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.

5

10

[Titus' fons Speak.15
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 Mor, at one door: At the other door, Baffianus, and Lavinie, 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: Ifay 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 fhall 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 poffest 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, lord Titus here,
Is in opinion, and in honour, wrong'd;
That, in the rescue 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 thefe 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 himself; 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 fpeak.
Tit. Speak thou no more, if all the reft will
speed.

Mar. Renowned Titus,more than half my foul,
Luc. Dear father, foul and fubftance 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's day is this, that e'er I faw,
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 last,

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 shed 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, sweet 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.

Tir. I thank your majesty, 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 past
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, sweet 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 fwore,
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 bon

highness,

That what we did, was mildly as we might,

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

jour.

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

Aar.

Na

ACT II.

SCENE I.

Before the Palace.

Enter Aaron alone.

OW climbeth Tamora Olympus' top,
Safe out of fortune's shot; 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, Aaron., arm thy heart, and fit thy thoughts,
To mount aloft with thy imperial mistress,
And mount her pitch; whom thou in triumph long
Haft prifoner 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,

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 cause 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 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-fpoken coward! that thunder'ft 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 fo 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, stand 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 fhould the emprefs 15
know
[pleafe.

This difcord's ground, the mufick would not
Chi. I care not, I, knew she 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:

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

35

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.

Chi. Thy counfel, lad, 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 vebor

SCENE II.
Changes to a Foreft.

[Exeunt.

Enter Titus Andronicus, and his 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.

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;

551 have been broad awake two hours and more. Sat. Come on then, horfe and chariots let us have,

Aar. For fhame, be friends; and join for that
'Tis policy and ftratagem must do
That you affect; and fo must you refolve;
That what you cannot, as you would, atchieve,
You must perforce accomplish as you may.

3 i. e. by nature.

1 A five 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

My fleece of woolly hair, that now uncurls,
Even as an adder, when she doth unroll
To do fome fatal execution?

No, madam, thefe are no venereal figns;
Vengeance is in my heart, death in my hand,
Blood and revenge are hammering in my head,
Hark, Tamora,-the emprefs of my foul,
Which never hopes more heaven than refts in thee,
This is the day of doom for Baffianus:
His Philomel must lose her tongue to-day;
Thy fons make pillage of her chastity,
And wash their hands in Baffianus' blood.
Seeft thou this letter? take it up, I pray thee,
And give the king this fatal plotted feroll :-
Now queftion me no more, we are espied,

IC

Here comes a parcel of our hopeful booty,
Which dreads not yet their lives' destruction.
Tam. Ah, my fweet Moor, fweeter to me than
life!

Aar. No more, great emprefs, Baffianus comes:
Be crofs with him; and I'll go fetch thy fons
To back thy quarrels, whatfoe'er they be. [Exit.
Enter Baffianus, and Lavinia.

Baf. Whom have we here? Rome's royal em

perefs,
Unfurnish'd of her well-befeeming troop?
Or is it Dian, habited like her;
Who hath abandoned her holy groves,
To fee the general hunting in this forest?
Tam. Saucy controller of our private steps!
Had I the power that, fome fay, Dian had,
Thy temples should be planted prefently
With horns, as was Acteon's; and the hounds
Should drive upon thy new-transformed limbs,
20 Unmannerly intruder as thou art!

Unre, for disquiet. 2 i, e. fly with impetuofity at him, called Cimmerian, from the affinity of blackness to darkness.

Should straight fall mad, or elfe die fuddenly,
No fooner had they told this hellish tale,

But ftraight they told me, they would bind me here]
Unto the body of a difmal yew;

And leave me to this miferable death.

And then they call'd me, foul adulteress,
Lafcivious Goth, and all the bittereft terms
That ever ear did hear to fuch effect.
And, had you not by wondrous fortune come,
This vengeance on me had they executed:
Revenge it, as you love your mother's life,
Or be ye not from henceforth call'd my children.
Dem. This is a witness that I am thy fon.

[Stabs Baffianus.

5

That gave thee life, when well he might have flain thee,

Be not obdurate, open thy deaf ears.

Tam. Hadft thou in person ne'er offended me,
Even for his fake am I now pitilefs:-
Remember, boys, I pour'd forth tears in vain,
To fave your brother from the facrifice;
But fierce Andronicus would not relent:
Therefore away with her, ufe her as you will;
10 The worfe to her, the better lov'd of me.

Chi. And this for me, ftruck home to fhew my 15
ftrength.
[Stabbing him likerwife.
Lav. Ay come, Semiramis,-nay, barbarous
Tamora!

For no name fits thy nature but thy own!
Tam. Give me thy poinard; you shall know, 20
[wrong.
my boys,

Your mother's hand fhall right your mother's
Dem. Stay, madam, here is more belongs to her;
First, thresh the corn, then after burn the ftraw:
This minion ftood upon her chastity,
Upon her nuptial vow, her loyalty,

And with that painted hope the braves your
mightiness:

25

And fhall the carry this unto her grave?
Chi. And if the do, I would I were an eunuch. 30
Drag hence her husband to some secret hole,
And make his dead trunk pillow to our luft.

Tum. But when you have the honey you defire,
Let not this wafp out-live, us both to fting.
Chi. I warrant you, madam; we will make 35

that fure.

Come, miftrefs, now perforce we will enjoy
That nice-preserved honesty of yours.

Lav. O Tamora! thou bear'ft a woman's face,-
Tam. I will not hear her speak; away with her.40
Lav. Sweet lords, intreat her hear me but a word.
Dem. Liften, fair madam: Let it be your glory,
To fee her tears; but be your heart to them,
As unrelenting flint to drops of rain. [dam?
Lav. When did the tyger's young ones teach the 45
O, do not teach her wrath; the taught it thee:
The milk,thou fuck'ft from her, did turn to marble;
Even at thy teat thou hadft thy tyranny.—
Yet every mother breeds not fons alike;

Lav. O Tamora, be call'd a gentle queen,
And with thine own hands kill me in this place:
For 'tis not life, that I have begg'd fo long;
Poor I was flain, when Baffianus dy'd.

Tam. What begg'st thou then? fond woman,
let me go.
[more,

Lav. 'Tis prefent death I beg; and one thing
That womanhood denies my tongue to tell:
O, keep me from their worse than killing luft,
And tumble me into some loathfome pit;
Where never man's eye may behold my body:
Do this, and be a charitable murderer.

Tam. So fhould I rob my sweet fons of their fee:
No, let them fatisfy their luft on thee.

Dem. Away; for thou haft ftaid us here too long.
Lav. No grace? no womanhood? Ah beaftly
creature!

The blot and enemy to our general name!
Confufion fall-

Chi. Nay, then I'll stop your mouth,-Bring thou
her husband; [Dragging off Lavinia.
This is the hole where Aaron bid us hide him.
[Exeunt.

Tam. Farewel, my fons: fee, that you make
her fure :

Ne'er let my heart know merry cheer indeed,
Till all the Andronici be made away.
Now will I hence to feek my lovely Moor,
And let my spleenful fons this trull deflow'r.

[Exit.

Enter Aaron, with Quintus and Marcus.
Aar. Come on, my lords; the better foot before:
Straight will I bring you to the loathfome pit,
Where I efpied the panther faft afleep.

Quin. My fight is very dull, whate'er it bodes.
Mar. And mine, I promise you; wer't not for
fhame,

Do thou intreat her fhew a woman p ty. [To Chiron. 50 Well could I leave our fport to fleep a while.

Chi. What would'st thou have me prove my

felf a bastard?

Lav. "Tis true the raven doth not hatch a lark:
Yet have I heard, (O could I find it now!)
The lion, mov'd with pity, did endure
To have his princely paws par'd all away.
Some fay, that ravens fofter forlorn children,
The whilft their own birds famith in their nefts:
O, be to me, though thy hard heart say no,
Nothing fo kind, but fomething pitiful!

Tam. I know not what it means; away with her.
Lav. O, let me teach thee: for my father's fake,

[Marcus falls into the pit. Quin. What, art thou fallen? What subtle hole

is this,

Whofe mouth is cover'd with rude-growing briars; 55 Upon whofe leaves are drops of new-fhed blood, As fresh as morning's dew diftill'd on flowers? A very fatal place it seems to me;— Speak, brother, haft thou hurt thee with the fall? Mar. O brother, with the difmallest obje& 60 That ever eye, with fight, made heart lament. Aar. [Afide.] Now will I fetch the king to find them here;

↳ Painted hope means specious hape, or ground of confidence more playfiblę than folid,

3 H 4

That