Titus Andronicus | Page 5

Scythia half so barbarous!
DEMETRIUS. Oppose not Scythia to ambitious Rome. 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.]
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 naught 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.
[Trumpets sounded and the coffin laid 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
grudges; here are no storms, No noise, but silence and eternal sleep:
[Enter LAVINIA.]
In peace and honour rest you here, my sons!
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, below, 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 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.
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 abroach 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 you 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
your 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.]
SATURNINUS.