And fet abroad new bufinefs for you all?
Rome, I have been thy foldier forty years,
And led my country's ftrength fuccefsfully;
And buried one and twenty valiant fons,
Knighted in field, flain manfully in arms,
In right and fervice of their noble country:
Give me a staff of honour for mine age,
But not a fceptre to control the world:
Upright he held it, lords, that held it last.
Mar. Titus, thou fhalt obtain and afk the empery.
Sat. Proud and ambitious tribune, canft thou tell?-
Tit. Patience, prince Saturninus.-
Sat. Romans, do me right;

Patricians, draw your fwords, and fheath them not, 'Till Saturninus be Rome's emperor :

Andronicus, 'would thou were thipp'd to hell, Rather than rob me of the people's hearts.

Luc. Proud Saturninus! interrupter of the good That noble-minded Titus means to thee !

Tit. Content thee, prince; I will reftore to thee The people's hearts, and wean them from themselves. Baf. Andronicus, I do not flatter thee, But honour thee, and will do 'till I die : My faction, if thou ftrengthen with thy friends, I will moft thankful be: and thanks, to men Of noble minds, is honourable meed.

Tit. People of Rome, and people's tribunes here,
I afk your voices, and your fuffrages;
Will you beftow them friendly on Andronicus?
Mar. To gratify the good Andronicus,

And gratulate his fafe return to Rome,
The people will accept who he admits.

Tit. Tribunes, I thank you: and this fuit I make, That you create your emperor's eldest son,

Lord

Lord Saturnine; whofe virtues will, I hope,
Reflect on Rome, as Titan's rays on earth,
And ripen justice in this common-weal:
Then if you will elect by my advice,
Crown him, and fay,Long live our emperor!
Mar. With voices and applaufe of every fort,
Patricians, and plebeians, we create
Lord Saturninus, Rome's great emperor;
And fay,-Long live our emperor Saturnine!

[A long Flourish, till they come down. Sat. Titus Andronicus, for thy favours done To us in our election this day,

I give thee thanks in part of thy deferts,
And will with deeds requite thy gentleness:
And, for an onfet, Titus, to advance
Thy name, and honourable family,
Lavinia will I make my emperefs,

Rome's royal miftrefs, miftrefs of my heart,
And in the facred Pantheon her espouse:
Tell me, Andronicus, doth this motion please thee?
Tit. It doth, my worthy lord; and, in this match,
I hold me highly honour'd of your grace:
And here, in fight of Rome, to Saturnine,-
King and commander of our common-weal,
The wide world's emperor,-do I confecrate
My fword, my chariot, and my prifoners;
Prefents well worthy Rome's imperial lord:
Receive them then, the tribute that I owe,
Mine honour's enfigns humbled at thy feet.

Sat. Thanks, noble Titus, father of my
life!
How proud I am of thee, and of thy gifts,
Rome fhall record; and, when I do forget
The leaft of thefe unfpeakable deferts,
Romans, forget your fealty to me.

B 2

Tit.

Tit. Now, madam, are you prifoner to an emperor; [TO TAMORA. To him, that for your honour and your state, Will ufe you nobly, and your followers.

Sat. A goodly lady, truft me; of the hue That I would choofe, were I to chufe anew. Clear up, fair queen, that cloudy countenance; Though chance of war hath wrought this change of cheer,

Thou com'ft not to be made a fcorn in Rome:
Princely fhall be thy ufage every way.

Reft 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 difpleas'd with this?

Lav. Not I, my lord; fith true nobility
Warrants these words in princely courtesy.

Sat. Thanks, fweet Lavinia-Romans, letusgo: Ranfomlefs here we fet our prifoners free; Proclaim our honours, lords, with trumpland drum. Baf. Lord Titus, by your leave, this maid is mine.

[Seizing LAVINIA. Tit. How, fir? Are you in earnest then, my lord? Baf. Ay, noble Titus; and refolv'd withal, To do myfelf this reason and this right.

[The Emperor courts TAMORA in dumb fhew. Mar. Suum cuique is our Roman justice: This prince in justice seizeth but his own. Luc. And that he will, and shall, if Lucius live. Tit. Traitors, avaunt! Where is the emperor's Treafon, my lord; Lavinia is furpris'd. [guard? Sat. Surpris'd! By whom?

Baf. By him that justly may

Bear

Bear his betroth' from all the world away.

[Exit BASSIANUS with LAVINIA.

Mut. Brothers, help to convey her hence away,
And with my fword I'll keep this door fafe.
Tit. Follow, my lord, and I'll foon bring her back.
Mut. My lord, you pafs not here.
Tit. What! villainy boy,

Barr'ft me my way in Rome? [Tirus kills MUT.
Mut. Help, Lucius, help!

Luc. My lord, you are unjuft, and more than fo;
In wrongful quarrel you have flain your fon.
Tit. Not thou, nor he, are any fons of mine;
My fons would never so dishonour me :
Traitor, reftore Lavinia to the emperor.

Luc. Dead, if you will; but not to be his wife,
That is another's lawful promis'd love.

Sat. No, Titus, no; the emperor needs her not,
Nor her, nor thee, nor any of thy ftock:
I'll truft by leifure, him that mocks me once;
Thee never, nor thy traiterous haughty fons,
Confederates all thus to difhonour me.

Was there none else in Rome to make a stale of,
But Saturnine? Full well, Andronicus,

Agree thefe deeds with that proud brag of thine,
That faid'ft, I begg'd the empire at thy hand.
Tit. O monftrous! what reproachful words are
these?

Sat. But go thy ways; go, give that changing
piece,

To him that flourish'd for her with his fword:
A valiant fon-in-law thou fhalt enjoy ;

One fit to bandy with thy lawless fons,
To ruffle in the commonwealth of Rome.

Tit. These words are razors to my wounded heart.

E

Tit. Now, madam, are you prifoner to an emperor; [TO TAMORA. To him, that for your honour and your state, Will ufe you nobly, and your followers.

Sat. A goodly lady, trust me; of the hue That I would choofe, were I to chufe anew.→→ Clear up, fair queen, that cloudy countenance; Though chance of war hath wrought this change of cheer,

Thou com'ft not to be made a fcorn in Rome:
Princely fhall be thy ufage every way.

Reft 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 difpleas'd with this?

Lav. Not I, my lord; fith true nobility
Warrants these words in princely courtesy.

Sat. Thanks, fweet Lavinia-Romans, let us go: Ranfomless here we fet our prifoners free; Proclaim our honours, lords, with trumpland drum. Baf. Lord Titus, by your leave, this maid is mine. [Seizing LAVINIA. Tit. How, fir? Are you in earnest then, my lord? Baf. Ay, noble Titus; and refolv'd withal, To do myfelf this reason and this right.

[The Emperor courts TAMORA in dumb fhew. Mar. Suum cuique is our Roman justice: This prince in juftiee feizeth but his own.

Luc. And that he will, and shall, if Lucius live. Tit. Traitors, avaunt! Where is the emperor's Treafon, my lord; Lavinia is furpris'd. [guard? Sat. Surpris'd! By whom?

Baf. By him that juftly may

Bear