Wilt thou draw near the nature of the Gods? Tit. Patient yourfelf, Madam, and pardon me. These are their brethren, whom you Goths, behold Alive and dead, and for their brethren flain Religiously they ask a Sacrifice; To this your fon is markt, and die he must, Tam. O cruel, irreligious, piety! Chi. Was ever Scythia half fo barbarous ? To tremble under Titus' threatning looks. Upon the Thracian tyrant in her Tent, Enter Mutius, Marcus, Quintus and Lucius. Whose smoke, like incenfe, doth perfume the sky. [Then found trumpets, and lay the coffins in the tomb. In peace and hononr rest you here, my sons, Lav. I N peace and honour live lord Titus long, Tit. Kind Rome, that haft thus lovingly referv'd Tit. Thanks, gentle Tribune, noble brother Marcus. Mar. And welcome, Nephews, from fuccefsful wars, You that furvive, and you that fleep in fame: And And name thee in election for the Empire, And help to fet a head on headless Rome. Tit. A better head her glorious body fits, Than his, that shakes for age and feebleness: What! fhould I don this robe, and trouble you? Be chofe with Proclamations to-day, To-morrow yield up Rule, refign my life, And fet abroach new business for you all? Rome, I have been thy foldier forty years, And led my country's ftrength fuccefsfully; And buried one and twenty valiant fons, Knighted in field, flain manfully in arms, In Right and Service of their noble Country. Give me a staff of honour for mine age, But not a fceptre to controul the world. Upright he held it, lords that held it last, Mar. Titus, thou shalt obtain and afk the Empery. Sat. Proud and ambitious Tribune, canft thou tell Tit. Patience, Prince Saturninus.- Patricians, draw your fwords, and sheath them not 'Till Saturninus be Rome's Emperor. Andronicus, would thou wert fhipt to hell, Luc. Proud Saturnine, interrupter of the Good Tit. Content thee, Prince; I will restore to thee The people's hearts, and wean them from themselves. Baf. Andronicus, I do not flatter thee, But honour thee, and will do 'till I die: Of noble minds is honourable meed. Tit. People of Rome, and noble Tribunes here, I ask your voices, and your fuffrages; K 5 Will Will you beftow them friendly on Andronicus? Tit. Tribunes, I thank you, and this fuit I make, Crown him, and fay,Long live our Emperor ! Mar. With voices and applaufe of every fort, Patricians and Plebeians, we create Lord Saturninus, Rome's great Emperor; And fay,Long live our Emperor Saturnine! [A long flourish, till they come down. Sat. Titus Andronicus, for thy favours done To us in our Election this day, I give thee thanks in part of thy deferts, Thy name, and honourable family, Rome's royal Miftrefs, Miftrefs of my heart, Tell me, Andronicus, doth this motion please thee? The The least of these unspeakable deferts, Tit. Now, Madam, are you prifoner to an Empe ror; To him, that for your honour and your state [To Tamora. That I would chuse, were I to chufe, anew: Thou com'ft not to be made a scorn in Rome: Princely fhall be thy ufage every way. Reft on my word, and let not discontent Daunt all your hopes: Madam, who comforts you, Can make you greater than the Queen of Goths. Lavinia, you are not difpleas'd with this? Lav. Not I, my lord; fith true nobility Warrants thefe words in princely courtesy. Sat. Thanks, fweet Lavinia; Romans, let us go. Ranfomlefs here we set our prisoners free; Proclaim our honours, lords, with trump and drum. Baf. Lord Titus, by your Leave, this Maid is mine. [Seizing Lavinia. Tit. How, Sir? are you in earnest then, my lord? Baf. Ay, noble Titus; and refolv'd withal, To do myself this Reason and this Right. [The Emperor courts Tamora in dumb fhew. Mar. Suum cuique is our Roman justice: This Prince in juftice feizeth but his own. 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. [Guard? |