網頁圖片
PDF
ePub 版

O sacred receptacle of my joys,
Sweet ceil of virtue and nobility,
How many sons of mine hast thou in store,

That thou wilt never render to me more!

Our Roman rites: Alarbus' limbs are lopp'd,
And entrails feed the sacrificing fire,
Whose smoke, like incense, doth perfume the
sky.

Luc. Give us the proudest prisoner of the Remaineth nought, but to inter our brethren,

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 unappeased,
Nor we disturb'd with prodigies on earth.
Tit. I give him you, the noblest that sur-
vives,

The eldest son of this distressed queen.

100

And with loud'larums welcome them to Rome, Tit. Let it be so; and let Andronicus Make this his latest farewell to their souls. [Trumpets sounded, and the coffin laid in the tomb.

In peace and honor rest you here, my sons ; Rome's readiest champions, repose you here in rest, 151

Secure from worldly chances and mishaps! Here lurks no treason, here no envy swells, Here grow no damned grudges; here are no

Tam. Stay, Roman brethren! Gracious

[blocks in formation]

storms.

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

Enter LAVINIA.

To beautify thy triumphs and return,
Captive to thee and to thy Roman yoke,
But must my sons be slaughter'd in the streets,
For valiant doings in their country's cause ?
O, if to fight for king and commonweal

110

Lav. In peace and honor live Lord Titus long;

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

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 the earth, for thy return to Rome:
O, bless me here with thy victorious hand,
Whose fortunes Rome's best citizens applaud!

160

Tit. Kind Rome, that hast thus lovingly reserved

[blocks in formation]

gone.

Alive and dead, and for their brethren slain
Religiously they ask a sacrifice :
To this your son is mark'd, and die he must,
To appease their groaning shadows that are
[straight;
Luc. Away with him! and make a fire
And with our swords, upon a pile of wood,
Let's hew his limbs till they be clean consumed.
[Exeunt Lucius, Quintus, Martius, and
Mutius, with Alarbus.

Tam. O cruel, irreligious piety !
130
Chi. Was ever Scythia half so barbarous?
Dem. Oppose not Scythia to ambitious

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

But safer triumph is this funeral pomp,
That hath aspired to Solon's happiness
And triumphs over chance in honor's bed.
Titas 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 teebleness:
What should I don this robe, and trouble you?
Be chosen with proclamations to-day,
To-morrow yield up rule, resign my life,

190

[blocks in formation]

I hold me highly honor'd 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 imperial lord:
Receive them then, the tribute that I owe, 251
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.

260

Sat. 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,

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

Titus, when wert thou wont to walk alone, 339 Dishonor'd thus, and challenged of wrongs?

Re-enter MARCUS, 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 dishonor'd all our family; Unworthy brother, and unworthy sons!

Luc. But let us give him burial, as be

comes;

Give Mutius burial with our brethren. Tit. Traitors, away! he rests not in this tomb:

351

[blocks in formation]

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

are these?

pany.

Quin. And shall, or him we will accomMart.

Sat. But go thy ways; go, give that

Tit. And shall!' what villain was it

changing piece

spake that word?

To him that flourish'd for her with his sword:

[blocks in formation]

Quin. He that would vouch it in any place

360

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:

Dost overshine the gallant'st dames of Rome,

If thou be pleased with this my sudden

choice,

Behold, I choose thee, Tamora, for my bride, And will create thee empress of Rome,

My foes I do repute you every one ;
So, trouble me no more, but get you gone.
Mart. He is not with himself; let us
withdraw.

320

Quin. Not I, till Mutius' bones be buried.

Speak, Queen of Goths, dost thou applaud

my choice?

And here I swear by all the Roman gods,

[Marcus and the Sons of Titus kneel. Marc. Brother, for in that name doth nature plead,

370

Sith priest and holy water are so near

Quin. Father, and in that name doth nature

And tapers burn so bright and every thing

speak,

In readiness for Hymenæus stand,

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

I will not re-salute the streets of Rome,

speed.

Or climb my palace, till from forth this place I lead espoused my bride along with me.

Tam. And here, in sight of heaven, to Rome I swear,

If Saturnine advance the Queen of Goths, 330
She will a handmaid be to his desires,
A loving nurse, a mother to his youth.

Sat. Ascend, fair queen, Pantheon. Lords,

[blocks in formation]

Marc. Renowned Titus, more than half my

soul,

[blocks in formation]

To be dishonor'd by my sons in Rome !
Well, bury him, and bury me the next.

[Mutius is put into the tomb. Luc. There lie thy bones, sweet Mutius, with thy friends,

Till we with trophies do adorn thy tomb.

[blocks in formation]

I should be author to dishonor you!
But on mine honor dare I undertake
For good Lord Titus' innocence in all;

All. [Kneeling] No man shed tears for Whose fury not dissembled speaks his griefs : noble Mutius;

He lives in fame that died in virtue's cause.
Marc. My lord, to step out of these dreary
dumps,
391
How comes it that the subtle Queen of Goths
Is of a sudden thus advanced 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?

Then, at my suit, look graciously on him;
Lose not so noble a friend on vain suppose, 440
Nor with sour looks afflict his gentle heart.
[Aside to Sat.) My lord, be ruled 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.
[Aloud.] Come, come, sweet emperor; come,

450

Yes, and will nobly him remunerate.

Flourish. Re-enter, from one side, SATUR-
NINUS attended, TAMORA, DEMETRIUS, CHI-
RON, and AARON; from the other, BASSIA-
NUS, LAVINIA, and others,

Sat. So, Bassianus, you have play'd your prize :

Andronicus ;

God give you joy, sir, of your gallant bride!
Bas. And you of yours, my lord! I say

Take up this good old man, and cheer the
heart
That dies in tempest of thy angry frown.

no more,

401

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 truth-betrothed love and now my wife ?
But let the laws of Rome determine all;
Meanwhile I am 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. 410
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 moved to wrath
To be controll'd in that he frankly gave: 420
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 dishonor'd me. Rome and the righteous heavens be my judge, How I have loved and honor'd Saturnine!

Tam. My worthy lord, if ever Tamora Were gracious in those princely eyes of thine, Then hear me speak indifferently for all; 430 And at my suit, sweet, pardon what is past.

Sat. Rise, Titus, rise; my empress hath
prevail'd.
Tit. I thank your majesty, and her, my
lord :

450

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 reconciled 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. 470
And fear not, lords, and you, Lavinia;
By my advice, all humbled on your knees,
You shall ask pardon of his majesty.

Luc. We do, and vow to heaven and to his
highness,

That what we did was mildly as we might,
Tendering our sister's honor and our own.
Marc. That, on mine honor, here I do pro-
test.

Sat. Away, and talk not; trouble us no

more.

Tam. Nay, nay, sweet emperor, we must all be friends:

479 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.

Sat. What, madam! be dishonor'd openly, | Lavinia, though you left me like a churl,

[blocks in formation]

Enter DEMETRIUS and CHIRON, braving. Dem. Chiron, thy years want wit, thy wit wants edge,

And manners, to intrude where I am graced;
And may, for aught thou know'st, affected be.
Chi. Demetrius, thou dost over-ween in all;
And so in this, to bear me down with braves.30
'Tis not the difference of a year or two
Makes me less gracious or thee more fortunate:
I am as able and as fit as thou

To serve, and to deserve my mistress' grace;
And that my sword upon thee shall approve,
And plead my passions for Lavinia's love.

Aar. [Aside] Clubs, clubs! these lovers will not keep the peace.

Dem. Why, boy, although our mother, un

advised,

Gave you a dancing-rapier by your side,

friends?

40

Are you so desperate grown, to threat your Go to; have your lath glued within your sheath Till you know better how to handle it.

Chi. Meanwhile, sir, with the little skill I have,

Full well shalt thou perceive how much I dare Dem. Ay, boy, grow ye so brave?

[They draw. Aar. [Coming forward] Why, how now, lords!

So near the emperor's palace dare you draw,
And maintain such 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 most con-

[blocks in formation]
« 上一頁繼續 »