"Till we with trophies do adorn thy tomb!

[They all kneel, and say ; No man shed tears for noble Mutius ; He lives in fame, that died in virtue's cause.

Mar. My Lord, to step out of thele dreary dumps, How comes it, that the subtle. Queen of Goths Is of a sudden thus advanc'd in Rome ?

Tit. I know not, Marcus; but I know it is: If by device or no, the heav'ns can tell: Is she not then beholden to the man, That brought her for this high good turn fo far? Yes; and will nobly him remunerate. Flourish. Re-enter the Emperor, Tamora, Chiron, and

Demetrius, with Aaron the Moor, at one docr. At the other door, Baffianus and Lavinia with others.

Sat. So, Baffianus, you have plaid your prize; God give you joy, Sir, of your gallant bride,

Bol. And you of yours, my Lord; I say no more, Nor wish no less, and so I take

my

leave. Sat. Traitor, if Rome have law, or we have power, Thou and thy faction shall repent

this

rape. Baf. 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; Mean while I am pofleft of that is mine.

Sat. 'Tis good, Sir; you are very short with us. But, if we live, we'll be as sharp with you.

Bef. My Lord, what I have done, as best I may, Answer I must, and shall do with

my
Only thus much I give your Grace to know,
By all the duties which 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 lay his youngest son,
In zeal to you, and highly mov'd to wrath
To be contrould in that he frankly gave;
Receive him then to favour, Saturnine;
That hath expreft himself in all his deeds

A

life;

A father and a friend to thee, and Rome.

Tit. Prince Bafianus, 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 lov'd and honour'd Saturnine:

Tam. My worthy Lord, if ever Tamora Were gracious in those princely eyes of thine, Then hear me speak, indifferently, for all; Apd at my fait (sweet) pardon what is past.

Sat. What, Madam! be dishonour'd openly, And barely put it up without revenge?

Tam. Not so, my Lord; the gods of Rome fore-fend, 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 fuit, look graciously on him, Lose not so noble a friend on vain suppose, Nor with four looks afflict his gentle heart.My Lord, be rul'd by me, be won at last, Diffemble all your griefs and discontents : You are but newly planted in your throne; Left then the people and patricians too, Upon a juft survey, take Titus' part; And fo supplant us for ingratitude, Which Rome reputes to be a hainous fin, Yield at intreats, and then let me alone;

} [Afide. I'll find a day to massacre them all, And raze their faction, and their family, The cruel father, and his traiterous fons, To whom I fued 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.-) Come, come, sweet Emperor, --come, Andronicus Take up this good old man, and chear the heart, 'That dies in tempest of thy angry frown.

Sat. Rife, Titus, rife; my Empress hath prevaild. Tit. I thank your majesty, and her; my Lord, Thele 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;
And let it be my honour, good my Lord,
That I have reconcild your friends and you.
For you, Prince Ballianus, 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 ask pardon of his majesty.

Luc. We do, and vow to heaven and to his Highness,
That what we did was mildly, as we might,
Tendring our sister's honour and our own.

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

T'am. 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 intreats,
I do remit these young men's hainous faults,
Lavinia, though you left me like a churl,

I found a friend;' and, sure as death, I fwore,
I would not part a batchelor 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.

ACT

NS

AARON.
OW climbeth Tamora Olympus' top, (8)

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 sun salutes the morn,
And, having gilt the ocean with his beams,
Gallops the Zodiack in his glistring coach,
And over-looks the highest-peering hills :
So Tamora.
Upon her wit doth earthly honour wait, (9)
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 prisoner held, fetter'd in amorous chains;
And fafter bound to Aaron's charming eyes,
Than is Prometheus ty'd to Caucasus.

(8) Now climbetb Tamora Olympus' top, Safe out of fortune's foot; aud fits aloft, Sécure of tbunder's crack, or lightning Hajh ;]

The images here seem to be borrow'd from Claudian's description of the summit of Olympus, in his poem on Mallius Theodorus's consulhip.

ut altıs Olympi
Vertex, qui fpatio ventos bienesque relinquit,
Perpetuum nulla temeratus nube ferenum,
Celfior exurgit plaviis, auditque ruentes

Sub pedibus nimbos, & rauca tonitrua calcar. Mr. Warburton, (9) Upon ber wit doth early bonour wait,] I don't know for what reason, or whether by chance, Mr. Rorve and Mr. Pope adopted this reading: I have restor'd with all the old copies, cartbly.

Away

K 3

Away with flavish weeds, and idle thoughts,
I will be bright and shine in pearl and gold,
To wait upon this new-made Emperefs.
To wait, iaid I to wanton with this Queen,
This goddess, this Semiramis; --this Queen,
This Syren, that will charm Rome's Saturnine,
And see his fipwrack, and his common-weal's.
Holla! what storm is this?

Enter Chiron and Demetrius, braving.
Dem. Chiron, thy years want wit, thy wit wants edge
Arid manners, to intrude where I am grac'd;
And may, for ought thou know'ft, affected be.

Chi. Demetrius, thou dost over-ween 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 fe:ve, and to deserve

iny
mistress'

grace ; And that my sword upon thee fall approve, And plead my paffion 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, so desperate grown to threat your

friends? Go to; have your lath glued within your sheath, Till you

know better how to handle it. Chi. Mean while, Sir, with the little kill I have, Full well shalt thou perceive how much I dare. Dem. Ay, boy, grow ye so brave?

[They draw. Aar. Why, how now, Lords? So near the Emp'ror'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, 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

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