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Scene 1

Rome. Before the Capitol.

(Marcus Andronicus; Tribune; Senators; Saturninus; Followers; Bassianus; Soldiers; Roman Captain; Martius; Mutius; Men; Lucius; Quintus; Titus Andronicus; Tamora; Alarbus; Chiron; Demetrius; Aaron the Moor; Lavinia)

The late Emperor’s sons Saturninus and Bassianus argue for their respective right to the throne, Saturninus calling to the patricians on the basis of his being the eldest while Bassianus calls for freedom. Marcus Andronicus enters and announces that the people have chosen his brother Titus, the victorious general, to be a third candidate for the throne. The two brothers agree to dismiss their followers and plead their cause to the Senate once Titus arrives. A funeral procession enters: that of Titus’s sons: of the 25 sons he had, only four are still living. They accompany the coffin, as does Titus himself, and his captives from the war against the Goth: the Goth Queen, Tamora, her three sons, and Aaron the Moor. They put the coffin into the tomb and Lucius calls for the noblest of the Goth prisoners to be sacrificed to appease his dead brothers’ ghosts. Titus lets them take Alarbus, despite Tamora’s pleading for his life. Alarbus is dragged off and cut into pieces. Titus’s daughter Lavinia comes to greet him and he blesses her. Then Marcus comes out of the Senate house with the other Tribunes and the two contenders for the throne. He tells Titus that he could become Emperor, but the old general will have none of it, having no desire to rule. Saturninus complains that Titus has stolen the people’s love from him and calls on the patricians to fight for him, but Titus promises to calm matters. He asks to be given the sole right to choose the next Emperor and, despite Bassianus’s attempt to bribe him, chooses Saturninus, as being the eldest son. In thanks, Saturninus announces that he will marry Lavinia and make her Empress. Titus is flattered and agrees to the match. He hands over his prisoners to the Emperor, who is rather taken with Tamora and admits that he would marry her if he hadn’t just decided to take Lavinia as his bride. He sets the Goths free without any need of a ransom. While Saturninus courts Tamora, Bassianus seizes his fiancée Lavinia, despite Titus’s protests; Marcus and Titus’s sons all swear to help Bassianus keep his own. Titus calls them all traitors and bellows out for the guard; pursuing the fleeing party, he kills his youngest son Mutius when the latter tries to bar his way. He disowns his sons and promises Saturninus that he will get Lavinia back, but the Emperor tells him not to bother. Completely ungrateful, Saturninus scorns Titus and his entire family and chooses to marry Tamora instead. Completely dishonored, he blames his family when they return and attempts to prevent them from burying Mutius in the family tomb. Marcus finally convinces his brother to let them do so. Saturninus threatens Bassianus for having stolen Lavinia away, but Bassianus is completely unrepentant at having carried off his betrothed, whom he has married. Titus gives him no support. Tamora convinces Saturninus to forgive everyone, whispering to him that his position is still insecure, but that they can have their revenge later. The Emperor pronounces his pardon and Titus invites the court to go hunting with them the next day. (500 lines)

Enter the Tribunes, among them Marcus Andronicus, and Senators aloft, and then enter, below, Saturninus and his followers at one door, and Bassianus and his followers at the other, with Drums and Trumpets.

SAT.

Noble patricians, patrons of my right,

Defend the justice of my cause with arms;

And, countrymen, my loving followers,

Plead my successive title with your swords.

I am his first-born son, that was the last

That ware the imperial diadem of Rome,

Then let my father’s honors live in me,

Nor wrong mine age with this indignity.

BAS.

Romans, friends, followers, favorers of my right,

If ever Bassianus, Caesar’s son,

Were gracious in the eyes of royal Rome,

Keep then this passage to the Capitol,

And suffer not dishonor to approach

The imperial seat, to virtue consecrate,

To justice, continence, and nobility;

But let desert in pure election shine,

And, Romans, fight for freedom in your choice.

MARC.

Holding the crown.

Princes, that strive by factions and by friends

Ambitiously for rule and empery,

Know that the people of Rome, for whom we stand

A special party, have by common voice,

In election for the Roman empery,

Chosen Andronicus, surnamed Pius

For many good and great deserts to Rome.

A nobler man, a braver warrior,

Lives not this day within the city walls.

He by the Senate is accited home

From weary wars against the barbarous Goths,

That with his sons, a terror to our foes,

Hath yok’d a nation strong, train’d up in arms.

Ten years are spent since first he undertook

This cause of Rome, and chastised with arms

Our enemies’ pride; five times he hath return’d

Bleeding to Rome, bearing his valiant sons

In coffins from the field,

And now at last, laden with honor’s spoils,

Returns the good Andronicus to Rome,

Renowned Titus, flourishing in arms.

Let us entreat by honor of his name,

Whom worthily you would have now succeed,

And in the Capitol and Senate’s right,

Whom you pretend to honor and adore,

That you withdraw you, and abate your strength,

Dismiss your followers, and, as suitors should,

Plead your deserts in peace and humbleness.

SAT.

How fair the tribune speaks to calm my thoughts!

BAS.

Marcus Andronicus, so I do affy

In thy uprightness and integrity,

And so I love and honor thee and thine,

Thy noble brother Titus and his sons,

And her to whom my thoughts are humbled all,

Gracious Lavinia, Rome’s rich ornament,

That I will here dismiss my loving friends;

And to my fortunes and the people’s favor

Commit my cause in balance to be weigh’d.

Exeunt Soldiers of Bassianus.

SAT.

Friends, that have been thus forward in my right,

I thank you all and here dismiss you all,

And to the love and favor of my country

Commit myself, my person, and the cause.

Exeunt Soldiers of Saturninus.

Rome, be as just and gracious unto me

As I am confident and kind to thee.

Open the gates and let me in.

BAS.

Tribunes, and me, a poor competitor.

Flourish. They go up into the Senate-house.

Enter a Roman Captain.

ROM. CAP.

Romans, make way! The good Andronicus,

Patron of virtue, Rome’s best champion,

Successful in the battles that he fights,

With honor and with fortune is return’d.

From where he circumscribed with his sword,

And brought to yoke, the enemies of Rome.

Sound drums and trumpets, and then enter two of Titus’ sons Martius and Mutius; and then two Men bearing a coffin covered with black; then two other sons, Lucius and Quintus. Then Titus Andronicus; and then Tamora, the Queen of Goths, and her three sons Alarbus, Chiron, and Demetrius; with Aaron the Moor, and others as many as can be.

Then set down the coffin, and Titus speaks.

TIT.

Hail, Rome, victorious in thy mourning weeds!

Lo, as the bark that hath discharg’d his fraught

Returns with precious lading to the bay

From whence at first she weigh’d her anchorage,

Cometh Andronicus, bound with laurel boughs,

To re-salute his country with his tears,

Tears of true joy for his return to Rome.

Thou great defender of this Capitol,

Stand gracious to the rites that we intend!

Romans, of five and twenty valiant sons,

Half of the number that King Priam had,

Behold the poor remains, alive and dead!

These that survive let Rome reward with love;

These that I bring unto their latest home,

With burial amongst their ancestors.

Here Goths have given me leave to sheathe my sword.

Titus, unkind and careless of thine own,

Why suffer’st thou thy sons, unburied yet,

To hover on the dreadful shore of Styx?

Make way to lay them by their bretheren.

They open the tomb.

There greet in silence, as the dead are wont,

And sleep in peace, slain in your country’s wars!

O sacred receptacle of my joys,

Sweet cell of virtue and nobility,

How many sons hast thou of mine in store,

That thou wilt never render to me more!

LUC.

Give us the proudest prisoner of the Goths,

That we may hew his limbs and on a pile

Ad manes fratrum sacrifice his flesh

Before this earthy prison of their bones,

That so the shadows be not unappeas’d,

Nor we disturb’d with prodigies on earth.

TIT.

I give him you, the noblest that survives,

The eldest son of this distressed queen.

TAM.

Stay, Roman brethren! Gracious conqueror,

Victorious Titus, rue the tears I shed,

A mother’s tears in passion for her son;

And if thy sons were ever dear to thee,

O, think my son to be as dear to me!

Sufficeth not that we are brought to Rome

To beautify thy triumphs, and return

Captive to thee and to thy Roman yoke;

But must my sons be slaughtered in the streets

For valiant doings in their country’s cause?

O, if to fight for king and commonweal

Were piety in thine, it is in these.

Andronicus, stain not thy tomb with blood!

Wilt thou draw near the nature of the gods?

Draw near them then in being merciful:

Sweet mercy is nobility’s true badge.

Thrice-noble Titus, spare my first-born son!

TIT.

Patient yourself, madam, and pardon me.

These are their brethren, whom your Goths beheld

Alive and dead, and for their brethren slain

Religiously they ask a sacrifice:

To this your son is mark’d, and die he must,

T’ appease their groaning shadows that are gone.

LUC.

Away with him, and make a fire straight,

And with our swords, upon a pile of wood,

Let’s hew his limbs till they be clean consum’d.

Exeunt Titus’ sons with Alarbus.

TAM.

O cruel, irreligious piety!

CHI.

Was never Scythia half so barbarous.

DEM.

Oppose not Scythia to ambitious Rome;

Alarbus goes to rest, and we survive

To tremble under Titus’ threat’ning look.

Then, madam, stand resolv’d, but hope withal

The self-same gods that arm’d the Queen of Troy

With opportunity of sharp revenge

Upon the Thracian tyrant in his tent

May favor Tamora, the Queen of Goths

(When Goths were Goths and Tamora was queen),

To quit the bloody wrongs upon her foes.

Enter the sons of Andronicus (Lucius, Quintus, Martius, and Mutius) again with their swords bloody.

LUC.

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.

TIT.

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 honor 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 honor rest you here, my sons!

Enter Lavinia.

LAV.

In peace and honor 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!

TIT.

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!

Marcus Andronicus, attended by the other Tribunes, with Saturninus and Bassianus, speaks from above.

MARC.

Long live Lord Titus, my beloved brother,

Gracious triumpher in the eyes of Rome!

TIT.

Thanks, gentle tribune, noble brother Marcus.

MARC.

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 honor’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 palliament 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.

TIT.

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 today,

Tomorrow 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 honor for mine age,

But not a sceptre to control the world.

Upright he held it, lords, that held it last.

MARC.

Titus, thou shalt obtain and ask the empery.

SAT.

Proud and ambitious tribune, canst thou tell?

TIT.

Patience, Prince Saturninus.

SAT.

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!

LUC.

Proud Saturnine, interrupter of the good

That noble-minded Titus means to thee!

TIT.

Content thee, Prince, I will restore to thee

The people’s hearts, and wean them from themselves.

BAS.

Andronicus, I do not flatter thee,

But honor 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 honorable meed.

TIT.

People of Rome, and people’s tribunes here,

I ask your voices and your suffrages:

Will ye bestow them friendly on Andronicus?

TRIB.

To gratify the good Andronicus,

And gratulate his safe return to Rome,

The people will accept whom he admits.

TIT.

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!”

MARC.

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.

SAT.

Titus Andronicus, for thy favors 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 honorable 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?

TIT.

It doth, my worthy lord, and in this match

I hold me highly honored 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 honor’s ensigns humbled at thy feet.

SAT.

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.

TIT.

To Tamora.

Now, madam, are you prisoner to an emperor;

To him that, for your honor and your state,

Will use you nobly and your followers.

SAT.

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?

LAV.

Not I, my lord, sith true nobility

Warrants these words in princely courtesy.

SAT.

Thanks, sweet Lavinia. Romans, let us go;

Ransomless here we set our prisoners free.

Proclaim our honors, lords, with trump and drum.

Flourish. Saturninus courts Tamora in dumb show.

BAS.

Lord Titus, by your leave, this maid is mine.

Seizing Lavinia.

TIT.

How, sir? Are you in earnest then, my lord?

BAS.

Ay, noble Titus, and resolv’d withal

To do myself this reason and this right.

MARC.

Suum cuique is our Roman justice:

This prince in justice seizeth but his own.

LUC.

And that he will, and shall, if Lucius live.

TIT.

Traitors, avaunt! Where is the Emperor’s guard?

Treason, my lord! Lavinia is surpris’d!

SAT.

Surpris’d? By whom?

BAS.

By him that justly may

Bear his betroth’d from all the world away.

Exeunt Bassianus and Marcus with Lavinia.

MUT.

Brothers, help to convey her hence away,

And with my sword I’ll keep this door safe.

Exeunt Lucius, Quintus, and Martius.

TIT.

Follow, my lord, and I’ll soon bring her back.

MUT.

My lord, you pass not here.

TIT.

What, villain boy,

Barr’st me my way in Rome?

MUT.

Help, Lucius, help!

Titus kills him.

During the fray, exeunt Saturninus, Tamora, Demetrius, Chiron, and Aaron.

Enter Lucius.

LUC.

My lord, you are unjust, and more than so,

In wrongful quarrel you have slain your son.

TIT.

Nor thou, nor he, are any sons of mine,

My sons would never so dishonor me.

Enter aloft the Emperor with Tamora and her two sons, Demetrius and Chiron, and Aaron the Moor.

Traitor, restore Lavinia to the Emperor.

LUC.

Dead, if you will, but not to be his wife,

That is another’s lawful promis’d love.

Exit.

SAT.

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 dishonor me.

Was none 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.

TIT.

O monstrous! What reproachful words are these?

SAT.

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.

TIT.

These words are razors to my wounded heart.

SAT.

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,

Sith priest and holy water are so near,

And tapers burn so bright, and every thing

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.

TAM.

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.

SAT.

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 omnes except Titus.

TIT.

I am not bid to wait upon this bride.

Titus, when wert thou wont to walk alone,

Dishonored thus and challenged of wrongs?

Enter Marcus and Titus’ sons Lucius, Quintus, and Martius.

MARC.

O Titus, see! O, see what thou hast done!

In a bad quarrel slain a virtuous son.

TIT.

No, foolish tribune, no; no son of mine,

Nor thou, nor these, confederates in the deed

That hath dishonored all our family:

Unworthy brother, and unworthy sons!

LUC.

But let us give him burial as becomes,

Give Mutius burial with our bretheren.

TIT.

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.

MARC.

My lord, this is impiety in you.

My nephew Mutius’ deeds do plead for him,

He must be buried with his bretheren.

MART.

And shall, or him we will accompany.

TIT.

“And shall”? What villain was it spake that word?

MART.

He that would vouch it in any place but here.

TIT.

What, would you bury him in my despite?

MARC.

No, noble Titus, but entreat of thee

To pardon Mutius and to bury him.

TIT.

Marcus! Even thou hast struck upon my crest,

And with these boys mine honor thou hast wounded.

My foes I do repute you every one,

So trouble me no more, but get you gone.

QUIN.

He is not with himself, let us withdraw.

MART.

Not I, till Mutius’ bones be buried.

The brother and the sons kneel.

MARC.

Brother, for in that name doth nature plead—

MART.

Father, and in that name doth nature speak—

TIT.

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

MARC.

Renowmed Titus, more than half my soul—

LUC.

Dear father, soul and substance of us all—

MARC.

Suffer thy brother Marcus to inter

His noble nephew here in virtue’s nest,

That died in honor 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.

TIT.

Rise, Marcus, rise.

The dismall’st day is this that e’er I saw,

To be dishonored by my sons in Rome!

Well, bury him, and bury me the next.

They put him in the tomb.

LUC.

There lie thy bones, sweet Mutius, with thy friends,

Till we with trophies do adorn thy tomb.

They all kneel and say:

No man shed tears for noble Mutius,

He lives in fame, that died in virtue’s cause.

All but Marcus and Titus stand aside.

MARC.

My lord, to step out of these dreary dumps,

How comes it that the subtile Queen of Goths

Is of a sudden thus advanc’d in Rome?

TIT.

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?

Yes, and will nobly him remunerate.

Flourish. Enter the Emperor, Tamora and her two sons, Demetrius and Chiron, with the Moor Aaron, at one door; enter, at the other door, Bassianus and Lavinia with others.

SAT.

So, Bassianus, you have play’d your prize.

God give you joy, sir, of your gallant bride!

BAS.

And you of yours, my lord! I say no more,

Nor wish no less, and so I take my leave.

SAT.

Traitor, if Rome have law, or we have power,

Thou and thy faction shall repent this rape.

BAS.

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,

Mean while am I possess’d of that is mine.

SAT.

’Tis good, sir, you are very short with us;

But if we live we’ll be as sharp with you.

BAS.

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 honor 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 favor, Saturnine,

That hath express’d himself in all his deeds

A father and a friend to thee and Rome.

TIT.

Prince Bassianus, leave to plead my deeds,

’Tis thou, and those, that have dishonored me.

Rome and the righteous heavens be my judge,

How I have lov’d and honored Saturnine!

TAM.

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.

SAT.

What, madam, be dishonored openly,

And basely put it up without revenge?

TAM.

Not so, my lord, the gods of Rome forfend

I should be author to dishonor you!

But on mine honor 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 Saturnine.

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 rase 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.

SAT.

Rise, Titus, rise, my empress hath prevail’d.

TIT.

I thank your Majesty, and her, my lord.

These 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 honor, 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.

Marcus, Lavinia, and Titus’ sons kneel.

LUC.

We do, and vow to heaven and to his Highness

That what we did was mildly as we might,

Tend’ring our sister’s honor and our own.

MARC.

That, on mine honor, here do I protest.

SAT.

Away, and talk not, trouble us no more.

TAM.

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.

SAT.

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.

Marcus and the others rise.

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.

TIT.

Tomorrow, and it please your Majesty

To hunt the panther and the hart with me,

With horn and hound we’ll give your Grace bonjour.

SAT.

Be it so, Titus, and gramercy too.

Exeunt. Sound trumpets. Manet Moor Aaron.

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