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

And here, in fight of Rome, to Saturnine,-
King and commander of common-weal,
The wide world's emperor,-do I confecrate
My fword, my chariot and my prifoners;
Prefents well worthy Rome's imperial lord:
Receive them then, the tribute that I owe,
Mine honour's enfigns humbled at thy feet.

Sat. Thanks, noble Titus, father of my life!
How proud I am of thee, and of thy gifts,
Rome fhall record; and when I do forget
The leaft of thefe unspeakable deserts,
Romans, forget your fealty to me.

Tit. Now, madam, are you prifoner to an em-
peror;
[To Tamora
To him, that for your honour and your state,
Will ufe you nobly, and your followers.

Sat. A goodly lady, truft 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 A valiant fon-in-law thou fhalt enjoy;

of cheer,

Thou com'ft not to be made a fcorn in Rome:
Princely fhall be thy ufage every way.

Reft on my word, and let not difcontent

Daunt all your hopes: Madam, he comforts you,
Can make you greater than the queen of Goths.—

25

Lavinia, you are not difpleas'd with this?

Lav. Not I, my lord; fith true nobility

Warrants thefe words in princely courtesy.

heart.

One fit to bandy with thy lawless fons,
To ruffle in the commonwealth of Rome.
Tit. Thefe words are razors to my wounded
[Goths,-
Sat. And therefore, lovely Tamora, queen of
That like the ftately Phoebe 'mong her nymphs,
Doft over-fhine the gallant'ft dames of Rome,—
If thou be pleas'd with this my fudden choice,
Behold, I choose thee, Tamora, for my bride,

Sat. Thanks, fweet Lavinia.-Romans, let 30 And will create thee emprefs of Rome.

us go:

Ranfomlefs here we fet our prifoners free:

Proclaim our honours, lords, with trump and drum.

Baf. Lord Titus, by your leave, this maid is mine.

[Seizing Lavinia. 35 Tit. How, fir? Are you in earneft then, my lord?

Baf. Ay, noble Titus ; and refolv'd withal, To do myself this reafon and this right.

[The Emperor courts Tamera in dumb fhew.40 Mar. Suum cuique is our Roman juftice: This prince in juftice feizeth but his own. Luc. And that he will, and fhall, if Lucius live. Tit. Traitors, avaunt! Where is the emperor's guard!

Treafon, my lord; Lavinia is furpriz'd.

Sat. Surpriz'd! By whom?

Baf. By him that juftly may

Bear his betroth'd from all the world away.

45

Speak, queen of Goths, doft thou applaud my

choice?

And here I fwear by all the Roman Gods,-
Sith prieft and holy water are so near,
And tapers burn fo bright, and every thing
In readiness for Hymeneus ftands,-

I will not re-falute the ftreets of Rome,
Or climb my palace, 'till from forth this place
I lead efpous'd my bride along with me.
Tam. And here, in fight of heaven to Rome
I swear,

If Saturnine advance the queen of Goths,
She will a handmaid be to his defires,
A loving nurfe, a mother to his youth.

Sat. Afcend, fair queen, Pantheon: Lord,
accompany

Your noble emperor, and his lovely bride,
Sent by the heavens for prince Saturnine,
Whofe wifdom hath her fortune conquered:

[Exit Baffianus with Lavinia. 50 There shall we confummate our fpoufal rites.

Mut. Brothers, help to convey her hence away, And with my fword I'll keep this door fafe.

Tit. Follow, my lord, and I'll foon bring her back.

Mut. My lord you pafs not here.

Tit. What! villain boy,

Barr'ft me my way in Rome? [Titus kills Mutius.
Mut. Help, Lucius, help!

Luc. My lord, you are unjust, and more than fo;
In wrongful quarrel you have flain your fon.

Tit. Nor theu, nor he, are any fons of mine;

Spoken of Lavinia.

Piece was then, as it is now, ufed perfonally as a word of contempt. 2A ruffer was a kind of cheating bully; and is fo called in a ftatute made for the punishment of "vagabonds in the 27th year of K. Henry VIII. Hence, probably, this sense of the verb, to ruffle.

Nor

Nor thou, nor thefe, confederates in the deed
That hath dishonour'd all our family;
Unworthy brother, and unworthy fons!

Luc. But let us give him burial, as becomes;
Give Mutius burial with our brethren.

Tit. Traitors, away! he refts not in this tomb.
This monument five hundred years hath stood,
Which I have fumptuously re-edified;
Here none but foldiers, and Rome's fervitors,
Repofe in fame; none bafely flain in brawls :-
Bury him where you can, he comes not here.
Mar. My lord, this is impiety in you:
My nephew Mutius' deeds do plead for him:
He must be buried with his brethren.

10

[Titus' fons Speak.5 Sons. And fhall, or him we will accompany. Tit. And fhall? What villain was it fpoke that word? [Titus' fon Speaks. Quin. He that would vouch 't in any place but

here.

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

Flourish. Re-enter the Emperor, Tamra, Chiren and Demetrius, with Aaron the Moor, at one door: At the other door, Baffianus, and Lavinia, with others.

Sat. So, Baffianus, you have play'd your prize: God give you joy, fir, of your gallant bride.

Baf. And you of yours, my lord: I fay no more, Nor with no lefs; and fo I take my leave.

Sat. Traitor, if Rome have law, or we have
power,

Thou and thy faction shall repent this rape.
Baf. Rape, call you it, my lord, to feize my own
My true betrothed love, and now my wife?
But let the laws of Rome determine all;
Mean while I am poffeft of that is mine.
Sat. 'Tis good, fir: You are very short with us;
But, if we live, we'll be as fharp with you.

Baf. My lord, what I have done, as best I may,
Answer I muft, and fhall do with my life.
20Only thus much I give your grace to know,➡
By all the duties which I owe to Rome,
This noble gentleman, Jord Titus here,
Is in opinion, and in honour, wrong'd;
That, in the refcue of Lavinia,
With his own hand did flay 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 exprefs'd himself, in all his deeds,
30 A father, and a friend, to thee, and Rome.

Tit. Marcus, even thou haft ftruck upon my creft, And, with these boys, mine honour thou haft 25 wounded.

My foes I do repute you every one;

So trouble me no more, but get you gone.
Luc. He is not with himfelf; let us withdraw.
Quin. Not I, till Mutius' bones be buried.
[The brother and the fans kneel.
Mar. Brother, for in that name doth nature plead.
Quin. Father, and in that name doth nature speak.
Tit. Speak thou no more, if all the reft will

speed.

Mar. Renowned Titus,more than half my foul,
Luc. Dear father, foul and substance of us all,-
Mar. Suffer thy brother Marcus to interr
His noble nephew here in virtue's neft,
That died in honour and Lavinia's caufe.
Thou art a Roman, be not barbarous.
The Grecks, upon advice, did bury Ajax
That flew himself; and wife Laertes' fon
Did graciously plead for his funerals:
Let not young Mutius then, that was thy joy,
Be barr'd his entrance here.

Tit. Rife, Marcus, rife:
The difmall'ft day is this, that e'er I saw,
To be difhonour'd by my fons in Rome!→
Well, bury him, and bury me the next.
[They put bim in the tomb.
Luc. There lie thy bones, fweet Mutius, with
thy friends,.

'Till we with trophies do adorn thy tomb !--

35

Tit. Prince Baffianus, leave to plead my deeds 'Tis thou, and thofe, that have difhonour'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 thofe princely eyes of thine, Then hear me fpeak, indifferently for all; And at my fuit, fweet, pardon what is paft. Sat. What, madam! be dishonour'd openly, 40 And bafely put it up without revenge?

Tam. Not fo, my lord; The gods of Rome forefend,

I fhould be author to difhonour you!

But, on mine honour, dare I undertake
45 For good lord Titus' innocence in all,

Whofe fury, not diffembled, fpeaks his griefs:
Then, at my fuit, look graciously on him;
Lofe not fo noble a friend on vain suppose,
Nor with four looks afflict his gentle heart.-
50 My lord, be rul'd by me, be won at laft,

Diffemble all your griefs and difcontents:
You are but newly planted in your

throne.;

Left then the people, and patricians too, [They all kneel and fay 355 Upon a just furvey, take Titus' part; And fo fupplant us for ingratitude, (WhichRome reputes to be a heinous fin) Yield at intreats, and then let me alone: [Afide. I'll find a day to maffacre them all,

No man fhed tears for noble Mutius;
He lives in fame, that dy'd in virtue's cause.
Mar. My lord,to step out of thefe dreary

dumps,

How comes it, that the fubtle queen of Goths
Is of a fudden 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 the not then beholden to the man
That brought her for this high good turn so far?
Yes, and will nobly him remunerate.

Come, come, fweet emperor, come, Andronicus,-
Take up this good old man, and chear the heart
That dies in tempeft of thy angry frown.

Sat. Rife, Titus, rife; my emprefs hath pre-
vail'd.

Tit. I thank your majefty, and her, my lord.
Thefe 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 Baffianus, I have patt
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 afk pardon of his majesty.

Mar. That on mine honour here I do proteft.
Sat. Away, and talk not; trouble us no more.-
Tam. Nay, nay, fweet emperor, we must all be
friends:

5 The tribune and his nephews kneel for grace;
I will not be denied. Sweet heart, look back.
Sat. Marcus, for thy fake, and thy brother's
here,

And at my lovely Tamora's intreats,
10I do remit these young men's heinous faults.
Stand up.

Lavinia, though you left me like a churl,

I found a friend; and fure as death I swore,
I would not part a bachelor from the priest.

15 Come, if the emperor's court can feast two brides,
You are my gueft, Lavinia, and your friends :-
This day fhall 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 bes

highness,

That what we did, was mildly as we might,

Tend'ring our fifter's honour, and our own.

jour.

Aar.

N

ACT

SCENE I.

Before the Palace.

Enter Aaron alone.

OW climbeth Tamora Olympus' top,
Safe out of fortune's fhot; and fits aloft,
Secure of thunder's crack, or lightning flash;
Advanc'd above pale envy's threatning reach.
As when the golden fun falutes 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, Aaror., arm thy heart, and fit thy thoughts,
To mount aloft with thy imperial mistress,
And mount her pitch; whom thou in triumph long
Haft prisoner held, fetter'd in amorous chains;
And fafter bound to Aaron's charming eyes,
Than is Prometheus ty'd to Caucafus.
Away with flavish weeds, and idle thoughts!
I will be bright, and shine in pearl and gold,
To wait upon this new-made emperefs.
To wait, faid I? to wanton with this queen,
This goddefs, this Semiramis ;-this queen,
This fyren, that will charm Rome's Saturnine,
And fee his fhipwreck, 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,

II.

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

To ferve, and to deferve my mistress' grace; 40 And that my fword upon thee shall approve, And plead my paffions for Lavinia's love.

Aar. Clubs, clubs! - Thefe lovers will not

keep the peace.

Dem. Why, boy, although our mother unadvis'd, 45 Gave you a dancing rapier by your fide,

Are you fo defperate grown to threat your friends?
Go to; have your lath glu'd within your sheath,
'Till you know better how to handle it.

Chi. Mean while, fir, with the little skill I have, 50 Full well fhalt thou perceive how much I dare. Dem. Ay, boy, grow ye fo brave?

[They draw

Aar. Why, how now, lords?
So near the emperor's palace dare you draw,
55 And maintain fuch a quarrel openly?

Full well I wot the ground of all this grudge;
I would not for a million of gold,

The caufe were known to them it most concerns;
Nor would your noble mother, for much more,
60 Be fo difhonour'd in the court of Rome.
For fhame, put up.

Chi. Not I; 'till I have fheath'd
My rapier in his bofom, and, withal,
Thrust thefe 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 fay.-

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 Baffianus fo degenerate,

Take this of me, Lucrece was not more chafte
Than this Lavinia, Baffianus' love.

A fpeedier course than lingering languishment
Muft we purfue, and I have found the path.
5 My lords, a folemn hunting is in hand;
There will the lovely Roman ladies troop:
The foreft walks are wide and spacious;
And many unfrequented plots there are,
Fitted by kind 3 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, ftand you in hope.
Come, come, our emprefs, with her facred wit,
To villainy and vengeance confecrate,
We will acquaint with all that we intend;
And the fhall file our engines with advice 4,
That will not fuffer you to fquare yourselves,
But to your wishes' height advance you both.
The emperor's court is like the house of fame,

That for her love fuch quarrels may be broach'd
Without controulment, juftice, or revenge?
Young lords, beware!-an should the emprefs 15
know
[pleafe.

This difcord's ground, the mufick would not
Chi. I care not, I, knew the and all the world;
I love Lavinia more than all the world.

Dem. Youngling, learn thou to make fome 20 The palace full of tongues, of eyes, of ears:

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 eafy it is
Of a cut loaf to fteal a fhive', we know:
Though Baffianus be the emperor's brother,
Better than he have yet worn Vulcan's badge.

35

Chi. Thy counfel, lad, fmells 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 vebor.

SCENE II.

Changes to a Foreft.

[Exeunt.

Enter Titus Andronicus, and bis three Sons, with

bounds and borns, 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 roufe the prince; and ring a hunter's peal,

Aar. Ay, and as good as Saturninus may. [Afide. 40 That all the court may echo with the noise.

[or fol

Sons, let it be your charge, as it is ours, To tend the emperor's perfon carefully: I have been troubled in my fleep this night, But dawning day new comfort hath inspir'd. 45 Here a cry of bounds, and wind borns in a peal: then enter Saturninus, Tamura, Baffianus, Lavinia, Chiron, Demetrius, and their Attendants.

Tit. Many good morrows to your majesty ;Madam, to you as many and as good !

50I promifed your grace a hunter's peal.

Sat. And you have rung it luftily, my lords, Somewhat too early for new married ladies. Baf. Lavinia, how say you?

Lav. I fay, no;

55I have been broad awake two hours and more. Sat. Come on then, horfe and chariots let u

[you jar.

3 i. e. by nature.

↑ A fhive is a flice. 2 To Square is to quarrel. pediments from our defigns by advice. The allufion is to the operation of the file.

3H3

4 i. e. remove all im

And