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Re-enter LUCIUS, QUINTUS, MARTIUS, and
MUTIUS, the sons of ANDRONICUS, with their swords bloody

LUCIUS. See, lord and father, how we have perform'd
Our Roman rites: Alarbus' limbs are lopp'd,

And entrails feed the sacrificing fire,
Whose smoke like incense doth perfume the sky.

Remaineth nought but to inter our brethren,
And with loud 'larums welcome them to Rome.

TITUS. Let it be so, and let Andronicus
Make this his latest farewell to their souls.

[Sound trumpets and lay the coffin in the tomb]
In peace and honour rest you here, my sons;

Rome's readiest champions, repose you here in rest,
Secure from worldly chances and mishaps!

Here lurks no treason, here no envy swells,
Here grow no damned drugs, here are no storms,

No noise, but silence and eternal sleep.
In peace and honour rest you here, my sons!

Enter LAVINIA
LAVINIA. In peace and honour live Lord Titus long;

My noble lord and father, live in fame!
Lo, at this tomb my tributary tears

I render for my brethren's obsequies;
And at thy feet I kneel, with tears of joy

Shed on this earth for thy return to Rome.
O, bless me here with thy victorious hand,

Whose fortunes Rome's best citizens applaud!
TITUS. Kind Rome, that hast thus lovingly reserv'd

The cordial of mine age to glad my heart!
Lavinia, live; outlive thy father's days,

And fame's eternal date, for virtue's praise!
Enter, above, MARCUS ANDRONICUS and TRIBUNES;

re-enter SATURNINUS, BASSIANUS, and attendants
MARCUS. Long live Lord Titus, my beloved brother,

Gracious triumpher in the eyes of Rome!
TITUS. Thanks, gentle Tribune, noble brother Marcus.

MARCUS. And welcome, nephews, from successful wars,
You that survive and you that sleep in fame.

Fair lords, your fortunes are alike in all
That in your country's service drew your swords;

But safer triumph is this funeral pomp
That hath aspir'd to Solon's happiness

And triumphs over chance in honour's bed.
Titus Andronicus, the people of Rome,

Whose friend in justice thou hast ever been,
Send thee by me, their Tribune and their trust,

This par]iament of white and spotless hue;
And name thee in election for the empire

With these our late-deceased Emperor's sons:
Be candidatus then, and put it on,

And help to set a head on headless Rome.
TITUS. A better head her glorious body fits

Than his that shakes for age and feebleness.
What should I don this robe and trouble you?

Be chosen with proclamations to-day,
To-morrow yield up rule, resign my life,

And set abroad new business for you all?
Rome, I have been thy soldier forty years,

And led my country's strength successfully,
And buried one and twenty valiant sons,

Knighted in field, slain manfully in arms,
In right and service of their noble country.

Give me a staff of honour for mine age,
But not a sceptre to control the world.

Upright he held it, lords, that held it last.
MARCUS. Titus, thou shalt obtain and ask the empery.

SATURNINUS. Proud and ambitious Tribune, canst thou tell?
TITUS. Patience, Prince Saturninus.

SATURNINUS. Romans, do me right.
Patricians, draw your swords, and sheathe them not

Till Saturninus be Rome's Emperor.
Andronicus, would thou were shipp'd to hell

Rather than rob me of the people's hearts!
LUCIUS. Proud Saturnine, interrupter of the good

That noble-minded Titus means to thee!
TITUS. Content thee, Prince; I will restore to thee

The people's hearts, and wean them from themselves.
BASSIANUS. Andronicus, I do not flatter thee,

But honour thee, and will do till I die.
My faction if thou strengthen with thy friends,

I will most thankful be; and thanks to men
Of noble minds is honourable meed.

TITUS. People of Rome, and people's Tribunes here,
I ask your voices and your suffrages:

Will ye bestow them friendly on Andronicus?
TRIBUNES. To gratify the good Andronicus,

And gratulate his safe return to Rome,
The people will accept whom he admits.

TITUS. Tribunes, I thank you; and this suit I make,
That you create our Emperor's eldest son,

Lord Saturnine; whose virtues will, I hope,
Reflect on Rome as Titan's rays on earth,

And ripen justice in this commonweal.
Then, if you will elect by my advice,

Crown him, and say 'Long live our Emperor!'
MARCUS. With voices and applause of every sort,

Patricians and plebeians, we create
Lord Saturninus Rome's great Emperor;

And say 'Long live our Emperor Saturnine!'
[A long flourish till they come down]

SATURNINUS. Titus Andronicus, for thy favours done
To us in our election this day

I give thee thanks in part of thy deserts,
And will with deeds requite thy gentleness;

And for an onset, Titus, to advance
Thy name and honourable family,

Lavinia will I make my emperess,
Rome's royal mistress, mistress of my heart,

And in the sacred Pantheon her espouse.
Tell me, Andronicus, doth this motion please thee?

TITUS. It doth, my worthy lord, and in this match
I hold me highly honoured of your Grace,

And here in sight of Rome, to Saturnine,
King and commander of our commonweal,

The wide world's Emperor, do I consecrate
My sword, my chariot, and my prisoners,

Presents well worthy Rome's imperious lord;
Receive them then, the tribute that I owe,

Mine honour's ensigns humbled at thy feet.
SATURNINUS. Thanks, noble Titus, father of my life.

How proud I am of thee and of thy gifts
Rome shall record; and when I do forget

The least of these unspeakable deserts,
Romans, forget your fealty to me.

TITUS. [To TAMORA] Now, madam, are you prisoner to an emperor;
To him that for your honour and your state

Will use you nobly and your followers.
SATURNINUS. [Aside] A goodly lady, trust 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 of cheer,
Thou com'st not to be made a scorn in Rome-

Princely shall be thy usage every way.
Rest on my word, and let not discontent

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

Lavinia, you are not displeas'd with this?
LAVINIA. Not I, my lord, sith true nobility

Warrants these words in princely courtesy.
SATURNINUS. Thanks, sweet Lavinia. Romans, let us go.

Ransomless here we set our prisoners free.
Proclaim our honours, lords, with trump and drum.

[Flourish]
BASSIANUS. Lord Titus, by your leave, this maid is mine.

[Seizing LAVINIA]
TITUS. How, sir! Are you in earnest then, my lord?

BASSIANUS. Ay, noble Titus, and resolv'd withal
To do myself this reason and this right.

MARCUS. Suum cuique is our Roman justice:
This prince in justice seizeth but his own.

LUCIUS. And that he will and shall, if Lucius live.
TITUS. Traitors, avaunt! Where is the Emperor's guard?

Treason, my lord- Lavinia is surpris'd!
SATURNINUS. Surpris'd! By whom?

BASSIANUS. By him that justly may
Bear his betroth'd from all the world away.

Exeunt BASSIANUS and MARCUS with LAVINIA
MUTIUS. Brothers, help to convey her hence away,

And with my sword I'll keep this door safe.
Exeunt LUCIUS, QUINTUS, and MARTIUS

TITUS. Follow, my lord, and I'll soon bring her back.
MUTIUS. My lord, you pass not here.

TITUS. What, villain boy!
Bar'st me my way in Rome?

MUTIUS. Help, Lucius, help!
TITUS kills him. During the fray, exeunt SATURNINUS,

TAMORA, DEMETRIUS, CHIRON, and AARON
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

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 Emperess of Rome.
Speak, Queen of Goths, dost thou applaud my choice?

And here I swear by all the Roman gods-


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