Titus Page #3

be my judge...

how I have loved

and honored Saturnine.

I can do no more.

Patience, Bassianus.

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.

Oh, madam?

Be dishonored openly...

and basely put it up

without revenge?

Not so, my lord.

The gods of Rome forfend

I should be author to dishonor you.

But on mine honor

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.

My lord, be ruled 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.

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.

Rise, Titus, rise.

My empress hath prevailed.

I thank your majesty

and her, my lord.

And let it be mine honor,

good my lord,

that I have reconciled

your friends and you.

For you, Prince Bassianus,

I have passed 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.

We do, and vow to heaven

and to your highness...

that what we did

was mildly as we might,

tendering our sister's honor

and our own.

That, on mine honor,

here I do attest.

Away, and talk not.

Trouble us no more.

Nay, nay, sweet emperor.

We must all be friends.

The tribune and his nephews

kneel for grace.

I will not be denied.

Sweetheart, look back.

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.

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.

Tomorrow, an it please

your majesty,

to hunt the panther

and the hart with me.

Be it so, Titus,

and Gramercy too.

Now climbeth

Tamora Olympus' top,

safe out of fortune's shot

and sits aloft,

secure of thunder's crack

or lightning flash,

advanced 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 glistering coach...

and overlooks

the highest peering hills.

So Tamora.

Upon her wit

doth earthly honor 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 a prisoner held

fettered in amorous chains.

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.

Holloa!

What storm is this? Away!

Chiron, thy years wants wit.

Thy wit wants edge

and manners...

to intrude where I am graced,

and may, for aught

thou knowest, affected be.

Demetrius, thou dost

overween in all,

and so in this, to bear

me down with braves.

Aw!

'Tis not the difference

of a year or two...

makes me less gracious

or thee more fortunate.

I am as able and as fit

as thou to serve...

and to deserve

my mistress' grace.

That my sword upon thee

shall approve...

and plead my passions

for Lavinia's love.

Clubs, clubs! These lovers

will not keep the peace.

Why, boy, although our

mother, unadvised,

gave you a dancing rapier

by your side,

are you so desperate grown

to threat your friends?

Go to.

Have your lath glued

within your sheath...

till you know better

how to handle it.

Meanwhile, sir,

with what little skill I have,

full well thou shalt

perceive how much I dare.

Ay, boy.

Grow ye so brave?

How now, lords!

Here in the emperor's palace

dare you draw...

and maintain

such a quarrel openly?

Full well I wot the ground

of all this grudge.

I would not

for a million of gold...

the cause were known to them

it most concerns,

nor would your noble mother

for much more...

be so dishonored

in the court of Rome.

- For shame, put up.

- Not I!

Till I have sheathed

my rapier in his bosom...

and withal thrust these reproachful

speeches down his throat...

that he hath breathed

in my dishonor here.

For that I am

prepared and full resolved.

Foul-spoken coward,

that thunderest

with thy tongue...

and with thy weapon

nothing darest perform.

Away, I say! Now, by the gods

that warlike Goths adore,

this petty brabble

will undo us all.

Why, lords, think you not

how dangerous it is...

to step upon a prince's right?

What, is Lavinia

then become so loose...

or Bassianus so degenerate

that for her love...

such quarrels may be broached

without controlment,

justice, or revenge?

Young lords, beware!

And should the empress know this discord's

ground, the music would not please.

I care not, I, knew she

and all the world.

I love Lavinia more

than all the world!

Youngling, learn thou to make

some meaner choice.

Lavinia is thine

elder brother's hope.

Why, are ye mad?

Or know ye not in Rome

how furious and impatient they be...

and cannot brook

competitors in love?

I tell you, lords,

you do but plot your deaths

by this device.

Aaron,

a thousand deaths

would I propose...

to achieve her whom I love.

To achieve her! How?

Why makest thou it so strange?

She's a woman,

and therefore may be wooed.

She's a woman. Ah!

Therefore may be won.

She is Lavinia,

and therefore must be loved.

Why, then, it seems,

some certain snatch or so...

would serve your turns.

Ay, so the turn were served.

Aaron, thou hast hit it.

Would you had hit it too.

Then should not we be tired

with this ado.

Are you such fools

to square for this?

Would it offend you then

that both should speed?

Faith, not me.

Nor me, so I were one.

For shame.

Be friends and join for that you jar.

'Tis policy and stratagem

must do that you affect.

And I have found the path.

My lords,

a solemn hunting is at hand.

There will the lovely

Roman ladies troop.

Ah, the forest walks

are wide and spacious,

and many unfrequented plots

there are...

fitted by kind

for rape and villainy.

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