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.

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.

TITUS

Prince Bassianus, leave to plead my deeds.

‘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!

TAMORA (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.

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 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)

I thank your majesty and her, my lord,

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.

⌈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.

MARCUS ⌈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.

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!

Marcus, Bassianus, 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.

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.

SATURNINUS

Be it so, Titus, and gramercy, too. ⌈Flourish. Exeunt⌉

2.1 ⌈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