William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition (88 page)
Read William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition Online
Authors: William Shakespeare
Tags: #Drama, #Literary Criticism, #Shakespeare
BOOK: William Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition
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Not I, till Mutius’ bones be buried.
Marcus, Lucius, Quintus, and Martius kneel
MARCUS
Brother, for in that name doth nature plead—
⌈QUINTUS⌉
Father, and in that name doth nature speak—
TITUS
Speak thou no more, if all the rest will speed.
MARCUS
Renowned Titus, more than half my soul—
LUCIUS
Dear father, soul and substance of us all—
MARCUS
Suffer thy brother Marcus to inter
His noble nephew here in virtue’s nest,
That died in honour and Lavinia’s cause.
Thou art a Roman; be not barbarous.
The Greeks upon advice did bury Ajax,
That slew himself; and wise Laertes’ son
Did graciously plead for his funerals.
Let not young Mutius then, that was thy joy,
Be barred his entrance here.
His noble nephew here in virtue’s nest,
That died in honour and Lavinia’s cause.
Thou art a Roman; be not barbarous.
The Greeks upon advice did bury Ajax,
That slew himself; and wise Laertes’ son
Did graciously plead for his funerals.
Let not young Mutius then, that was thy joy,
Be barred his entrance here.
TITUS
Rise, Marcus, rise.
The dismall‘st day is this that e’er I saw,
To be dishonoured by my sons in Rome.
Well, bury him, and bury me the next.
To be dishonoured by my sons in Rome.
Well, bury him, and bury me the next.
They put Mutius in the tomb
LUCIUS
There lie thy bones, sweet Mutius, with thy friends’,
Till we with trophies do adorn thy tomb. 385
Till we with trophies do adorn thy tomb. 385
ALL ⌈BUT TITUS⌉ (
kneeling
)
kneeling
)
No man shed tears for noble Mutius;
He lives in fame, that died in virtue’s cause.
He lives in fame, that died in virtue’s cause.
Exeunt
⌈
all but Marcus and Titus
⌉
⌈
all but Marcus and Titus
⌉
MARCUS
My lord—to step out of these dreary dumps—
How comes it that the subtle Queen of Goths
Is of a sudden thus advanced in Rome?
How comes it that the subtle Queen of Goths
Is of a sudden thus advanced in Rome?
TITUS
I know not, Marcus, but I know it is—
Whether by device or no, the heavens can tell.
Is she not then beholden to the man
That brought her for this high good turn so far?
Whether by device or no, the heavens can tell.
Is she not then beholden to the man
That brought her for this high good turn so far?
⌈MARCUS⌉
Yes, and will nobly him remunerate.
⌈
Flourish.
⌉
Enter the Emperor Saturninus, Tamora,
and her two sons (Chiron and Demetrius), with
Aaron the Moor at one door.
Enter at the other door Bassianus and Lavinia with
⌈
Lucius
,
Quintus,
and Martius
⌉
SATURNINUS
So, Bassianus, you have played your prize.
God give you joy, sir, of your gallant bride.
God give you joy, sir, of your gallant bride.
BASSIANUS
And you of yours, my lord. I say no more,
Nor wish no less; and so I take my leave.
Nor wish no less; and so I take my leave.
SATURNINUS
Traitor, if Rome have law or we have power,
Thou and thy faction shall repent this rape.
Thou and thy faction shall repent this rape.
BASSIANUS
‘Rape’ call you it, my lord, to seize my own—
My true betrothed love, and now my wife?
But let the laws of Rome determine all;
Meanwhile am I possessed of that is mine.
My true betrothed love, and now my wife?
But let the laws of Rome determine all;
Meanwhile am I possessed of that is mine.
SATURNINUS
‘Tis good, sir; you are very short with us.
But if we live we’ll be as sharp with you.
But if we live we’ll be as sharp with you.
BASSIANUS
My lord, what I have done, as best I may
Answer I must, and shall do with my life.
Only thus much I give your grace to know:
By all the duties that I owe to Rome,
This noble gentleman, Lord Titus here,
Is in opinion and in honour wronged,
That, in the rescue of Lavinia,
With his own hand did slay his youngest son
In zeal to you, and highly moved to wrath
To be controlled in that he frankly gave.
Receive him then to favour, Saturnine,
That hath expressed himself in all his deeds
A father and a friend to thee and Rome.
Answer I must, and shall do with my life.
Only thus much I give your grace to know:
By all the duties that I owe to Rome,
This noble gentleman, Lord Titus here,
Is in opinion and in honour wronged,
That, in the rescue of Lavinia,
With his own hand did slay his youngest son
In zeal to you, and highly moved to wrath
To be controlled in that he frankly gave.
Receive him then to favour, Saturnine,
That hath expressed himself in all his deeds
A father and a friend to thee and Rome.
TITUS
Prince Bassianus, leave to plead my deeds.
‘Tis thou and those that have dishonoured me.
‘Tis thou and those that have dishonoured me.
⌈
He kneels
⌉
Rome and the righteous heavens be my judge
How I have loved and honoured Saturnine!
How I have loved and honoured Saturnine!
TAMORA (
to Saturninus
)
to Saturninus
)
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.
Were gracious in those princely eyes of thine,
Then hear me speak indifferently for all;
And at my suit, sweet, pardon what is past.
SATURNINUS
What, madam—be dishonoured openly
And basely put it up without revenge?
And basely put it up without revenge?
TAMORA
Not so, my lord. The gods of Rome forfend
I should be author to dishonour you.
But on mine honour 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,
Nor with sour looks afflict his gentle heart.
(
Aside to Saturninus
)
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,
Which Rome reputes to be a heinous sin,
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.
(
Aloud
) Come, come, sweet Emperor; come,
Andronicus,
Take up this good old man, and cheer the heart
That dies in tempest of thy angry frown.
I should be author to dishonour you.
But on mine honour 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,
Nor with sour looks afflict his gentle heart.
(
Aside to Saturninus
)
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,
Which Rome reputes to be a heinous sin,
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.
(
Aloud
) Come, come, sweet Emperor; come,
Andronicus,
Take up this good old man, and cheer the heart
That dies in tempest of thy angry frown.
SATURNINUS
Rise, Titus, rise; my empress hath prevailed.
TITUS (
rising
)
rising
)
I thank your majesty and her, my lord,
These words, these looks, infuse new life in me.
These words, these looks, infuse new life in me.
TAMORA
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 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.
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 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.
⌈
Bassianus
⌉
, Lavinia, Lucius
,
Quintus,
and
Martius kneel
⌈LOCIUS⌉
We do, and vow to heaven and to his highness
That what we did was mildly as we might,
Tend’ring our sister’s honour and our own.
That what we did was mildly as we might,
Tend’ring our sister’s honour and our own.
MARCUS ⌈
kneeling
⌉
kneeling
⌉
That on mine honour here do I protest.
SATURNINUS
Away, and talk not, trouble us no more.
TAMORA
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.
The Tribune and his nephews kneel for grace.
I will not be denied; sweetheart, look back.
SATURNINUS
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!
And at my lovely Tamora’s entreats,
I do remit these young men’s heinous faults.
Stand up!
Marcus, Bassianus
,
Lavinia, and Titus’ sons stand
,
Lavinia, and Titus’ sons stand
Lavinia, though you left me like a churl,
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.
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.
TITUS
Tomorrow an it please your majesty
To hunt the panther and the hart with me,
With horn and hound we’ll give your grace
bonjour.
To hunt the panther and the hart with me,
With horn and hound we’ll give your grace
bonjour.
SATURNINUS
Be it so, Titus, and gramercy, too. ⌈
Flourish. Exeunt
⌉
Flourish. Exeunt
⌉
⌈
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,
Advanced 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 zodiac 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,
And mount her pitch whom thou in triumph long
Hast prisoner held fettered in amorous chains,
And faster bound to Aaron’s charming eyes
Than is Prometheus tied to Caucasus.
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.
Hollo, what storm is this?
Safe out of fortune’s shot, and sits aloft,
Secure of thunder’s crack or lightning flash,
Advanced 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 zodiac 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,
And mount her pitch whom thou in triumph long
Hast prisoner held fettered in amorous chains,
And faster bound to Aaron’s charming eyes
Than is Prometheus tied to Caucasus.
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.
Hollo, what storm is this?
Enter Chiron and Demetrius, braving
DEMETRIUS
Chiron, thy years wants wit, thy wits wants edge
And manners to intrude where I am graced
And may, for aught thou knowest, affected be.
And manners to intrude where I am graced
And may, for aught thou knowest, affected be.
CHIRON
Demetrius, thou dost overween in all,
And so in this, to bear me down with braves.
‘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.
And so in this, to bear me down with braves.
‘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.
AARON (aside)
Clubs, clubs! These lovers will not keep the peace.
DEMETRIUS
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.
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.
CHIRON
Meanwhile, sir, with the little skill I have
Full well shalt thou perceive how much I dare.
Full well shalt thou perceive how much I dare.
DEMETRIUS
Ay, boy, grow ye so brave?
They draw
AARON
Why, how now, lords?
So near the Emperor’s palace dare ye 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 dishonoured in the court of Rome.
For shame, put up.
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 dishonoured in the court of Rome.
For shame, put up.
DEMETRIUS
Not I, till I have sheathed
My rapier in his bosom, and withal
Thrust those reproachful speeches down his throat
That he hath breathed in my dishonour here.
Thrust those reproachful speeches down his throat
That he hath breathed in my dishonour here.
CHIRON
For that I am prepared and full resolved,
Foul-spoken coward, that thund‘rest with thy tongue,
And with thy weapon nothing dar’st perform.
Foul-spoken coward, that thund‘rest with thy tongue,
And with thy weapon nothing dar’st perform.
AARON 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 jet 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.
This petty brabble will undo us all.
Why, lords, and think you not how dangerous
It is to jet 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.
CHIRON
I care not, I, knew she and all the world,
I love Lavinia more than all the world.
I love Lavinia more than all the world.
DEMETRIUS
Youngling, learn thou to make some meaner choice.
Lavinia is thine elder brother’s hope.
Lavinia is thine elder brother’s hope.
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