Sat. Rise, Titus, rise; my emperess hath prevailid.

Tit. I thank your majesty, and her, my lord. These words, these looks, infuse new life in me.

Tam. 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; 470 And let it be mine honour, good my lord, That I have reconcil'd your friends and you. For you, prince Bassianus, I have past 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 asķ pardon of his majesty. Luc. We do ;. and vow to heaven, and to his high

ness, That what we did, was mildly, as we might, 480 Tend'ring our sister's honour, and our own,

Mar. That on mine honour here I do protest.
Sat. Away, and talk not; trouble us no more.
Tam. 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.

Sat. 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.

490 Lavinia, though you left me like a churl,

found

Stand up:

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.

Tit. 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 bon-jour.

Sat. Be it so, Titus, and gramercy too. [Exeunt.

AEZ 11.

SCENE 1.

Before the Palace. Enter AARON alone.

Aaron.
Now climbeth Tamora Olympus' top,
Safe out of fortune's shot; and sits aloft,
Secure of thunder's crack, or lightning flash;
Advanc'd above pale envy's threat'ning reach.
As when the golden sun salutes the morn,
And, having gilt the ocean with his beams,
Gallops the zodiack in his glistering coach,
And overlooks the highest-peering hills;
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,
Cij

And

10

And mount her pitch; whom thou in triumph long
Hast prisoner held, fetter'd in amorous chains;
And faster bound to Aaron's charming eyes,
Than is Prometheus ty'd to Caucasus.
Away with slavish weeds, and idle thoughts !
I will be bright, and shine in pearl and gold,
To wait upon this new-made emperess.
To wait, said I ? to wanton with this queen,
This goddess, this Semiramis ;--this queen,
This syren, that will charm Rome's Saturnine,
And see his shipwreck, and his common-weal's.
Holla! what storm is this?

20

Enter Chiron, and Demetrius, braving. Dem. Chiron, thy years want wit, thy wit wants

edge, And manners, to intrude where I am grac'd ; And may, for aught thou know'st, affected be.

Chi. Demetrius, thou dost over.ween in all; And so in this, to bear me down with braves.

30 '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 ; And that my sword upon

thee shall approve, And plead my passions for Lavinia's love.

Aar. Clubs, clubs ! These lovers will not keep

the peace.

Dem. Why, boy, although our mother, unadvis'd, Gave you a dancing rapier by your side,

89 Arc

Are you so desperate grown, to threat your friends ? Go to; have your lath glu'd within your sheath, 'Till

you know better how to handle it. Chi. Mean while, sir, with the little skill I have, Full well shalt thou perceive how much I dare.

Dem. Ay, boy, grow ye so brave i [They draw.

Aar. Why, how now, lords?
So near 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,

50
The cause were known to them it most concerns :
Nor would your noble mother, for much more,
Be so dishonour'd in the court of Rome.
For shame, put up.

Chi. Not I; 'till I have sheath'd My rapier in his bosom, and, withal, Thrust these teproachful speeches down his throat, That he hath breath'd in my dishonour here.

Dem. For that I am prepar'd and full resolvid, Foul-spoken coward! that thunder'st with thy tongue, And with thy weapon nothing dar'st perform. 61

Aar. Away, I say.-
Now by the gods, that warlike Goths adore,
This petty brabble will undo us all.
Why, lords,--and think you not how dangerous
It is to jut upon a prince's right?
What, is Lavinia then become so loose,
Or Bassianus so degenerate,
That for her love such quarrels may be broach'd,
Ciij

Without

Without controlment, justice, or revenge ? 70 Young lords, beware!-an should the emperess know This discord's ground, the musick would not please.

Chi. I care not, I, knew she and all the world; I love Lavinia more than all the world. Dem. Youngling, learn thou to make some meaner

choice : Lavinia is thine elder brother's hope.

Aar. 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 80 By this device.

Chi. Aaron, a thousand deaths would I propose, To achieve her I do love.

Aar. To achieve her!--How ?

Dem. Why mak'st thou it so strange?
Ske is a woman, therefore may be wood;
She is a woinan, therefore may be won ;
She is Lavinia, therefore must be lov'd.
What, man! more water glideth by the mill
Than wots the miller of; and easy it is

90
Of a cut loaf to steal a shive, we know :
Though Bassianus be the emperor's brother,
Better than he have yet worn Vulcan's badge,

Aar. Ay, and as good as Saturninus, may. [ Aside. Dem. Then why should he despair, that knows to

court it With words, fair looks, and liberality ? What, hast thou not full often struck a doe,

And