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Tam. O cruel, irreligious piety!
Chi. Was ever Scythia half so barbarous ?
Dem. 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.
Enter Mutius, Marcus, Quintus, and Lucius.
Luc. See, lord and father, how we have per-
form'd

Our Roman rites: Alarbus' limbs are lopp'd,
And entrails feed the sacrificing fire,
Whose smoke, like incense, doth perfume the sky.
Remaineth nought, but to inter our brethren,
And with loud 'larums welcome them to Rome.
Tit. Let it be so; and let Andronicus
Make this his latest farewell to their souls.
[Then sound trumpets, and lay the coffins in the tomb.
In peace and honour rest you here, my sons;
Rome's readiest champions, repose you here,
Secure from worldly chances and mishaps!
Here lurks no treason, here no envy swells,
Here grow no damned grudges; here no storm,
No noise, but silence and eternal sleep:
Enter Lavinia.

In peace and honour rest you here, my sons!
Lav. In peace and honour live lord 'I'itus 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 the earth, for thy return to Rome:
O, bless me here with thy victorious hand,
Whose fortune Rome's best citizens applaud.
Tit. Kind Rome, that hast thus lovingly reserv'd
The cordial of mine age, to glad n:y heart!—
Lavinia, live; out-live thy father's days,
And fame's eternal date, for virtue's praise!
Marc. Long live lord Titus,my beloved brother,
Gracious triumpher in the eyes of Rome!

[wars,

Tit. Thanks, gentle tribune, noble brother Marcus. Marc. And welcome, nephews, from successful 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.

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Tit. 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 chose with proclamations to-day; To-morrow yield up rule, resi 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 honour for mine age, But not a sceptre to controll the world: Upright he held it, lords, that held it last. Marc. Titus, thou shalt obtain and ask the

empery.

[tell?

Sat. Proud and ambitious tribune, canst thou
Tit. Patience, prince Saturninus.-
Sat. Romans, do me right;

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Patricians, draw your swords, and sheath 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.

Luc. Proud Saturninus! interrupter of the good 25 That noble-minded Titus means to thee!—

Tit. Content thee, prince; I will restore to thee The people's hearts, and wean them from themBas. Andronicus, I do not flatter thee, [selves. But honour thee, and will do 'till I die; 30 My faction if thou strengthen with thy friends, I will most thankful be: and thanks, to men Of noble minds, is honourable meed.

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

35 Will you bestow them friendly on Andronicus?
Marc. To gratify the good Andronicus,
And gratulate his safe return to Rome,
The people will accept whom he admits. [make,

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Tit. Tribunes, I thank you: and this sunt ĺ 40 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 common-weal: Then if you will elect by my advice, Crown him, and say,-Long live our emperor! Marc. 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 till they come down. Sat. Titus Andronicus, for thy favours done To us in our election this day,

150

I give thee thanks in part of thy deserts,
And will with deeds requite thy gentleness;
55And, for an onset, Titus, to advance
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:
60 Tell me, Andronicus, doth this motion please thee?
Tit. It doth, my worthy lord; and, in this match,
I hold me highly honour'd of your grace:

e. do on this robe, put it on.
3 H

And

And here, in sight of Rome, to Saturnine,—
King and commander of the common-weal,
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 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.

My sons would never so dishonour me:
Traitor, restore Lavinia to the emperor.
Luc. Dead, if you will; but not to be his
wife,

5 That is another's lawful promis'd love.

Sat. 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,
10 Confederates all thus to dishonour me.

15

Tit. Now, madam, are you prisoner to an em-
peror;
[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 20
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?
Luv. Not I, my lord; sith true nobility

Warrants these words in princely courtesy.

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Was there none else in Rome to make a stale of,
But Saturnine? Full well, Andronicus,
Agree these deeds with that prond 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 ruffle in the commonwealth of Rome.
Tit. These words are razors to my wounded
heart.
[Goths,-
Sat. And therefore, lovely Tamora, queen of
That like the stately Phoebe'mong her nymphs,
Dost over-shine the gallant'st dames of Rome,
If thou be pleas'd with this my sudden choice,
Behold, I choose thee, Tamora, for my bride,

Sat. Thanks, sweet Lavinia. -Romans, let 30 And will create thee emperess of Rome.

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2

Speak, queen of Goths, dost thou applaud my

choice?

And here I swear by all the Romans gods,—
Sith priest and holy water are so near,
And tapers burn so bright, and every thing
In readiness for Hymeneus stands,—

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,
A loving nurse, a mother to his youth.
Sat. 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.

Manet Titus Andronicus.

Tit. I am not bid to wait upon this bride;-
Titus, when wert thou wont to walk alone,
55 Dishonour'd thus, and challenged of wrongs?
Enter Marcus Andronicus, Lucius, Quintus,

and Marcus.

Marc. O, Titus, see, O see, what thou hast done!

60 In a bad quarrel, slain a virtuous son.

Tit. No, foolish tribune, no; no son of mine,

1 Spoken of Lavinia.-Piece was then, as it is now, used personally as a word of contempt A Ruffier was a kind of cheating bully; and is so called in a statute made for the punishment of vagabonds in the 27th year of K. Henry VIII. Hence, probably, this sense of the verb, to ruffle.

No

Nor thou; nor these, confederates in the deed
That hath dishonour'd all our family;
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 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.
Marc. My lord, this is impiety in you:
My nephew Mutius' deeds do plead for him:
He must be buried with his brethren.

[Titus' sons speak.
Sons. And shall, or him we will accompany.
Tit. And shall? What villain was it spoke that
word?
[Titus' son speaks.
Quint. He that would vouch't in any place but

here.

Tit. What, would you bury him in my despight? Marc. No, noble Titus; but intreat of thee To pardon Mutius, and to bury him.

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Tu. Marcus, even thou hast struck upon my crest, And, with these boys, mine honour thou hast 25 wounded.

My foes I do repute you every one;
So trouble me no more, but get you gone.
Luc. He is not with himself; let us withdraw.
Quint. Not I, till Mutius' bones be buried.

[The brother and the sons kneel. Marc. Brother for in thatnamedothnatureplead. Quint. Father, and in that namedothnaturespeak. Tit. Speak thou no more, if all the rest will speed.

Marc. RenownedTitus,morethanhalfmy soul,-
Luc. Dear father, soul and substance of us all,-
Marc. 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 Laërtes' son
Did graciously plead for his funerals:
Let not young Mutius then, that was thy joy,
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.
[They put him in the tomb.
Luc. There lie thy bones, sweet Mutius, with
thy friends,

'Till we with trophies do adorn thy tomb!-

Flourish. Re-enter the Emperor, Tamora, Chiron
and Demetrius, with Aaron the Moor, at one
dor: At the other door, Bassianus, and Lari
nia, with others.

Sat. So, Bassianus, you have play'd your prize:
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
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 wite?
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 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 which 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 controul'd in that he frankly gave:
Receive him then to favour, Saturnine;
That hath express'd himself, in all his deeds,
30A fother, and a friend, to thee, and Rome.

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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.

Sa'. What, madam! be dishonour'd openly, 40 And basely put it up without revenge?

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

I should be author to dishonour you!
But, on mine honour, dare I undertake
45 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 aflict his gentle heart.-
50 My lord, be rul'd by me, be won at last:
Dissemble all yourgriefsanddiscontents,
You are but newly planted in your

throne;

Lest then the people, and patricians too,

[They all kneel, and say; 55 Upon a just survey, take Titus' part;

No man shed tears for noble Mutius;
He lives in fame, that dy'd in virtue's cause.
Marc. 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?

Tit. I know not, Marcus; but I know, it is;
If by device or no, the heavens can tell:
Is she not then beholden to the man

And so supplant us for ingratitude,
(Which Rome reputes to be a heinoussin)
Yield at intreats, and then let me alone: [Aside.
I'll find a day to massacre them all,

60 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

That brought her for this high good turn so far? 65 Kneel in the streets, and beg for grace

Yes, and will nobly him remunerate.

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Come,

Come,come,sweetemperor,come, Andronicus,-1
Take up this good old man, and chear the heart
That dies in tempest of thy angry frown.

Sat. Rise, Titus, rise; my empress hath pre-
vail'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.

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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,

Luc. We do; and vow to heaven, and to his 20 With horn and hound, we'll give your grace bon

highness,

That what we did, was mildly as we might,

Tend'ring our sister's honotir, and our own.

jour.

Sat. Be it so, Titus, and gramercy too.

[Exeunt.

Aar.

NOW

SCENE I.

Before the Palace.

Enter Aaron alone.

ACT II.

OW climbeth Tamora Olympus' top,
Safe out of fortune's shot; and sits aloft,
Secure of thunder's crack, or lightning flash;
Advanc'd above pale envy's threat'ning reach.
As when the golden sun salutes the morn,
And, having gilt the ocean with his beams,
Gallops the zodiack in his glistering coach,
And over-looks the highest-peering hills;
So Tamora.-

Upon her wit doth earthly honour 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 ty'd 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 queen,
This syren, that will charm Rome's Saturnine,
And see his shipwreck, and his common-weal's.
Holla! what storm is this?

Enter Chiron, and Demetrius, braving.
Dem. Chiron, thy years want wit, thy wit
wants edge,

And manners, to intrude where I am grac'd;
And may, for aught thou know'st, affected be.
Chi. Demetrius, thou dost over-ween in all;
35 And so in this, to bear me down with braves.
Tis not the difference of a year, or two,
Makes me less gracious, or thee more fortunate:
I am as able, and as fit, as thou,

To serve, and to deserve my mistress' grace; 40 And that my sword upon thee shall approve, And plead my passions for Lavinia's love.

Aar. Clubs, clubs! These lovers will not
keep the peace.

Dem. Why,boy, although our mother unadvis'd,
45 Gave you a dancing rapier by your side,
Are you so desperate grown to threat your friends!
Till you know better how to handle it.
Go to; have your lath glu'd within your sheath,

50

Full well shalt thou perceive how much I dare.
Chi. Mean while, sir, with the little skill I have,
Dem. Ay, boy, grow ye so brave?

[They draw.

Aar. Why, how now, lords?
So near the emperor's palace dare you draw,
55 And maintain such a quarrel openly?
Full well I wot the ground of all this grudge;
I would not for a million of gold,
The cause were known to them it most concerns;
60 Be so dishonour'd in the court of Rome.
Nor would your noble mother, for much more,
For shame, put up.

Chi. Not 1; 'till I have sheath'd
My rapier in his bosom, and, withal,
Thrust these reproachful speeches down his throat,

That

That he hath breath'd in my dishonour here.
Dem, For that I am prepar'd and full resolv'd,--
Foul-spoken coward!" that thunder'st with thy
tongue,

And with thy weapon nothing dar'st perform.
Aar. Away, I say.-

Now, by the gods, that warlike Goths adore,
This petty brabble will undo us all.-

Why, lords,-and think you not how dangerous
It is to jut upon a prince's right?

What, is Lavinia then become so loose,
Or Bassianus so degenerate,

Take this of me, Lucrece was not more chaste Than this Lavinia, Bassianus' love.

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A speedier course than lingering languishment Must we pursue, and I have found the path. 5 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 villainy ; 10 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 sacred wit, To villainy and vengeance consecrate, We will acquaint with all that we intend; And she shall file our engines with advice, That will not suffer you to square yourselves, But to your wishes' height advance you both. The emperor's court is like the house of fame, The palace full of tongues, of eyes, of ears: The woods are ruthless, dreadful, deaf and dull; There speak, and strike, brave boys, and take your turns: [eye, There serve your lust, shadow'd from heaven's 25 And revel in Lavinia's treasury.

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That for her love such quarrels may be broach'd
Without controulment, justice, or revenge?
Young lords, beware!-an should the empress
know
[please.
This discord's ground, the music would not
Chi. I care not, I, knew she and all the world;
Hove Lavinia more than all the world.
Dem. Youngling, learn thou to make some 26
meaner choice:

Lavinia is thine elder brother's hope.

[Rome

Aar. Why, are ye mad? or know ye not, in
How furious and impatient they be,
And cannot brook competitors in love?

I tell you, lords, you do but plot your deaths
By this device.

Chi. Aaron, a thousand deaths would I propose, To atchieve her I do love.

Aar, To atchieve her!-How?
Dem. Why mak'st thou it so strange?
She is a woman, therefore may be woo'd;
She is a woman, therefore may be won:
She is Lavinia, therefore must be lov'd.
What, man! more water glideth by the mill
Than wots the miller of; and easy it is
Of a cut loaf to steal a shive', we know:
Though Bassianus be the emperor's brother,
Better than he have yet worn Vulcan's badge.
Aar, Ay,and asgood as Saturninus may.[Aside.
Dem. Then why should he despair, that knows
to court it

With words, fair looks, and liberality?
What, hast thou not full often struck a ɖɔe,
And borne her cleanly by the keeper's nose?
Aar. Why then, it seems, some certain snatch

Would serve your turns.

Chi. Ay, so the turn were serv'd.

Dem. Aaron, thou hast hit it.

Aar. 'Would you had hit it too;

[or so

Then should not we be tir'd with this ado.
Why, hark ye, hark ye,-And are you such fools,
To square for this? Would it offend you then
That both should speed?

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135

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Chi. Thy counsel, lads, smells of no cowardice. Dem. Sit fas aut nefas, 'till I find the stream To cool this heat, a charm to calm these fits, |Per Styga, per Manes vehor.—

SCENE II. Changes to a Forest.

[Exeunt.

Enter Titus Andronicus, and his three Sons, with hounds and horns, and Marcus.

Tit. The hunt is up, the morn is bright and grey, The fields are fragrant, and the woods are green: 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. 45 Here a cry of hounds, and win thorns in a peal; then enter Saturninus, Tamora, Bassianus, Lavinia, Chiron, Demetrius, and their Attendants. Tit. Many good morrows to your majesty :— Madam, to you as many and as good!promised your grace a hunter's peal.

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Chi. 'Faith, not me.

55I

[you jar.

Dem. Nor me, so I were one.

Aur. For shame, be friends; and join for that

Tis policy and stratagem must do
That you affect; and so must you resolve;
That what you cannot, as you would, atchieve, 60
You must perforce accomplish as you may,

Sat. and you have rung it lustily, my lords, Somewhat too carly for new married ladies. Bas. Lavinia, how say you?

Lav. I say, no;

have been broad awake two hours and more. Sat. Came on then, horse and chariots let us have,

And to our sport:-Madam, now ye shall see
Our Roman hunting.
[To Tamora.

Marc. I have dogs, my lord,
Will rouse the proudest panther in the chase,

1A shive is a slice. 2 To square, is to quarrel. 'i. e. by nature. 4 i. e, remove all impediments from our designs by advice. The allusion is to the operation of the file. And

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