This day all quarrels die, Andronicus,
And let it be my honour, good my Lord,
That I have reconcil'd your friends and you.
For you, Prince Baffianus, I have paft
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 fhall afk pardon of his Majefty.

Luc. We do, and vow to Heaven and to his Highnefs,

That what we did was mildly, as we might,
Tend'ring our fifter's honour and our own.

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.

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,

I do remit these young men's heinous faults,
Lavinia, though you left me like a churl,

I found a friend, and fure, as death, I fwore,
I would not part a batchelor from the priest.
Come, if the Emperor's Court can feast two brides;
You are my guest, Lavinia, and your friends
This day fhall be a love-day, Tamora.

Tit. To-morrow, an it please your Majefty,
To hunt the Panther and the Hart with me,

With horn and hound, we'll give your Grace Bon-jour. Sat. Be it fo, Titus, and grammercy too. [Exeunt,

ACT II. 7 SCENE I.

Before the PALACE.

Enter Aaron alone.

AARON.

OW climbeth Tamora Olympus' top,

Na

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 gliftring coach,
And over-looks the higheft peering hills;
So Tamora

Upon her wit doth early honour wait,

And virtue ftoops and trembles at her frown.
Then, Aaron, arin thy heart, and fit thy thoughts,
To mount aloft with thy imperial miftrefs,

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 flavifh weeds and idle thoughts,
I will be bright and thine in pearl and gold.
To wait upon this new-made Emprefs.
To wait, faid I? to wanton with this Queen,
This Goddess, this Semiramis ;-this Queen,

This Syren, that will charm Rome's Saturnine,
And fee his fhipwreck, and his common-weal's.
Holla! what ftorm is this?

SCENE II.

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 dost over-ween in all,
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 miftrefs' grace;
And that my fword upon thee fhall approve,
And plead my paffion for Lavinia's love.

Aar. Clubs, clubs !—These lovers will not keep the peace.

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

Are you fo defp'rate 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, Sir, with the little skill I have, Full well fhalt thou perceive how much I dare. Dem. Ay, boy, grow ye to brave? Aar. Why, how now, Lords?

[They draw,

So near the Emperor's Palace dare you draw,
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 moft concerns.
Nor would your noble mother, for much more,
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 fpeeches down his throat,
That he hath breath'd in my difhonour here.

Dem. For that I am prepar'd and full refolv'd,-
Foul-fpoken coward! thou thundreft with thy tongue,
And with thy weapon nothing dar'ft perform.
Aar. Away, I say.-

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 jet upon a Prince's right?

What is Lavinia then become fo loofe,

Or Baffianus fo degenerate,

That for her love fuch quarrels may be broacht,
Without controulment, juftice, or revenge?

Young Lords, beware-and should the Empress know
This difcord's ground, the musick would not please.
Chi. I care not, I, knew he and all the world

I love Lavinia more than all the world.

Dem. Youngling, learn thou to make some meaner choice,

Lavinia is thy elder brother's hope.

Aar. Why, are ye mad! or know ye not, in Rome How furious and impatient they be,

And cannot brook competitors in love?

I tell you, Lords, you do but plot your deaths
By this Device.

Chi. Aaron, a thoufand deaths would I propofe,
T'atchieve her whom I love.

Aar. To atchieve her-how?

Dem. Why mak'ft thou it so strange? She is a woman, therefore may be woo'd;

9 Not I, till I bave fheath'd, &c.] This fpeech, which has been all along given to Demetrius, as the next to Chiron, were

er.

both given to the wrong fpeakFor it was Demetrius that had thrown out the reproachful speeches on the other. WARB.

She

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.
'Tho' Baffianus be the Emperor's brother,
Better than he have yet worn Vulcan's badge.
Aar. Ay, and as good as Saturninus may.

[Afide.

Dem. Then why should he defpair, that knows to court it

With words, fair looks, and liberality?

What, haft thou not full often ftruck a doe,

And born her cleanly by the keeper's nofe?

Aar. Why then, it feems, fome certain fnatch or fo Would ferve your turns.

Chi. Ay, fo the turn were served.
Dem. Aaron, thou haft hit it.

Aar. 'Would you had hit it too,

Then fhould not we be tir'd with this ado:
Why, hark ye, hark ye-and are you fuch fools,
To fquare for this? would it offend you then
That both should speed!

Chi. 'Faith, not me.

Dem. Nor me, fo I were one.

Aar. For fhame, be friends; and join for that you

jar.

Tis policy and ftratagem muft do

That you affect; and fo muft you refolve,

That what you cannot, as you would, atchieve,
You must perforce accomplish as you may.
Take this of me, Lucrece was not more chafte
Than this Lavinia, Baffianus' love;
A speedier courfe than ling'ring languishment
Must we pursue, and I have found the path.
My Lords, a folemn hunting is in hand,
There will the lovely Roman ladies troop:
The forest-walks are wide and spacious,
And many unfrequented Plots there are,