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！
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；
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 reconcil'd your friends and you。 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； 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； Tend'ring our sister's honour and our
own。 MARCUS。 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。 Sweet heart； look back。 SATURNINUS。
Marcus； for thy sake； and thy brother's here； And at my lovely Tamora's
12
… Page 13…
TITUS ANDRONICUS
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。 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。 To…morrow； and 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。 Exeunt。 Sound trumpets
13
… Page 14…
TITUS ANDRONICUS
ACT II。
14
… Page 15…
TITUS ANDRONICUS
SCENE I。 Rome。 Before the palace
Enter AARON
AARON。 Now climbeth Tamora Olympus' top； Safe out of Fortune's
shot； and sits aloft； Secure of thunder's crack or lightning flash； Advanc'd
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
glistening 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； fett'red 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 emperess。 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。 Hullo！ 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 grac'd； And may； for aught thou knowest；
affected be。 CHIRON。 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 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； unadvis'd； 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