William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition (87 page)
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Authors: William Shakespeare
Tags: #Drama, #Literary Criticism, #Shakespeare
BOOK: William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition
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Enter Lavinia
LAVINIA
In peace and honour live Lord Titus long,
My noble lord and father, live in fame.
Lo, at this tomb my tributary tears
I render for my brethren’s obsequies,
(
Kneeling
) And at thy feet I kneel with tears of joy
Shed on this earth for thy return to Rome.
O, bless me here with thy victorious hand,
Whose fortunes Rome’s best citizens applaud.
My noble lord and father, live in fame.
Lo, at this tomb my tributary tears
I render for my brethren’s obsequies,
(
Kneeling
) And at thy feet I kneel with tears of joy
Shed on this earth for thy return to Rome.
O, bless me here with thy victorious hand,
Whose fortunes Rome’s best citizens applaud.
TITUS
Kind Rome, that hast thus lovingly reserved
The cordial of mine age to glad my heart!
Lavinia, live; outlive thy father’s days
And fame’s eternal date, for virtue’s praise.
The cordial of mine age to glad my heart!
Lavinia, live; outlive thy father’s days
And fame’s eternal date, for virtue’s praise.
⌈
Lavinia rises
⌉
MARCUS ⌈
aloft
⌉
aloft
⌉
Long live Lord Titus, my beloved brother,
Gracious triumpher in the eyes of Rome!
Gracious triumpher in the eyes of Rome!
TITUS
Thanks, gentle Tribune, noble brother Marcus.
MARCUS
And welcome, nephews, from successful wars,
You that survive and you that sleep in fame.
Fair lords, your fortunes are alike in all,
That in your country’s service drew your swords,
But safer triumph is this funeral pomp
That hath aspired to Solon’s happiness
And triumphs over chance in honour’s bed.
Titus Andronicus, the people of Rome,
Whose friend in justice thou hast ever been,
Send thee by me, their tribune and their trust,
This palliament of white and spotless hue,
And name thee in election for the empire
With these our late-deceased emperor’s sons.
Be candidatus then, and put it on,
And help to set a head on headless Rome.
You that survive and you that sleep in fame.
Fair lords, your fortunes are alike in all,
That in your country’s service drew your swords,
But safer triumph is this funeral pomp
That hath aspired to Solon’s happiness
And triumphs over chance in honour’s bed.
Titus Andronicus, the people of Rome,
Whose friend in justice thou hast ever been,
Send thee by me, their tribune and their trust,
This palliament of white and spotless hue,
And name thee in election for the empire
With these our late-deceased emperor’s sons.
Be candidatus then, and put it on,
And help to set a head on headless Rome.
TITUS
A better head her glorious body fits
Than his that shakes for age and feebleness.
What should I don this robe and trouble you?—
Be chosen with proclamations today,
Tomorrow yield up rule, resign my life,
And set abroad new business for you all.
Rome, I have been thy soldier forty years,
And led my country’s strength successfully,
And buried one-and-twenty valiant sons
Knighted in field, slain manfully in arms
In right and service of their noble country.
Than his that shakes for age and feebleness.
What should I don this robe and trouble you?—
Be chosen with proclamations today,
Tomorrow yield up rule, resign my life,
And set abroad new business for you all.
Rome, I have been thy soldier forty years,
And led my country’s strength successfully,
And buried one-and-twenty valiant sons
Knighted in field, slain manfully in arms
In right and service of their noble country.
Give me a staff of honour for mine age,
But not a sceptre to control the world.
Upright he held it, lords, that held it last.
But not a sceptre to control the world.
Upright he held it, lords, that held it last.
MARCUS
Titus, thou shalt obtain and ask the empery.
SATURNINUS
Proud and ambitious Tribune, canst thou tell?
TITUS
Patience, Prince Saturninus.
SATURNINUS
Romans, do me right.
Patricians, draw your swords, and sheathe them not
Till Saturninus be Rome’s emperor.
Andronicus, would thou were shipped to hell
Rather than rob me of the people’s hearts!
Till Saturninus be Rome’s emperor.
Andronicus, would thou were shipped to hell
Rather than rob me of the people’s hearts!
LUCIUS
Proud Saturnine, interrupter of the good
That noble-minded Titus means to thee.
That noble-minded Titus means to thee.
TITUS
Content thee, Prince. I will restore to thee
The people’s hearts, and wean them from themselves.
The people’s hearts, and wean them from themselves.
BASSIANUS
Andronicus, I do not flatter thee
But honour thee, and will do till I die.
My faction if thou strengthen with thy friends
I will most thankful be; and thanks to men
Of noble minds is honourable meed.
But honour thee, and will do till I die.
My faction if thou strengthen with thy friends
I will most thankful be; and thanks to men
Of noble minds is honourable meed.
TITUS
People of Rome, and people’s tribunes here,
I ask your voices and your suffrages.
Will ye bestow them friendly on Andronicus?
I ask your voices and your suffrages.
Will ye bestow them friendly on Andronicus?
TRIBUNES
To gratify the good Andronicus
And gratulate his safe return to Rome
The people will accept whom he admits.
And gratulate his safe return to Rome
The people will accept whom he admits.
TITUS
Tribunes, I thank you, and this suit I make:
That you create our emperor’s eldest son
Lord Saturnine, whose virtues will, I hope,
Reflect on Rome as Titan’s rays on earth,
And ripen justice in this commonweal.
Then if you will elect by my advice,
Crown him and say, ‘Long live our Emperor!’
That you create our emperor’s eldest son
Lord Saturnine, whose virtues will, I hope,
Reflect on Rome as Titan’s rays on earth,
And ripen justice in this commonweal.
Then if you will elect by my advice,
Crown him and say, ‘Long live our Emperor!’
MARCUS
With voices and applause of every sort,
Patricians and plebeians, we create
Lord Saturninus Rome’s great emperor,
And say, ‘Long live our Emperor Saturnine!’
Patricians and plebeians, we create
Lord Saturninus Rome’s great emperor,
And say, ‘Long live our Emperor Saturnine!’
⌈
A long flourish while Marcus and the other
Tribunes, with Saturninus and Bassianus,
come down.
Marcus invests Saturninus in the white
palliament and hands him a sceptre
⌉
SATURNINUS
Titus Andronicus, for thy favours done
To us in our election this day
I give thee thanks in part of thy deserts,
And will with deeds requite thy gentleness.
And for an onset, Titus, to advance
Thy name and honourable family,
Lavinia will I make my empress,
Rome’s royal mistress, mistress of my heart,
And in the sacred Pantheon her espouse.
Tell me, Andronicus, doth this motion please thee?
To us in our election this day
I give thee thanks in part of thy deserts,
And will with deeds requite thy gentleness.
And for an onset, Titus, to advance
Thy name and honourable family,
Lavinia will I make my empress,
Rome’s royal mistress, mistress of my heart,
And in the sacred Pantheon her espouse.
Tell me, Andronicus, doth this motion please thee?
TITUS
It doth, my worthy lord, and in this match
I hold me highly honoured of your grace,
And here in sight of Rome to Saturnine,
King and commander of our commonweal,
The wide world’s emperor, do I consecrate
My sword, my chariot, and my prisoners—
Presents well worthy Rome’s imperious lord.
Receive them, then, the tribute that I owe,
Mine honour’s ensigns humbled at thy feet.
I hold me highly honoured of your grace,
And here in sight of Rome to Saturnine,
King and commander of our commonweal,
The wide world’s emperor, do I consecrate
My sword, my chariot, and my prisoners—
Presents well worthy Rome’s imperious lord.
Receive them, then, the tribute that I owe,
Mine honour’s ensigns humbled at thy feet.
SATURNINUS
Thanks, noble Titus, father of my life.
How proud I am of thee and of thy gifts
Rome shall record; and when I do forget
The least of these unspeakable deserts,
Romans, forget your fealty to me.
How proud I am of thee and of thy gifts
Rome shall record; and when I do forget
The least of these unspeakable deserts,
Romans, forget your fealty to me.
TITUS (
to Tamora
)
to Tamora
)
Now, madam, are you prisoner to an emperor,
To him that for your honour and your state
Will use you nobly, and your followers.
To him that for your honour and your state
Will use you nobly, and your followers.
SATURNINUS
A goodly lady, trust me, of the hue
That I would choose were I to choose anew.
Clear up, fair queen, that cloudy countenance.
Though chance of war hath wrought this change of
cheer,
Thou com’st not to be made a scorn in Rome.
Princely shall be thy usage every way.
Rest 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 displeased with this?
That I would choose were I to choose anew.
Clear up, fair queen, that cloudy countenance.
Though chance of war hath wrought this change of
cheer,
Thou com’st not to be made a scorn in Rome.
Princely shall be thy usage every way.
Rest 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 displeased with this?
LAVINIA
Not I, my lord, sith true nobility
Warrants these words in princely courtesy.
Warrants these words in princely courtesy.
SATURNINUS
Thanks, sweet Lavinia. Romans, let us go.
Ransomless here we set our prisoners free.
Proclaim our honours, lords, with trump and drum.
Ransomless here we set our prisoners free.
Proclaim our honours, lords, with trump and drum.
⌈
Flourish. Exeunt Saturninus, Tamora, Demetrius, Chiron, and Aaron the Moor
⌉
Flourish. Exeunt Saturninus, Tamora, Demetrius, Chiron, and Aaron the Moor
⌉
BASSIANUS
Lord Titus,.by your leave, this maid is mine.
TITUS
How, sir, are you in earnest then, my lord?
BASSIANUS
Ay, noble Titus, and resolved withal
To do myself this reason and this right.
To do myself this reason and this right.
MARCUS
Suum cuique
is our Roman justice.
is our Roman justice.
This prince in justice seizeth but his own.
LUCIUS
And that he will and shall, if Lucius live.
TITUS
Traitors, avaunt! Where is the Emperor’s guard?
MUTIUS
Brothers, help to convey her hence away,
And with my sword I’ll keep this door safe.
And with my sword I’ll keep this door safe.
Exeunt Bassianus, Marcus, Quintus, and Martius, with Lavinia
(To Titus) My lord, you pass not here.
TITUS
What, villain boy,
Barr’st me my way in Rome?
He attacks Mutius
MUTIUS
Help, Lucius, help!
Titus kills him
LUCIUS (
to Titus
)
to Titus
)
My lord, you are unjust; and more than so,
In wrongful quarrel you have slain your son.
In wrongful quarrel you have slain your son.
TITUS
Nor thou nor he are any sons of mine.
My sons would never so dishonour me.
Traitor, restore Lavinia to the Emperor.
My sons would never so dishonour me.
Traitor, restore Lavinia to the Emperor.
LUCIUS
Dead, if you will, but not to be his wife
That is another’s lawful promised love.
That is another’s lawful promised love.
Exit with Mutius’ body
Enter aloft Saturninus the Emperor with Tamora
and Chiron and Demetrius, her two sons, and
Aaron the Moor
TITUS
Follow, my lord, and I’ll soon bring her back.
SATURNINUS
No, Titus, no. The Emperor needs her not,
Nor her, nor thee, nor any of thy stock.
I’ll trust by leisure him that mocks me once,
Thee never, nor thy traitorous haughty sons,
Confederates all thus to dishonour me.
Was none in Rome to make a stale
But Saturnine? Full well, Andronicus,
Agree these deeds with that proud brag of thine
That saidst I begged the empire at thy hands.
Nor her, nor thee, nor any of thy stock.
I’ll trust by leisure him that mocks me once,
Thee never, nor thy traitorous haughty sons,
Confederates all thus to dishonour me.
Was none in Rome to make a stale
But Saturnine? Full well, Andronicus,
Agree these deeds with that proud brag of thine
That saidst I begged the empire at thy hands.
TITUS
O monstrous, what reproachful words are these?
SATURNINUS
But go thy ways, go give that changing piece
To him that flourished for her with his sword.
A valiant son-in-law thou shalt enjoy,
One fit to bandy with thy lawless sons,
To ruffle in the commonwealth of Rome.
To him that flourished for her with his sword.
A valiant son-in-law thou shalt enjoy,
One fit to bandy with thy lawless sons,
To ruffle in the commonwealth of Rome.
TITUS
These words are razors to my wounded heart.
SATURNINUS
And therefore, lovely Tamora, Queen of Goths,
That like the stately Phoebe ‘mongst her nymphs
Dost overshine the gallant’st dames of Rome,
If thou be pleased with this my sudden choice,
Behold, I choose thee, Tamora, for my bride,
And will create thee Empress of Rome.
Speak, Queen of Goths, dost thou applaud my choice?
And here I swear by all the Roman gods,
Sith priest and holy water are so near,
And tapers burn so bright, and everything
In readiness for Hymenaeus stand,
I will not re-salute the streets of Rome,
Or climb my palace, till from forth this place
I lead espoused my bride along with me.
That like the stately Phoebe ‘mongst her nymphs
Dost overshine the gallant’st dames of Rome,
If thou be pleased with this my sudden choice,
Behold, I choose thee, Tamora, for my bride,
And will create thee Empress of Rome.
Speak, Queen of Goths, dost thou applaud my choice?
And here I swear by all the Roman gods,
Sith priest and holy water are so near,
And tapers burn so bright, and everything
In readiness for Hymenaeus stand,
I will not re-salute the streets of Rome,
Or climb my palace, till from forth this place
I lead espoused my bride along with me.
TAMORA
And here, in sight of heaven, to Rome I swear
If Saturnine advance the Queen of Goths
She will a handmaid be to his desires,
A loving nurse, a mother to his youth.
If Saturnine advance the Queen of Goths
She will a handmaid be to his desires,
A loving nurse, a mother to his youth.
SATURNINUS
Ascend, fair Queen, Pantheon. Lords, accompany
Your noble emperor and his lovely bride,
Sent by the heavens for Prince Saturnine,
Whose wisdom hath her fortune conquered.
There shall we consummate our spousal rites.
Your noble emperor and his lovely bride,
Sent by the heavens for Prince Saturnine,
Whose wisdom hath her fortune conquered.
There shall we consummate our spousal rites.
Exeunt all but Titus
TITUS
I am not bid to wait upon this bride.
Titus, when wert thou wont to walk alone,
Dishonoured thus and challenged of wrongs?
Titus, when wert thou wont to walk alone,
Dishonoured thus and challenged of wrongs?
Enter Marcus and Titus’ sons Lucius
,
Quintus, and
Martius
, ⌈
carrying Mutius’ body
⌉
,
Quintus, and
Martius
, ⌈
carrying Mutius’ body
⌉
MARCUS
O Titus, see, O see what thou hast done—
In a bad quarrel slain a virtuous son.
In a bad quarrel slain a virtuous son.
TITUS
No, foolish Tribune, no; no son of mine,
Nor thou, nor these, confederates in the deed
That hath dishonoured all our family;
Unworthy brother and unworthy sons!
Nor thou, nor these, confederates in the deed
That hath dishonoured all our family;
Unworthy brother and unworthy sons!
LUCIUS
But let us give him burial as becomes,
Give Mutius burial with our brethren.
Give Mutius burial with our brethren.
TITUS
Traitors, away, he rests not in this tomb.
This monument five hundred years hath stood,
Which I have sumptuously re-edified.
Here none but soldiers and Rome’s servitors
Repose in fame, none basely slain in brawls.
Bury him where you can; he comes not here.
This monument five hundred years hath stood,
Which I have sumptuously re-edified.
Here none but soldiers and Rome’s servitors
Repose in fame, none basely slain in brawls.
Bury him where you can; he comes not here.
MARCUS
My lord, this is impiety in you.
My nephew Mutius’ deeds do plead for him.
He must be buried with his brethren.
My nephew Mutius’ deeds do plead for him.
He must be buried with his brethren.
⌈QUINTUS
and
MARTIUS⌉
and
MARTIUS⌉
And shall, or him we will accompany.
TITUS
‘And shall’? What villain was it spake that word?
⌈QUINTUS⌉
He that would vouch it in any place but here.
TITUS
What, would you bury him in my despite?
MARCUS
No, noble Titus, but entreat of thee
To pardon Mutius and to bury him.
To pardon Mutius and to bury him.
TITUS
Marcus, even thou hast struck upon my crest,
And with these boys mine honour thou hast
wounded.
My foes I do repute you every one,
So trouble me no more, but get you gone.
And with these boys mine honour thou hast
wounded.
My foes I do repute you every one,
So trouble me no more, but get you gone.
⌈MARTIUS⌉
He is not with himself, let us withdraw.
⌈QUINTUS⌉
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