Titus Andronicus: Act 1

                    Re-enter Lucius

LUCIUS. My lord, you are unjust, and more than so:
  In wrongful quarrel you have slain your son.

TITUS. Nor thou nor he are any sons of mine;
  My sons would never so dishonour me.

               Re-enter aloft the EMPEROR
    with TAMORA and her two Sons, and AARON the Moor

TITUS. Traitor, restore Lavinia to the Emperor.

LUCIUS. Dead, if you will; but not to be his wife,
  That is another's lawful promis'd 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 saidst I begg'd the empire at thy hands.

TITUS. 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. 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 pleas'd 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 everything
  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 espous'd 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 consummate our spousal rites.

                                          Exeunt all but TITUS

TITUS. I am not bid to wait upon this bride.

TITUS, when wert thou wont to walk alone, 
  Dishonoured thus, and challenged of wrongs?

                    Re-enter MARCUS,
      and TITUS' SONS, LUCIUS, QUINTUS, and MARTIUS

MARCUS. O Titus, see, O, see what thou hast done!
  In a bad quarrel slain a virtuous son.

TITUS. No, foolish Tribune, no; no son of mine-
  Nor thou, nor these, confederates in the deed
  That hath dishonoured all our family;
  Unworthy brother and unworthy sons!

LUCIUS. But let us give him burial, as becomes;
  Give Mutius burial with our bretheren.

TITUS. 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. My lord, this is impiety in you. 
  My nephew Mutius' deeds do plead for him;
  He must be buried with his bretheren.

QUINTUS & MARTIUS. And shall, or him we will accompany.

TITUS. ‘And shall!’ What villain was it spake that word?

QUINTUS. He that would vouch it in any place but here.

TITUS. What, would you bury him in my despite?

MARCUS. No, noble Titus, but entreat of thee
  To pardon Mutius and to bury him.

TITUS. 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.
                              [The BROTHER and the SONS kneel]

MARCUS. Brother, for in that name doth nature plead-

QUINTUS. Father, and in that name doth nature speak-

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

MARCUS. Renowned Titus, more than half my soul-

LUCIUS. Dear father, soul and substance of us all- 

MARCUS. 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. Rise, Marcus, rise;
  The dismal'st day is this that e'er I saw,
  To be dishonoured by my sons in Rome!
  Well, bury him, and bury me the next.
                                 [They put MUTIUS in 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. My lord- to step out of these dreary dumps-
  How comes it that the subtle Queen of Goths 
  Is of a sudden thus advanc'd in Rome?

TITUS. 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?

MARCUS. Yes, and will nobly him remunerate.

         Flourish. Re-enter the EMPEROR, TAMORA
      and her two SONS, with the MOOR, at one door;
  at the other door, BASSIANUS and LAVINIA, with 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 true betrothed love, and now my wife?
  But let the laws of Rome determine all;
  Meanwhile am I 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 mov'd to wrath
  To be controll'd in that he frankly gave.
  Receive him then to favour, Saturnine,
  That hath express'd himself in all his deeds
  A father and a friend to thee and Rome.

TITUS. Prince Bassianus, leave to plead my deeds.
  'Tis thou and those that have dishonoured me.
  Rome and the righteous heavens be my judge
  How I have lov'd and honoured Saturnine!

TAMORA. My worthy lord, if ever Tamora 
  Were gracious in those princely eyes of thine,
  Then hear me speak indifferently for all;
  And at my suit, sweet, pardon what is past.

SATURNINUS. What, madam! be dishonoured 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]  My lord, be rul'd by me,
    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.-
  Come, come, sweet Emperor; come, Andronicus.
  Take up this good old man, and cheer the heart
  That dies in tempest of thy angry frown.

SATURNINUS. Rise, Titus, rise; my Empress hath prevail'd.
TITUS. 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 reconcil'd 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,
  Tend'ring our sister's honour and our own.

MARCUS. That on mine honour here do I 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. To-morrow, and 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.

Exeunt. Sound trumpets