Complete Plays, The Read online

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 Andronicus

  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 Andronicus

  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

  Saturninus

  Titus Andronicus, for thy favors 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 Andronicus

  It doth, my worthy lord; and in this match

  I hold me highly honour’d 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 imperial 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 Andronicus

  [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 comest 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 displeased 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 Andronicus

  How, sir! are you in earnest then, my lord?

  Bassianus

  Ay, noble Titus; and resolved withal

  To do myself this reason and this right.

  Marcus Andronicus

  ‘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 Andronicus

  Traitors, avaunt! Where is the emperor’s guard?

  Treason, my lord! Lavinia is surprised!

  Saturninus

  Surprised! 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 Andronicus

  Follow, my lord, and I’ll soon bring her back.

  Mutius

  My lord, you pass not here.

  Titus Andronicus

  What, villain boy!

  Barr’st me my way in Rome?

  Stabbing Mutius

  Mutius

  Help, Lucius, help!

  Dies

  During the fray, Saturninus, Tamora, Demetrius, Chiron and Aaron go out and re-enter, above

  Re-enter Lucius

  Lucius

  My lord, you are unjust, and, more than so,

  In wrongful quarrel you have slain your son.

  Titus Andronicus

  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 promised 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 Andronicus

  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 Andronicus

  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 pleased 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 every thing

  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 espoused 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 cons
ummate our spousal rites.

  Exeunt all but Titus

  Titus Andronicus

  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 Andronicus

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

  In a bad quarrel slain a virtuous son.

  Titus Andronicus

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

  Nor thou, nor these, confederates in the deed

  That hath dishonour’d all our family;

  Unworthy brother, and unworthy sons!

  Lucius

  But let us give him burial, as becomes;

  Give Mutius burial with our brethren.

  Titus Andronicus

  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 Andronicus

  My lord, this is impiety in you:

  My nephew Mutius’ deeds do plead for him

  He must be buried with his brethren.

  Quintus

  Martius

  And shall, or him we will accompany.

  Titus Andronicus

  ‘And shall!’ what villain was it that spake that word?

  Quintus

  He that would vouch it in any place but here.

  Titus Andronicus

  What, would you bury him in my despite?

  Marcus Andronicus

  No, noble Titus, but entreat of thee

  To pardon Mutius and to bury him.

  Titus Andronicus

  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 Andronicus

  Brother, for in that name doth nature plead,—

  Quintus

  Father, and in that name doth nature speak,—

  Titus Andronicus

  Speak thou no more, if all the rest will speed.

  Marcus Andronicus

  Renowned Titus, more than half my soul,—

  Lucius

  Dear father, soul and substance of us all,—

  Marcus Andronicus

  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 Andronicus

  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 Andronicus

  My lord, to step out of these dreary dumps,

  How comes it that the subtle Queen of Goths

  Is of a sudden thus advanced in Rome?

  Titus Andronicus

  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?

  Yes, and will nobly him remunerate.

  Flourish. Re-enter, from one side, Saturninus attended, Tamora, Demetrius, Chiron and Aaron; from 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 truth-betrothed love and now my wife?

  But let the laws of Rome determine all;

  Meanwhile I am 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 moved to wrath

  To be controll’d in that he frankly gave:

  Receive him, then, to favor, Saturnine,

  That hath express’d himself in all his deeds

  A father and a friend to thee and Rome.

  Titus Andronicus

  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 loved and honour’d Saturnine!

  Tamora

  My worthy lord, if ever Tamora

  Were gracious in those princely eyes of thine,

  Then hear me speak in indifferently for all;

  And at my suit, sweet, pardon what is past.

  Saturninus

  What, madam! be dishonour’d 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 to Saturninus

  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.

  Aloud

  Come, come, sweet emperor; come, Andronicus;

  Take up this good old man, and cheer the heart

  That dies in tempest of thy angry frown.<
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  Saturninus

  Rise, Titus, rise; my empress hath prevail’d.

  Titus Andronicus

  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 reconciled 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 Andronicus

  That, on mine honour, here I do 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 Andronicus

  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.

  Flourish. Exeunt

  ACT II

  SCENE I. ROME. BEFORE THE PALACE.

  Enter Aaron

  Aaron

  Now climbeth Tamora Olympus’ top,

  Safe out of fortune’s shot; and sits aloft,

  Secure of thunder’s crack or lightning flash;

  Advanced above pale envy’s threatening reach.

  As when the golden sun salutes the morn,

  And, having gilt the ocean with his beams,

  Gallops the zodiac in his glistering coach,

  And overlooks 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