按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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 there none else in Rome to make a stale But Saturnine？
Full well； Andronicus； Agree these deeds with that proud brag of thine
That saidst I begg'd 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 flourish'd 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 pleas'd with this my
sudden choice； Behold； I choose thee； Tamora； for my bride And will
create thee Emperess 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 espous'd 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。 SATURNINUS。 Ascend； fair Queen；
9
… Page 10…
TITUS ANDRONICUS
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。 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？
Re…enter MARCUS； and TITUS' SONS； LUCIUS； QUINTUS； and
MARTIUS
MARCUS。 O Titus； see； O； see what thou hast done！ 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！ LUCIUS。 But let us give
him burial； as becomes； Give Mutius burial with our bretheren。 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。 MARCUS。 My lord； this is
impiety in you。 My nephew Mutius' deeds do plead for him； He must be
buried with his bretheren。 QUINTUS & 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。 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。 MARTIUS。 He is not with himself； let us withdraw。
QUINTUS。 Not I； till Mutius' bones be buried。 ＇The BROTHER and the
SONS 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
10
… Page 11…
TITUS ANDRONICUS
not young Mutius； then； that was thy joy； Be barr'd his entrance here。
TITUS。 Rise； Marcus； rise； The dismal'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。
＇They put MUTIUS in the tomb＇ LUCIUS。 There lie thy bones； sweet
Mutius； with thy friends； Till we with trophies do adorn thy tomb。 ALL。
＇Kneeling＇ No man shed tears for noble Mutius； He lives in fame that died
in virtue's cause。 MARCUS。 My lord… to step out of these dreary dumps…
How comes it that the subtle Queen of Goths Is of a sudden thus advanc'd
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； beholding to the man That
brought her for this high good turn so far？ MARCUS。 Yes； and will nobly
him remunerate。
Flourish。 Re…enter the EMPEROR； TAMORA and her two SONS；
with the MOOR； at one door； at the other door； BASSIANUS and
LAVINIA； with 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； 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 possess'd 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。 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 wrong'd； That； in
the rescue of Lavinia； With his own hand did slay his youngest son； In zeal
to you； and highly mov'd to wrath To be controll'd in that he frankly gave。
Receive him then to favour； Saturnine； That hath express'd 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。 Rome and the righteous heavens be my judge How I
have lov'd and honoured Saturnine！ TAMORA。 My worthy lord； if ever
11
… Page 12…
TITUS ANDRONICUS
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。
SATURNINUS。 What； madam！ be dishonoured openly； 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 rul'd 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。… 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 prevail'd。
TITUS。 I thank your Majesty and her； my lord； These words； these looks；