Titus Andronicus

ACT I SCENE I	Rome. Before the Capitol.
[ The Tomb of the ANDRONICI appearing; the Tribunes and Senators aloft. Enter, below, from one side, SATURNINUS and his Followers; and, from the other side, BASSIANUS and his Followers; with drum and colours ]
SATURNINUS	Noble patricians, patrons of my right,
	Defend the justice of my cause with arms,
	And, countrymen, my loving followers,
	Plead my successive title with your swords:
	I am his first-born son, that was the last	5
	That wore the imperial diadem of Rome;
	Then let my father's honours live in me,
	Nor wrong mine age with this indignity.
BASSIANUS	Romans, friends, followers, favorers of my right,
	If ever Bassianus, Caesar's son,	10
	Were gracious in the eyes of royal Rome,
	Keep then this passage to the Capitol
	And suffer not dishonour to approach
	The imperial seat, to virtue consecrate,
	To justice, continence and nobility;	15
	But let desert in pure election shine,
	And, Romans, fight for freedom in your choice.
[Enter MARCUS ANDRONICUS, aloft, with the crown]
MARCUS ANDRONICUS	Princes, that strive by factions and by friends
	Ambitiously for rule and empery,
	Know that the people of Rome, for whom we stand	20
	A special party, have, by common voice,
	In election for the Roman empery,
	Chosen Andronicus, surnamed Pius
	For many good and great deserts to Rome:
	A nobler man, a braver warrior,	25
	Lives not this day within the city walls:
	He by the senate is accit'd home
	From weary wars against the barbarous Goths;
	That, with his sons, a terror to our foes,
	Hath yoked a nation strong, train'd up in arms.	30
	Ten years are spent since first he undertook
	This cause of Rome and chastised with arms
	Our enemies' pride: five times he hath return'd
	Bleeding to Rome, bearing his valiant sons
	In coffins from the field;	35
	And now at last, laden with horror's spoils,
	Returns the good Andronicus to Rome,
	Renowned Titus, flourishing in arms.
	Let us entreat, by honour of his name,
	Whom worthily you would have now succeed.	40
	And in the Capitol and senate's right,
	Whom you pretend to honour and adore,
	That you withdraw you and abate your strength;
	Dismiss your followers and, as suitors should,
	Plead your deserts in peace and humbleness.	45
SATURNINUS	How fair the tribune speaks to calm my thoughts!
BASSIANUS	Marcus Andronicus, so I do ally
	In thy uprightness and integrity,
	And so I love and honour thee and thine,
	Thy noble brother Titus and his sons,	50
	And her to whom my thoughts are humbled all,
	Gracious Lavinia, Rome's rich ornament,
	That I will here dismiss my loving friends,
	And to my fortunes and the people's favor
	Commit my cause in balance to be weigh'd.	55
[Exeunt the followers of BASSIANUS]
SATURNINUS	Friends, that have been thus forward in my right,
	I thank you all and here dismiss you all,
	And to the love and favor of my country
	Commit myself, my person and the cause.
[Exeunt the followers of SATURNINUS]
	Rome, be as just and gracious unto me	60
	As I am confident and kind to thee.
	Open the gates, and let me in.
BASSIANUS	Tribunes, and me, a poor competitor.
[Flourish. SATURNINUS and BASSIANUS go up into the Capitol]
[Enter a Captain]
Captain	Romans, make way: the good Andronicus.
	Patron of virtue, Rome's best champion,	65
	Successful in the battles that he fights,
	With honour and with fortune is return'd
	From where he circumscribed with his sword,
	And brought to yoke, the enemies of Rome.
[ Drums and trumpets sounded. Enter MARTIUS and MUTIUS; After them, two Men bearing a coffin covered with black; then LUCIUS and QUINTUS. After them, TITUS ANDRONICUS; and then TAMORA, with ALARBUS, DEMETRIUS, CHIRON, AARON, and other Goths, prisoners; Soldiers and people following. The Bearers set down the coffin, and TITUS speaks ]
TITUS ANDRONICUS	Hail, Rome, victorious in thy mourning weeds!	70
	Lo, as the bark, that hath discharged her fraught,
	Returns with precious jading to the bay
	From whence at first she weigh'd her anchorage,
	Cometh Andronicus, bound with laurel boughs,
	To re-salute his country with his tears,	75
	Tears of true joy for his return to Rome.
	Thou great defender of this Capitol,
	Stand gracious to the rites that we intend!
	Romans, of five and twenty valiant sons,
	Half of the number that King Priam had,	80
	Behold the poor remains, alive and dead!
	These that survive let Rome reward with love;
	These that I bring unto their latest home,
	With burial amongst their ancestors:
	Here Goths have given me leave to sheathe my sword.	85
	Titus, unkind and careless of thine own,
	Why suffer'st thou thy sons, unburied yet,
	To hover on the dreadful shore of Styx?
	Make way to lay them by their brethren.
[The tomb is opened]
	There greet in silence, as the dead are wont,	90
	And sleep in peace, slain in your country's wars!
	O sacred receptacle of my joys,
	Sweet cell of virtue and nobility,
	How many sons of mine hast thou in store,
	That thou wilt never render to me more!	95
LUCIUS	Give us the proudest prisoner of the Goths,
	That we may hew his limbs, and on a pile
	Ad manes fratrum sacrifice his flesh,
	Before this earthy prison of their bones;
	That so the shadows be not unappeased,	100
	Nor we disturb'd with prodigies on earth.
TITUS ANDRONICUS	I give him you, the noblest that survives,
	The eldest son of this distressed queen.
TAMORA	Stay, Roman brethren! Gracious conqueror,
	Victorious Titus, rue the tears I shed,	105
	A mother's tears in passion for her son:
	And if thy sons were ever dear to thee,
	O, think my son to be as dear to me!
	Sufficeth not that we are brought to Rome,
	To beautify thy triumphs and return,	110
	Captive to thee and to thy Roman yoke,
	But must my sons be slaughter'd in the streets,
	For valiant doings in their country's cause?
	O, if to fight for king and commonweal
	Were piety in thine, it is in these.	115
	Andronicus, stain not thy tomb with blood:
	Wilt thou draw near the nature of the gods?
	Draw near them then in being merciful:
	Sweet mercy is nobility's true badge:
	Thrice noble Titus, spare my first-born son.	120
TITUS ANDRONICUS	Patient yourself, madam, and pardon me.
	These are their brethren, whom you Goths beheld
	Alive and dead, and for their brethren slain
	Religiously they ask a sacrifice:
	To this your son is mark'd, and die he must,	125
	To appease their groaning shadows that are gone.
LUCIUS	Away with him! and make a fire straight;
	And with our swords, upon a pile of wood,
	Let's hew his limbs till they be clean consumed.
[Exeunt LUCIUS, QUINTUS, MARTIUS, and MUTIUS, with ALARBUS]
TAMORA	O cruel, irreligious piety!	130
CHIRON	Was ever Scythia half so barbarous?
DEMETRIUS	Oppose not Scythia to ambitious Rome.
	Alarbus goes to rest; and we survive
	To tremble under Titus' threatening looks.
	Then, madam, stand resolved, but hope withal	135
	The self-same gods that arm'd the Queen of Troy
	With opportunity of sharp revenge
	Upon the Thracian tyrant in his tent,
	May favor Tamora, the Queen of Goths--
	When Goths were Goths and Tamora was queen--	140
	To quit the bloody wrongs upon her foes.
[ Re-enter LUCIUS, QUINTUS, MARTIUS and MUTIUS, with their swords bloody ]
LUCIUS	See, lord and father, how we have perform'd
	Our Roman rites: Alarbus' limbs are lopp'd,
	And entrails feed the sacrificing fire,
	Whose smoke, like incense, doth perfume the sky.	145
	Remaineth nought, but to inter our brethren,
	And with loud 'larums welcome them to Rome.
TITUS ANDRONICUS	Let it be so; and let Andronicus
	Make this his latest farewell to their souls.
[Trumpets sounded, and the coffin laid in the tomb]
	In peace and honour rest you here, my sons;	150
	Rome's readiest champions, repose you here in rest,
	Secure from worldly chances and mishaps!
	Here lurks no treason, here no envy swells,
	Here grow no damned grudges; here are no storms,
	No noise, but silence and eternal sleep:	155
	In peace and honour rest you here, my sons!
[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;	160
	And at thy feet I kneel, with tears of joy,
	Shed on the earth, for thy return to Rome:
	O, bless me here with thy victorious hand,
	Whose fortunes Rome's best citizens applaud!
TITUS ANDRONICUS	Kind Rome, that hast thus lovingly reserved	165
	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!
[ Enter, below, MARCUS ANDRONICUS and Tribunes; re-enter SATURNINUS and BASSIANUS, attended ]
MARCUS ANDRONICUS	Long live Lord Titus, my beloved brother,
	Gracious triumpher in the eyes of Rome!	170
TITUS ANDRONICUS	Thanks, gentle tribune, noble brother Marcus.
MARCUS ANDRONICUS	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:	175
	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,	180
	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,	185
	And help to set a head on headless Rome.
TITUS ANDRONICUS	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 to-day,	190
	To-morrow 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,	195
	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.	200
MARCUS ANDRONICUS	Titus, thou shalt obtain and ask the empery.
SATURNINUS	Proud and ambitious tribune, canst thou tell?
TITUS ANDRONICUS	Patience, Prince Saturninus.
SATURNINUS	Romans, do me right:
	Patricians, draw your swords: and sheathe them not	205
	Till Saturninus be Rome's emperor.
	Andronicus, would thou wert shipp'd 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!	210
TITUS ANDRONICUS	Content thee, prince; I will restore to thee
	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,	215
	I will most thankful be; and thanks to men
	Of noble minds is honourable meed.
TITUS ANDRONICUS	People of Rome, and people's tribunes here,
	I ask your voices and your suffrages:
	Will you bestow them friendly on Andronicus?	220
Tribunes	To gratify the good Andronicus,
	And gratulate his safe return to Rome,
	The people will accept whom he admits.
TITUS ANDRONICUS	Tribunes, I thank you: and this suit I make,
	That you create your emperor's eldest son,	225
	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!'	230
MARCUS ANDRONICUS	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!'
[A long flourish till they come down]
SATURNINUS	Titus Andronicus, for thy favors done	235
	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,	240
	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 ANDRONICUS	It doth, my worthy lord; and in this match	245
	I hold me highly honour'd 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;	250
	Presents well worthy Rome's imperial 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	255
	Rome shall record, and when I do forget
	The least of these unspeakable deserts,
	Romans, forget your fealty to me.
TITUS ANDRONICUS	[To TAMORA] Now, madam, are you prisoner to
	an emperor;	260
	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:	265
	Though chance of war hath wrought this change of cheer,
	Thou comest 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	270
	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.
SATURNINUS	Thanks, sweet Lavinia. Romans, let us go;	275
	Ransomless here we set our prisoners free:
	Proclaim our honours, lords, with trump and drum.
[Flourish. SATURNINUS courts TAMORA in dumb show]
BASSIANUS	Lord Titus, by your leave, this maid is mine.
[Seizing LAVINIA]
TITUS ANDRONICUS	How, sir! are you in earnest then, my lord?
BASSIANUS	Ay, noble Titus; and resolved withal	280
	To do myself this reason and this right.
MARCUS ANDRONICUS	'Suum cuique' is our Roman justice:
	This prince in justice seizeth but his own.
LUCIUS	And that he will, and shall, if Lucius live.
TITUS ANDRONICUS	Traitors, avaunt! Where is the emperor's guard?	285
	Treason, my lord! Lavinia is surprised!
SATURNINUS	Surprised! by whom?
BASSIANUS	By him that justly may
	Bear his betroth'd from all the world away.
[Exeunt BASSIANUS and MARCUS with LAVINIA]
MUTIUS	Brothers, help to convey her hence away,	290
	And with my sword I'll keep this door safe.
[Exeunt LUCIUS, QUINTUS, and MARTIUS]
TITUS ANDRONICUS	Follow, my lord, and I'll soon bring her back.
MUTIUS	My lord, you pass not here.
TITUS ANDRONICUS	What, villain boy!
	Barr'st me my way in Rome?	295
[Stabbing MUTIUS]
MUTIUS	Help, Lucius, help!
[Dies]
[ During the fray, SATURNINUS, TAMORA, DEMETRIUS, CHIRON and AARON go out and re-enter, above ]
[Re-enter LUCIUS]
LUCIUS	My lord, you are unjust, and, more than so,
	In wrongful quarrel you have slain your son.
TITUS ANDRONICUS	Nor thou, nor he, are any sons of mine;
	My sons would never so dishonour me:	300
	Traitor, restore Lavinia to the emperor.
LUCIUS	Dead, if you will; but not to be his wife,
	That is another's lawful promised love.
[Exit]
SATURNINUS	No, Titus, no; the emperor needs her not,
	Nor her, nor thee, nor any of thy stock:	305
	I'll trust, by leisure, him that mocks me once;
	Thee never, nor thy traitorous haughty sons,
	Confederates all thus to dishonour me.
	Was there none else in Rome to make a stale,
	But Saturnine? Full well, Andronicus,	310
	Agree these deeds with that proud brag of thine,
	That said'st I begg'd the empire at thy hands.
TITUS ANDRONICUS	O monstrous! what reproachful words are these?
SATURNINUS	But go thy ways; go, give that changing piece
	To him that flourish'd for her with his sword	315
	A valiant son-in-law thou shalt enjoy;
	One fit to bandy with thy lawless sons,
	To ruffle in the commonwealth of Rome.
TITUS ANDRONICUS	These words are razors to my wounded heart.
SATURNINUS	And therefore, lovely Tamora, queen of Goths,	320
	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,	325
	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 every thing
	In readiness for Hymenaeus stand,	330
	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,	335
	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,	340
	Whose wisdom hath her fortune conquered:
	There shall we consummate our spousal rites.
[Exeunt all but TITUS]
TITUS ANDRONICUS	I am not bid to wait upon this bride.
	Titus, when wert thou wont to walk alone,
	Dishonour'd thus, and challenged of wrongs?	345
[Re-enter MARCUS, LUCIUS, QUINTUS, and MARTIUS]
MARCUS ANDRONICUS	O Titus, see, O, see what thou hast done!
	In a bad quarrel slain a virtuous son.
TITUS ANDRONICUS	No, foolish tribune, no; no son of mine,
	Nor thou, nor these, confederates in the deed
	That hath dishonour'd all our family;	350
	Unworthy brother, and unworthy sons!
LUCIUS	But let us give him burial, as becomes;
	Give Mutius burial with our brethren.
TITUS ANDRONICUS	Traitors, away! he rests not in this tomb:
	This monument five hundred years hath stood,	355
	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 ANDRONICUS	My lord, this is impiety in you:	360
	My nephew Mutius' deeds do plead for him
	He must be buried with his brethren.
MARTIUS	And shall, or him we will accompany.
TITUS ANDRONICUS	'And shall!' what villain was it that spake
	that word?	365
QUINTUS	He that would vouch it in any place but here.
TITUS ANDRONICUS	What, would you bury him in my despite?
MARCUS ANDRONICUS	No, noble Titus, but entreat of thee
	To pardon Mutius and to bury him.
TITUS ANDRONICUS	Marcus, even thou hast struck upon my crest,	370
	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	Not I, till Mutius' bones be buried.	375
[MARCUS and the Sons of TITUS kneel]
MARCUS ANDRONICUS	Brother, for in that name doth nature plead,--
QUINTUS	Father, and in that name doth nature speak,--
TITUS ANDRONICUS	Speak thou no more, if all the rest will speed.
MARCUS ANDRONICUS	Renowned Titus, more than half my soul,--
LUCIUS	Dear father, soul and substance of us all,--	380
MARCUS ANDRONICUS	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	385
	That slew himself; and wise Laertes' son
	Did graciously plead for his funerals:
	Let not young Mutius, then, that was thy joy
	Be barr'd his entrance here.
TITUS ANDRONICUS	Rise, Marcus, rise.	390
	The dismall'st day is this that e'er I saw,
	To be dishonour'd by my sons in Rome!
	Well, bury him, and bury me the next.
[MUTIUS is put into the tomb]
LUCIUS	There lie thy bones, sweet Mutius, with thy friends,
	Till we with trophies do adorn thy tomb.	395
All	[Kneeling] No man shed tears for noble Mutius;
	He lives in fame that died in virtue's cause.
MARCUS ANDRONICUS	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?	400
TITUS ANDRONICUS	I know not, Marcus; but I know it is,
	Whether by device or no, the heavens can tell:
	Is she not then beholding to the man
	That brought her for this high good turn so far?
	Yes, and will nobly him remunerate.	405
[ Flourish. Re-enter, from one side, SATURNINUS attended, TAMORA, DEMETRIUS, CHIRON and AARON; from the other, BASSIANUS, LAVINIA, and others ]
SATURNINUS	So, Bassianus, you have play'd your prize:
	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.
SATURNINUS	Traitor, if Rome have law or we have power,	410
	Thou and thy faction shall repent this rape.
BASSIANUS	Rape, call you it, my lord, to seize my own,
	My truth-betrothed love and now my wife?
	But let the laws of Rome determine all;
	Meanwhile I am possess'd of that is mine.	415
SATURNINUS	'Tis good, sir: you are very short with us;
	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:	420
	By all the duties that I owe to Rome,
	This noble gentleman, Lord Titus here,
	Is in opinion and in honour wrong'd;
	That in the rescue of Lavinia
	With his own hand did slay his youngest son,	425
	In zeal to you and highly moved to wrath
	To be controll'd in that he frankly gave:
	Receive him, then, to favor, Saturnine,
	That hath express'd himself in all his deeds
	A father and a friend to thee and Rome.	430
TITUS ANDRONICUS	Prince Bassianus, leave to plead my deeds:
	'Tis thou and those that have dishonour'd me.
	Rome and the righteous heavens be my judge,
	How I have loved and honour'd Saturnine!
TAMORA	My worthy lord, if ever Tamora	435
	Were gracious in those princely eyes of thine,
	Then hear me speak in indifferently for all;
	And at my suit, sweet, pardon what is past.
SATURNINUS	What, madam! be dishonour'd openly,
	And basely put it up without revenge?	440
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:	445
	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;	450
	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,	455
	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,	460
	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	465
	That dies in tempest of thy angry frown.
SATURNINUS	Rise, Titus, rise; my empress hath prevail'd.
TITUS ANDRONICUS	I thank your majesty, and her, my lord:
	These words, these looks, infuse new life in me.
TAMORA	Titus, I am incorporate in Rome,	470
	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.	475
	For you, Prince Bassianus, I have pass'd
	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,	480
	You shall ask pardon of his majesty.
LUCIUS	We do, and vow to heaven and to his highness,
	That what we did was mildly as we might,
	Tendering our sister's honour and our own.
MARCUS ANDRONICUS	That, on mine honour, here I do protest.	485
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: sweet heart, look back.
SATURNINUS	Marcus, for thy sake and thy brother's here,	490
	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 sure as death I swore
	I would not part a bachelor from the priest.	495
	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 ANDRONICUS	To-morrow, an it please your majesty
	To hunt the panther and the hart with me,	500
	With horn and hound we'll give your grace bonjour.
SATURNINUS	Be it so, Titus, and gramercy too.
[Flourish. Exeunt]

Titus Andronicus, Act 2, Scene 1