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. That in your country's service drew your swords; you ? Mar. Titus, thou shalt obtain and ask the empery. Sat. Proud and ambitious tribune, canst thou tell? 1 The maxim alluded to is, that no man can be pronounced happy before his death. 2 A robe. 3 i. e. do on, put it on. Tit. Patience, prince Saturnine. Sat. Andronicus, 'would thou wert shipped to hell 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 honor thee, and will do till I die. My faction if thou strengthen with thy friends, Of noble minds, is honorable meed. Tit. People of Rome, and people's tribunes here, I ask your voices, and your suffrages; Will you bestow them friendly on Andronicus? And gratulate his safe return to Rome, Tit. Tribunes, I thank you! and this suit I make, [A long flourish. Sat. Titus Andronicus, for thy favors done I give thee thanks in part of thy deserts, Thy name, and honorable family, Lavinia will I make my empress, Rome's royal mistress, mistress of my heart, Tell me, Andronicus, doth this motion please thee? Sat. Thanks, noble Titus, father of my life! Tit. Now, madam, are you prisoner to an emperor; [TO TAMORA. To him, that for your honor and your state, Will use you nobly, and your followers. Sat. A goodly lady, trust me; of the hue Thou com'st not to be made a scorn in Rome; Daunt all your hopes. Madam, he comforts you, Lav. Not I, my lord; sith true nobility Sat. Thanks, sweet Lavinia.-Romans, let us go; Ransomless here we set our prisoners free. Proclaim our honors, lords, with trump and drum. Bas. Lord Titus, by your leave, this maid is mine. [Seizing LAVINIA. Tit. How, sir? Are you in earnest then, my lord? Bas. Ay, noble Titus; and resolved withal 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. Tit. Traitors, avaunt! Where is the emperor's guard? Treason, my lord; Lavinia is surprised. Sat. Surprised! By whom? By him that justly may Bear his betrothed 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 MARTIUS. 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! 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; Luc. Dead, if you will; but not to be his wife, That is another's lawful, promised love. [Exit. Sat. No, Titus, no; the emperor needs her not, Nor her, nor thee, nor any of thy stock. Was there none else in Rome to make a stale1 of, 1 A stale here signifies a stalking-horse. To make a stale of any one, seems to have meant "to make them an object of mockery." But Saturnine! Full well, Andronicus, 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 flourished for her with his sword. A valiant son-in-law thou shalt enjoy; One fit to bandy with thy lawless sons, 1 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 pleased 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? And here I swear by all the Roman gods,Sith priest and holy water are so near, And tapers burn so bright, and every thing In readiness for Hymeneus stand,— I will not re-salute the streets of Rome, Or climb my palace, till from forth this place I lead espoused 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, ac company Your noble emperor, and his lovely bride, [Exeunt SATURNINUS and his followers; TAMORA, Tit. I am not bid to wait upon this bride. 1 To ruffle was to be tumultuous and turbulent. 2 i. e. invited. |