Titus Andronicus | Page 8

himself in all his deeds A father and a friend to thee and Rome.
TITUS. Prince Bassianus, leave to plead my deeds: 'Tis thou and those
that have dishonour'd me. Rome and the righteous heavens be my judge
How I have lov'd and honour'd Saturnine!
TAMORA. 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.
SATURNINUS. What, madam! be dishonoured openly, And basely put
it up without revenge?
TAMORA. Not so, my lord; the gods of Rome forfend I should be
author to dishonour you! But on mine honour 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.] 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 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.-- Come, come, sweet emperor,--come,
Andronicus,-- Take up this good old man, and cheer the heart That dies
in tempest of thy angry frown.
SATURNINUS. Rise, Titus, rise; my empress hath prevail'd.
TITUS. I thank your majesty and her, my lord: These words, these
looks, infuse new life in me.
TAMORA. 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 honour, 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.
LUCIUS. We do; and vow to heaven and to his highness That what we
did was mildly as we might, Tendering our sister's honour and our own.
MARCUS. That on mine honour here do I protest.
SATURNINUS. Away, and talk not; trouble us no more.
TAMORA. 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.
SATURNINUS. 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.-- 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.
TITUS. To-morrow, an it please your majesty To hunt the panther and
the hart with me, With horn and hound we'll give your grace bonjour.
SATURNINUS. Be it so, Titus, and gramercy too.
[Exeunt.]

ACT II.
SCENE I. Rome. Before the palace.
[Enter AARON.]
AARON. Now climbeth Tamora Olympus' top, Safe out of fortune's
shot; and sits aloft, Secure of thunder's crack or lightning's flash;
Advanc'd above pale envy's threatening reach. As when the golden sun
salutes the morn, And, having gilt the ocean with his beams, Gallops
the zodiac in his glistening coach, And overlooks the highest-peering
hill; So Tamora: Upon her wit doth earthly honour wait, And virtue
stoops and trembles at her frown. Then, Aaron, arm thy heart and fit
thy thoughts To mount aloft with thy imperial mistress, And mount her
pitch, whom thou in triumph long Hast prisoner held, fett'red in
amorous chains, And faster bound to Aaron's charming eyes Than is
Prometheus tied to Caucasus. Away with slavish weeds and servile
thoughts! I will be bright, and shine in pearl and gold, To wait upon
this new-made empress. To wait, said I? to wanton with this queen,
This goddess, this Semiramis, this nymph, This siren, that will charm
Rome's Saturnine, And see his shipwreck and his commonweal's.--
Holla! what storm is this?
[Enter DEMETRIUS and CHIRON braving.]
DEMETRIUS. Chiron, thy years wants wit, thy wit wants edge And
manners, to intrude where I am grac'd; And may, for aught thou
know'st, affected be.
CHIRON. Demetrius, thou dost over-ween