAR. Tit. Follow my lord, and I 'll soon bring her back. Mut. My lord, you pass not here. Tit. Barr'st me my way in Rome? Mut. What, villain boy! [TIT. kills MUT. Help, Lucius, help! Re-enter LUCIUS. Luc. My lord, you are unjust; and, more than so, Luc. Dead, if you will; but not to be his wife, [Exit. Sat. No, Titus, no; the emperor needs her not, Not her, nor thee, nor any of thy stock: Was there none else in Rome to make a stale of, Agree these deeds with that proud brag of thine, 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 ruffle in the commonwealth of Rome. Tit. These words are razors to my wounded heart. Sat. And therefore, lovely Tamora, queen of Goths,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 emperess of Rome. Speak, queen of Goths, dost thou applaud my choice? Sith priest and holy water are so near, 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 swear, If Saturnine advance the queen of Goths, She will a handmaid be to his desires, Sat. Ascend, fair queen, Pantheon:-Lords, accom pany Your noble emperor, and his lovely bride, [Exeunt SAT. and his followers; TAM. and her Sons; 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. Mar. 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 mine, Nor thou, nor these, confederates in the deed Luc. But let us give him burial, as becomes Tit. Traitors, away! he rests not in this tomb. Here none but soldiers, and Rome's servitors, My nephew Mutius' deeds do plead for him; Quin. Mart. And shall, or him we will accompany. 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. [MAR. and the sons of TIT. kneet. His noble nephew here in virtue's nest, Let not young Mutius then, that was thy joy, VOL. XII. C |