Tam. My worthy lord, if ever Tamora Were gracious in thofe princely eyes of thine, Then hear me fpeak, indifferently for all; And at my fuit, fweet, pardon what is past. Sat. What, madam! be difhonour'd openly, And bafely put it up without revenge?

[fend,

Tam. Not fo, my lord; The gods of Rome foreI fhould be author to difhonour you! But, on mine honour, dare I undertake For good lord Titus' innocence in all, Whole fury, not diffembled, speaks his griefs: Then, at my fuit, look gracioufly on him; Lofe not fo noble a friend on vain fuppofe, Nor with four looks affli&t his gentle heart.My lord, be rul'd by me, be won at last, Diffemble all your griefs and difcontents: You are but newly planted in your throne; Left then the people, and patricians too, Upon a juft furvey, take Titus' part; And fo fupplant us for ingratitude (Which Rome reputes to be a heinous fin), Yield at entreats, and then let me alone: I'll find a day to maffacre them all, And raze their faction, and their family, The cruel father, and his traiterous fons, To whom I fued for my dear fon's life; And make them know, what 'tis to let a queen

Kneel in the streets, and beg for grace in

vain.

[Afide

Come, come, fweet emperor,-come, Andronicus,Take up this good old man, and cheer the heart That dies in tempeft of thy angry frown.

Sat. Rife, Titus, rife; my emprefs hath prevail'd.

Tit. I thank your majesty, and her, my lord.
Thefe words, these looks, infufe 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 ;-
And let it be mine honour, good my lord,
That I have reconcil'd your friends and you.-
For you, prince Baflianus, 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 fhall afk pardon of his majefty.

Luc. We do and vow to heaven, and to his highnefs,

'That what we did, was mildly, as we might, Tend'ring our fifter's honour, and our own.

Mar. That on mine honour here I do proteft. 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 fake, 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 fure as death I fwore,
I would not part a bachelor from the priest.
Come, if the emperor's court can feast two brides,
You are my gueft, Lavinia, and your friends :
This day fhall 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 fo, Titus, and gramercy too. [Exeunt.

ACT II.

SCENE I. Before the Palace.

Enter AARON alone.

Aaron.

Now climbeth Tamora Olympus' top,
Safe, out of fortune's shot; and fits aloft,
Secure of thunder's crack, or lightning flash;
Advanc'd above pale envy's threatning reach.
As when the golden fun falutes the morn,
And, having gilt the ocean with his beams,
Gallops the zodiack in his gliftering coach,
And overlooks the highest-peering hills;

So Tamora.—

Upon her wit doth early honour wait,

And virtue ftoops 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
Haft prifoner held, fetter'd in amorous chains;
And fafter bound to Aaron's charming eyes,
Than is Prometheus ty'd to Caucafus.
Away with flavifh weeds, and idle thoughts!
I will be bright, and fhine in pearl and gold,
To wait upon this new-made emperefs.

To wait, faid I? to wanton with this queen, This goddefs, this Semiramis;--this queen, This fyren, that will charm Rome's Saturnine, And fee his fhipwreck, and his common-weal's. Hella! what ftorm is this?

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'it, affected be.

Ch. Demetrius, thou doft over-ween in all;
And fo in this, to bear me down with braves.
'Tis not the difference of a year, or two,
Makes me lefs gracious, or thee more fortunate:
Fam as able, and as fit, as thou,

upon

To ferve, and to deferve my mistress' grace; And that my fword thee fhall approve, And plead my paffions for Lavinia's love. Aar. Clubs, clubs!-Thefe lovers will not keep the peace.

Dem. Why, boy, although our mother, unadvis'd, Gave you a dancing rapier by your fide, Are you fo defperate grown, to threat your friends? Go to have your lath glu'd within your fheath, *Till you know better how to handle it.

Chi. Mean while, fir, with the little fkill I have, Full well halt thou perceive how much I dare. Dem. Ay, boy, grow ye fo brave? [They draw. Aar. Why, how now, lords?

So near the emperor's palace dare you draw,
And maintain fuch a quarrel openly?

Full well I wot the ground of all this grudge;
I would not for a million of gold,
C

The

The cause were known to them it most concerns: Nor would your noble mother, for much more, Be fo difhonour'd in the court of Rome.

For fhame, put up.

Chi. Not I; 'till I have fheath'd

My rapier in his bofom, and, withal,

Thrust these reproachful speeches down his throat, That he hath breath'd in my dishonour here.

Dem. For that I am prepar'd and full refolv'd,Foul fpoken coward! that thunder'ft with thy

tongue,

And with thy weapon nothing dar'ft perform.
Aar. Away, I fay.—

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 Baffianus fo degenerate,

That for her love fuch quarrels may be broach'd,
Without controlment, juftice, or revenge?
Young lords, beware!-an fhould the emperefs know
This difcord's ground, the mufick 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 fome meaner Lavinia is thine elder brother's hope. [choice: Aar. Why, are ye mad? or know ye not, in How furious and impatient they be, And cannot brook competitors in love?

[Rome

I tell you, lords, you do but plot your deaths
By this device.

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

Aar.