READ STUDY GUIDE: Act I, Scene i |
|
Act I, Scene i:
Rome. Before the Capitol.
Rome. Before the Capitol.
| [The Tomb of Andronic appearing; the Tribunes and Senators aloft. Enter, below, SATURNINUS and his Followers on one side, and BASSIANUS and his Followers at the other, with drums and colours.] |
| SATURNINUS : |
| Noble patricians, patrons of my right, |
| Defend the justice of my cause with arms; |
| And, countrymen, my loving followers, |
| Plead my successive title with your swords: |
| I am his first born son that was the last |
| That wore the imperial diadem of Rome: |
| Then let my father's honours live in me, |
| Nor wrong mine age with this indignity. |
| BASSIANUS : |
| Romans,—friends, followers, favourers of my right,— |
| If ever Bassianus, Caesar's son, |
| Were gracious in the eyes of royal Rome, |
| Keep then this passage to the Capitol; |
| And suffer not dishonour to approach |
| The imperial seat, to virtue consecrate, |
| To justice, continence, and nobility: |
| But let desert in pure election shine; |
| And, Romans, fight for freedom in your choice. |
| [Enter MARCUS ANDRONICUS aloft, with the crown.] |
| MARCUS : |
| Princes,—that strive by factions and by friends |
| Ambitiously for rule and empery,— |
| Know that the people of Rome, for whom we stand |
| A special party, have by common voice, |
| In election for the Roman empery |
| Chosen Andronicus, surnamed Pius |
| For many good and great deserts to Rome: |
| A nobler man, a braver warrior, |
| Lives not this day within the city walls.: |
| He by the senate is accited home |
| From weary wars against the barbarous Goths; |
| That with his sons, a terror to our foes, |
| Hath yok'd a nation strong, train'd up in arms. |
| Ten years are spent since first he undertook |
| This cause of Rome, and chastised with arms |
| Our enemies' pride: five times he hath return'd |
| Bleeding to Rome, bearing his valiant sons |
| In coffins from the field; |
| And now at last, laden with honour's spoils, |
| Returns the good Andronicus to Rome, |
| Renowned Titus, flourishing in arms. |
| Let us entreat,—by honour of his name |
| Whom worthily you would have now succeed, |
| And in the Capitol and senate's right, |
| Whom you pretend to honour and adore,— |
| That you withdraw you and abate your strength; |
| Dismiss your followers, and, as suitors should, |
| Plead your deserts in peace and humbleness. |
| SATURNINUS : |
| How fair the tribune speaks to calm my thoughts! |
| BASSIANUS : |
| Marcus Andronicus, so I do affy |
| In thy uprightness and integrity, |
| And so I love and honour thee and thine, |
| Thy noble brother Titus and his sons, |
| And her to whom my thoughts are humbled all, |
| Gracious Lavinia, Rome's rich ornament, |
| That I will here dismiss my loving friends; |
| And to my fortunes and the people's favour |
| Commit my cause in balance to be weigh'd. |
| [Exeunt the Followers of BASSIANUS.] |
| SATURNINUS : |
| Friends, that have been thus forward in my right, |
| I thank you all and here dismiss you all; |
| And to the love and favour of my country |
| Commit myself, my person, and the cause. |
| [Exeunt the Followers of SATURNINUS.] |
| Rome, be as just and gracious unto me |
| As I am confident and kind to thee.— |
| Open the gates, tribunes, and let me in. |
| BASSIANUS : |
| Tribunes, and me, a poor competitor. |
| [Flourish. Exeunt; SATURNINUS and BASSIANUS go up into the Capitol.] |
| [Enter a Captain.] |
| CAPTAIN : |
| Romans, make way. The good Andronicus, |
| Patron of virtue, Rome's best champion, |
| Successful in the battles that he fights, |
| With honour and with fortune is return'd |
| From where he circumscribed with his sword |
| And brought to yoke the enemies of Rome. |
| [Flourish of trumpets, &c. Enter MARTIUS and MUTIUS; after them two Men bearing a coffin covered with black; then LUCIUS and QUINTUS. After them TITUS ANDRONICUS; and then TAMORA, with ALARBUS, DEMETRIUS, CHIRON, AARON, and other Goths, prisoners; soldiers and People following. The bearers set down the coffin, and TITUS speaks.] |
| TITUS : |
| Hail, Rome, victorious in thy mourning weeds! |
| Lo, as the bark that hath discharg'd her fraught |
| Returns with precious lading to the bay |
| From whence at first she weigh'd her anchorage, |
| Cometh Andronicus, bound with laurel boughs, |
| To re-salute his country with his tears,— |
| Tears of true joy for his return to Rome.— |
| Thou great defender of this Capitol, |
| Stand gracious to the rites that we intend!— |
| Romans, of five and twenty valiant sons, |
| Half of the number that King Priam had, |
| Behold the poor remains, alive and dead! |
| These that survive let Rome reward with love; |
| These that I bring unto their latest home, |
| With burial amongst their ancestors; |
| Here Goths have given me leave to sheathe my sword. |
| Titus, unkind, and careless of thine own, |
| Why suffer'st thou thy sons, unburied yet, |
| To hover on the dreadful shore of Styx?— |
| Make way to lay them by their brethren.— |
| [The tomb is opened.] |
| There greet in silence, as the dead are wont, |
| And sleep in peace, slain in your country's wars! |
| O sacred receptacle of my joys, |
| Sweet cell of virtue and nobility, |
| How many sons of mine hast thou in store, |
| That thou wilt never render to me more! |
| LUCIUS : |
| Give us the proudest prisoner of the Goths, |
| That we may hew his limbs, and on a pile |
| Ad manes fratrum sacrifice his flesh |
| Before this earthy prison of their bones; |
| That so the shadows be not unappeas'd, |
| Nor we disturb'd with prodigies on earth. |
| TITUS : |
| I give him you,—the noblest that survives, |
| The eldest son of this distressed queen. |
| TAMORA : |
| Stay, Roman brethen!—Gracious conqueror, |
| Victorious Titus, rue the tears I shed, |
| A mother's tears in passion for her son: |
| And if thy sons were ever dear to thee, |
| O, think my son to be as dear to me! |
| Sufficeth not that we are brought to Rome, |
| To beautify thy triumphs and return, |
| Captive to thee and to thy Roman yoke; |
| But must my sons be slaughter'd in the streets |
| For valiant doings in their country's cause? |
| O, if to fight for king and common weal |
| Were piety in thine, it is in these. |
| Andronicus, stain not thy tomb with blood: |
| Wilt thou draw near the nature of the gods? |
| Draw near them, then, in being merciful: |
| Sweet mercy is nobility's true badge: |
| Thrice-noble Titus, spare my first-born son. |
| TITUS : |
| Patient yourself, madam, and pardon me. |
| These are their brethren, whom your Goths beheld |
| Alive and dead; and for their brethren slain |
| Religiously they ask a sacrifice: |
| To this your son is mark'd; and die he must, |
| To appease their groaning shadows that are gone. |
| LUCIUS : |
| Away with him! and make a fire straight; |
| And with our swords, upon a pile of wood, |
| Let's hew his limbs till they be clean consum'd. |
| [Exeunt LUCIUS, QUINTUS, MARTIUS, and MUTIUS with ALARBUS.] |
| TAMORA : |
| O cruel, irreligious piety! |
| CHIRON : |
| Was ever Scythia half so barbarous! |
| DEMETRIUS : |
| Oppose not Scythia to ambitious Rome. |
| Alarbus goes to rest; and we survive |
| To tremble under Titus' threatening look. |
| Then, madam, stand resolv'd; but hope withal |
| The self-same gods that arm'd the Queen of Troy |
| With opportunity of sharp revenge |
| Upon the Thracian tyrant in his tent, |
| May favour Tamora, the queen of Goths,— |
| When Goths were Goths and Tamora was queen,— |
| To quit the bloody wrongs upon her foes. |
| [Re-enter LUCIUS, QUINTUS, MARTIUS,and MUTIUS, with their swords bloody.] |
| LUCIUS : |
| See, lord and father, how we have perform'd |
| Our Roman rites: Alarbus' limbs are lopp'd, |
| And entrails feed the sacrificing fire, |
| Whose smoke like incense doth perfume the sky. |
| Remaineth naught but to inter our brethren, |
| And with loud 'larums welcome them to Rome. |
| TITUS : |
| Let it be so, and let Andronicus |
| Make this his latest farewell to their souls. |
| [Trumpets sounded and the coffin laid in the tomb.] |
| In peace and honour rest you here, my sons; |
| Rome's readiest champions, repose you here in rest, |
| Secure from worldly chances and mishaps! |
| Here lurks no treason, here no envy swells, |
| Here grow no damned grudges; here are no storms, |
| No noise, but silence and eternal sleep: |
| [Enter LAVINIA.] |
| In peace and honour rest you here, my sons! |
| LAVINIA : |
| In peace and honour live Lord Titus long; |
| My noble lord and father, live in fame! |
| Lo, at this tomb my tributary tears |
| I render for my brethren's obsequies; |
| And at thy feet I kneel, with tears of joy |
| Shed on this earth for thy return to Rome; |
| O, bless me here with thy victorious hand, |
| Whose fortunes Rome's best citizens applaud! |
| TITUS : |
| Kind Rome, that hast thus lovingly reserv'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, below, MARCUS ANDRONICUS and Tribunes; re-enter SATURNINUS, BASSIANUS, and Attendants.] |
| MARCUS : |
| Long live Lord Titus, my beloved brother, |
| Gracious triumpher in the eyes of Rome! |
| TITUS : |
| Thanks, gentle tribune, noble brother Marcus. |
| MARCUS : |
| 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 aspir'd to Solon's happiness |
| 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. |
| TITUS : |
| A better head her glorious body fits |
| Than his that shakes for age and feebleness: |
| What, should I don this robe and trouble you? |
| Be chosen with proclamations to-day, |
| To-morrow yield up rule, resign my life, |
| And set abroach 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 honour for mine age, |
| But not a sceptre to control the world; |
| Upright he held it, lords, that held it last. |
| MARCUS : |
| Titus, thou shalt obtain and ask the empery. |
| SATURNINUS : |
| Proud and ambitious tribune, canst thou tell? |
| TITUS : |
| Patience, Prince Saturninus. |
| SATURNINUS : |
| Romans, do me right;— |
| Patricians, draw your swords, and sheathe them not |
| Till Saturninus be Rome's Emperor.— |
| Andronicus, would thou were 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! |
| TITUS : |
| Content thee, prince; I will restore to thee |
| The people's hearts, and wean them from themselves. |
| BASSIANUS : |
| Andronicus, I do not flatter thee, |
| But honour 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 honourable meed. |
| TITUS : |
| People of Rome, and people's tribunes here, |
| I ask your voices and your suffrages: |
| Will you bestow them friendly on Andronicus? |
| TRIBUNES : |
| To gratify the good Andronicus, |
| And gratulate his safe return to Rome, |
| The people will accept whom he admits. |
| TITUS : |
| 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 commonweal: |
| Then, if you will elect by my advice, |
| Crown him, and say 'Long live our Emperor!' |
| MARCUS : |
| 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 flourish.] |
| SATURNINUS : |
| 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; |
| And for an onset, Titus, to advance |
| Thy name and honourable family, |
| Lavinia will I make my empress, |
| Rome's royal mistress, mistress of my heart, |
| And in the sacred Pantheon her espouse: |
| Tell me, Andronicus, doth this motion please thee? |
| TITUS : |
| It doth, my worthy lord; and in this match |
| I hold me highly honoured 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 imperious lord: |
| Receive them then, the tribute that I owe, |
| Mine honour's ensigns humbled at thy feet. |
| SATURNINUS : |
| 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. |
| TITUS : |
| [To TAMORA.] Now, madam, are you prisoner to an emperor; |
| To him that for your honour and your state |
| Will use you nobly and your followers. |
| SATURNINUS : |
| 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 |
| Daunt all your hopes: madam, he comforts you |
| Can make you greater than the Queen of Goths.— |
| Lavinia, you are not displeas'd with this? |
| LAVINIA : |
| Not I, my lord, sith true nobility |
| Warrants these words in princely courtesy. |
| SATURNINUS : |
| Thanks, sweet Lavinia.—Romans, let us go: |
| Ransomless here we set our prisoners free: |
| Proclaim our honours, lords, with trump and drum. |
| [Flourish. SATURNINUS courts TAMORA in dumb show.] |
| BASSIANUS : |
| Lord Titus, by your leave, this maid is mine. |
| [Seizing LAVINIA.] |
| TITUS : |
| How, sir! are you in earnest then, my lord? |
| BASSIANUS : |
| Ay, noble Titus; and resolv'd withal |
| To do myself this reason and this right. |
| MARCUS : |
| Suum cuique is our Roman justice: |
| This prince in justice seizeth but his own. |
| LUCIUS : |
| And that he will and shall, if Lucius live. |
| TITUS : |
| Traitors, avaunt!—Where is the emperor's guard?— |
| Treason, my lord,—Lavinia is surpris'd! |
| SATURNINUS : |
| Surpris'd! by whom? |
| BASSIANUS : |
| By him that justly may |
| Bear his betroth'd from all the world away. |
| [Exeunt BASSIANUS and MARCUS with LAVINIA.] |
| MUTIUS : |
| Brothers, help to convey her hence away, |
| And with my sword I'll keep this door safe. |
| [Exeunt LUCIUS, QUINTUS, and MARTIUS.] |
| TITUS : |
| Follow, my lord, and I'll soon bring her back. |
| MUTIUS : |
| My lord, you pass not here. |
| TITUS : |
| What, villain boy! |
| Barr'st me my way in Rome? |
| [Stabbing MUTIUS.] |
| MUTIUS : |
| Help, Lucius, help! |
| [Dies.] |
| [Re-enter Lucius.] |
| LUCIUS : |
| My lord, you are unjust; and more than so: |
| In wrongful quarrel you have slain your son. |
| TITUS : |
| Nor thou nor he are any sons of mine; |
| My sons would never so dishonour me. |
| Traitor, restore Lavinia to the Emperor. |
| LUCIUS : |
| Dead, if you will; but not to be his wife, |
| That is another's lawful promis'd love. |
| [Exit.] |
| SATURNINUS : |
| No, Titus, no; the emperor needs her not, |
| Nor 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. |
| TITUS : |
| O monstrous! what reproachful words are these? |
| SATURNINUS : |
| 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. |
| TITUS : |
| These words are razors to my wounded heart. |
| SATURNINUS : |
| 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 empress of Rome. |
| Speak, Queen of Goths, dost thou applaud my choice? |
| And here I swear by all the Roman gods,— |
| Sith priest and holy water are so near, |
| And tapers burn so bright, and everything |
| In readiness for Hymenaeus stand,— |
| 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. |
| TAMORA : |
| 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. |
| SATURNINUS : |
| Ascend, fair queen, Pantheon.—Lords, accompany |
| Your noble emperor and his lovely bride, |
| Sent by the heavens for Prince Saturnine, |
| Whose wisdom hath her fortune conquered: |
| There shall we consummate our spousal rites. |
| [Exeunt SATURNINUS and his Followers; TAMORA and her Sons; AARON and Goths.] |
| TITUS : |
| 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.] |
| MARCUS : |
| O Titus, see, O, see what thou hast done! |
| In a bad quarrel slain a virtuous son. |
| TITUS : |
| No, foolish tribune, no; no son of mine,— |
| Nor thou, nor these, confederates in the deed |
| That hath dishonoured all our family; |
| Unworthy brother and unworthy sons! |
| LUCIUS : |
| But let us give him burial, as becomes; |
| Give Mutius burial with our bretheren. |
| TITUS : |
| Traitors, away! He rests not in this tomb:— |
| This monument five hundred years hath stood, |
| Which I have sumptuously re-edified: |
| Here none but soldiers and Rome's servitors |
| Repose in fame; none basely slain in brawls:— |
| Bury him where you can, he comes not here. |
| MARCUS : |
| My lord, this is impiety in you: |
| My nephew Mutius' deeds do plead for him; |
| He must be buried with his bretheren. |
| QUINTUS & MARTIUS. |
| And shall, or him we will accompany. |
| TITUS : |
| And shall! What villain was it spake that word? |
| QUINTUS : |
| He that would vouch it in any place but here. |
| TITUS : |
| What, would you bury him in my despite? |
| MARCUS : |
| No, noble Titus; but entreat of thee |
| To pardon Mutius, and to bury him. |
| TITUS : |
| 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. |
| MARTIUS : |
| He is not with himself; let us withdraw. |
| QUINTUS : |
| Not I, till Mutius' bones be buried. |
| [MARCUS and the Sons of TITUS kneel.] |
| MARCUS : |
| Brother, for in that name doth nature plead,— |
| QUINTUS : |
| Father, and in that name doth nature speak,— |
| TITUS : |
| Speak thou no more, if all the rest will speed. |
| MARCUS : |
| Renowned Titus, more than half my soul,— |
| LUCIUS : |
| Dear father, soul and substance of us all,— |
| MARCUS : |
| Suffer thy brother Marcus to inter |
| His noble nephew here in virtue's nest, |
| That died in honour and Lavinia's cause: |
| Thou art a Roman,—be not barbarous. |
| The Greeks upon advice did bury Ajax, |
| That slew himself; and wise Laertes' son |
| Did graciously plead for his funerals: |
| Let not young Mutius, then, that was thy joy, |
| Be barr'd his entrance here. |
| TITUS : |
| 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.] |
| LUCIUS : |
| There lie thy bones, sweet Mutius, with thy friends, |
| Till we with trophies do adorn thy tomb. |
| ALL : |
| [Kneeling.] No man shed tears for noble Mutius; |
| He lives in fame that died in virtue's cause. |
| MARCUS : |
| 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? |
| TITUS : |
| I know not, Marcus, but I know it is,— |
| Whether by device or no, the heavens can tell: |
| Is she not, then, beholding to the man |
| That brought her for this high good turn so far? |
| MARCUS : |
| Yes, and will nobly him remunerate. |
| [Flourish. Re-enter, at one side, SATURNINUS, attended; TAMORA DEMETRIUS, CHIRON, and AARON; at the other, BASSIANUS, LAVINIA, and others.] |
| SATURNINUS : |
| So, Bassianus, you have play'd your prize: |
| God give you joy, sir, of your gallant bride! |
| BASSIANUS : |
| And you of yours, my lord! I say no more, |
| Nor wish no less; and so I take my leave. |
| SATURNINUS : |
| Traitor, if Rome have law or we have power, |
| Thou and thy faction shall repent this rape. |
| BASSIANUS : |
| 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; |
| Meanwhile am I possess'd of that is mine. |
| SATURNINUS : |
| 'Tis good, sir. You are very short with us; |
| But if we live we'll be as sharp with you. |
| BASSIANUS : |
| 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 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 controll'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. |
| TITUS : |
| 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! |
| TAMORA : |
| 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. |
| SATURNINUS : |
| What, madam! be dishonoured openly, |
| And basely put it up without revenge? |
| TAMORA : |
| Not so, my lord; the gods of Rome forfend |
| I 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: |
| 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.— |
| [Aside.] My lord, be rul'd 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 you 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.— |
| Come, come, sweet emperor,—come, Andronicus,— |
| Take up this good old man, and cheer the heart |
| That dies in tempest of thy angry frown. |
| SATURNINUS : |
| Rise, Titus, rise; my empress hath prevail'd. |
| TITUS : |
| I thank your majesty and her, my lord: |
| These words, these looks, infuse new life in me. |
| TAMORA : |
| 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. |
| LUCIUS : |
| We do; and vow to heaven and to his highness |
| That what we did was mildly as we might, |
| Tendering our sister's honour and our own. |
| MARCUS : |
| That on mine honour here do I protest. |
| SATURNINUS : |
| Away, and talk not; trouble us no more. |
| TAMORA : |
| 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. |
| SATURNINUS : |
| 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. |
| TITUS : |
| 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. |
| SATURNINUS : |
| Be it so, Titus, and gramercy too. |
| [Exeunt.] |
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