Titus Andronicus | Page 6

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. 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. SATURNINUS courts TAMORA in dumb show.]
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! Barr'st me my way in Rome?
[Stabbing MUTIUS.]
MUTIUS. Help, Lucius, help!
[Dies.]
[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. 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 said'st 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 SATURNINUS and his Followers; TAMORA and her Sons; AARON and Goths.]
TITUS. I am not bid to wait upon this bride.-- Titus, when wert thou wont to walk alone, Dishonour'd thus, and challenged of wrongs?
[Re-enter MARCUS, 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