: With honour and with fortune is return'd, From where he circumscribed with his sword, And brought to yoke, the enemies of Rome. Flourish of trumpets, &c. Enter MUTIUS and MARTIUS after them, two Men bearing a coffin covered with black; then QUINTUS and Lucius. After them, TITUS ANDRONIcus; and then TAMORA, with ALARBUS, CHIROn, DemeTRIUS, AARON, and other Goths, prisoners; Soldiers and People, following. The Bearers set down the coffin, and TITUS speaks. Tit. Hail, Rome, victorious in thy mourning weeds! Lo, as the bark, that hath discharg'd her fraught, Returns with precious lading to the bay, From whence at first she weigh'd her anchorage, These, that survive, let Rome reward with love; Here Goths have given me leave to sheathe my Why suffer'st thou thy sons, unburied yet, sword. Make way to lay them by their brethren. [The tomb is opened. 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 of mine hast thou 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, Nor we disturb'd with prodigies on earth." [2] Jupiter, to whom the Capitol was sacred. JOHNSON. [3] It was supposed by the ancients, that the ghosts of unburied people appeared to their friends, to solicit the rites of funeral. STEEVENS. Tit. I give him you; the noblest that survives, The eldest son of this distressed queen. Tam. Stay, Roman brethren ;-Gracious conqueror, A mother's tears in passion for her son: Andronicus, stain not thy tomb with blood; Tit. Patient yourself, madam, and pardon me. To this your son is mark'd; and die he must, [Exe. Luc. QUIN. MART. and MUT, with ALARBUS. Tam. O cruel, irreligious piety! Chi. Was ever Scythia half so barbarous ? Alarbus goes to rest; and we survive To tremble under Titus' threatening 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 favour Tamora, the queen of Goths, (When Goths were Goths, and Tamora was queen,) To quit the bloody wrongs upon her foes. Re-enter LUCIUS, QUINTUS, MARTIUS, and MUTIUS, with their swords bloody. Luc. See, lord and father, how we have perform'd Our Roman rites: Alarbus' limbs are lopp'd, Whose smoke, like incense, doth perfume the sky. [Trumpets sounded, and the coffins laid in the tomb. In peace and honour rest you here, my sons; Enter LAVINIA. In peace and honour rest you here, my sons! Enter MAR, ANDRONICUS, SATURNINUS, BASSIANUS, and others. Gracious triumpher in the eyes of Rome! Tit. Thanks, gentle tribune, noble brother Marcus. Mar. 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 : That hath aspir'd to Solon's happiness, And triumphs over chance, in honour's bed.- Whose friend in justice thou hast ever been, [4] To outlive an eternal date, is, though not philosophical, yet poetical sense. He wishes that her life may be longer than his, and her praise longer than fame. JOHN. [5] The maxim of Solon is, that no man can be pronounced happy before his death. MALONE. VOL. VIII. M Send thee, by me, their tribune, and their trust, And help to set a head on headless Rome. Mar. Titus, thou shalt obtain and ask the empery. Sat. Proud and ambitious tribune, canst thou tell ?— Tit. Patience, prince Saturnine. Sat. Romans, do me right ; Patricians, draw your swords, and sheath them not Andronicus, 'would thou wert shipp'd to hell, Luc. Proud Saturnine, interrupter of the good The 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 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. Tit. People of Rome, and people's tribunes here, I ask your voices, and your suffrages; Will you bestow them friendly on Andronicus ? Trib. To gratify the good Andronicus, And gratulate his safe return to Rome, Tit. Tribunes, I thank you: and this suit I make, That you create your emperor's eldest son, Lord Saturninus, Rome's great emperor; And say,-Long live our emperor Saturnine! [A long flourish. Sat. Titus Andronicus, for thy favours done To us in our election this day, I give thee thanks in part of thy deserts, Rome's royal mistress, mistress of my heart, Tell me, Andronicus, doth this motion please thee? Tit. Now, madam, are you prisoner to an emperor ; To him, that for your honour and your state, Sat. A goodly lady, trust me; of the hue [TO TAMORA. That I would choose, were I to choose anew.- Though chance of war hath wrought this change of cheer, Princely shall be thy usage every way. |