But let desert in pure election shine; Enter MARCUS ANDRONICUS aloft, with the crown. Mar. Princes that strive by factions, and by friends, Ambitiously for rule and empery, Know, that the people of Rome, for whom we stand Lives not this day within the city walls. From weary wars against the barbarous Goths And now at last, laden with honor's spoils, That you withdraw you, and abate your strength; Sat. How fair the tribune speaks to calm my thoughts! Bas. Marcus Andronicus, so I do affy And so I love and honor thee and thine, 1 Summoned. And her to whom my thoughts are humbled all, [Exeunt the followers of BASSIANUS. Sat. Friends, that have been thus forward in my right, I thank you all, and here dismiss you all; [Exeunt the followers of SATURNINUS. Rome, be as just and gracious unto me, Open the gates, and let me in. Bas. Tribunes! and me, a poor competitor. [SAT. and BAs. go into the Capitol, and exeunt with Senators, MARCUS, &c. SCENE II. The same. Enter a Captain and others. Cap. Romans, make way; the good Andronicus, Patron of virtue, Rome's best champion, Successful in the battles that he fights, With honor and with fortune is returned, From where he circumscribed with his sword, And brought to yoke the enemies of Rome. Flourish of trumpets, &c. Enter MUTIUS and MARTIUS; after them two men bearing a coffin covered with black; then QUINTUS and LUCIUS. After them, TITUS ANDRONICUS; and then TAMORA, with ALARBUS, CHIRON, DEMETRIUS, AARON, and other Goths, prisoners; Soldiers and People following. - The bearers set down the coffin, and TITUS speaks. Tit. Hail, Rome, victorious in thy mourning weeds! Lo, as the bark that hath discharged her fraught, . Returns with precious lading to the bay, From whence at first she weighed her anchorage, Stand gracious to the rights that we intend!- Here Goths have given me leave to sheathe my sword. [The tomb is opened. There greet in silence, as the dead are wont, And sleep in peace, slain in your country's wars! Sweet cell of virtue and nobility, How many sons of mine hast thou in store, That thou wilt never render to me more! Luc. Give us the proudest prisoner of the Goths, That we may hew his limbs, and, on a pile, Ad manes fratrum sacrifice his flesh, Tit. I give him you; the noblest that survives, The eldest son of this distressed queen. Tam. Stay, Roman brethren.-Gracious conqueror, Victorious Titus, rue the tears I shed, 3 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. Andronicus, stain not thy tomb with blood. Tit. Patient yourself, madam, and pardon me. To this your son is marked; and die he must, [Exeunt LUCIUS, QUINTUS, MARTIus, and MUTIUS, with ALARBUS. Tam. O cruel, irreligious piety! Chi. Was ever Scythia half so barbarous? Alarbus goes to rest; and we survive To tremble under Titus' threatening look. Then, madam, stand resolved; but hope withal, Upon the Thracian tyrant in his tent,2 (When Goths were Goths, and Tamora was queen,) To quit the bloody wrongs upon her foes. 1 This verb is used by other old dramatic writers. 2 Theobald says that we should read, “in her tent;" i. e. in the tent where she and the other Trojan women were kept; for thither Hecuba, by a wile, had decoyed Polymnestor, in order to perpetrate her revenge. Re-enter LUCIUS, QUINTUS, MARTIUS, and MUTIUS, with their swords bloody. Luc. See, lord and father, how we have performed Whose smoke, like incense, doth perfume the sky. [Trumpets sounded, and the coffins laid in In peace and honor, rest you here, my sons; Rome's readiest champions, repose you here in rest, Enter LAVINIA. In peace and honor rest you here, my sons! Tit. Kind Rome, that hast thus lovingly reserved 1 To" outlive an eternal date" is, though not philosophical, yet poetical sense. He wishes that her life may be longer than his, and her praise longer than fame. |