Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Not Peer Reviewed

Titus Andronicus (Quarto 1, 1594)

The most Lamentable Tragedie
That brought her for this high good turne so farre.

445 Enter the Emperour, Tamora
and her two sonnes, with the
Moore at one doore.
Enter at the other doore
Bascianus and Lauinia,
with others.

Saturnine. So Bascianus, you haue plaid your prize,
God giue you ioy sir of your gallant Bride.
450Bascianus. And you of yours my Lord, I say no more,
Nor wish no lesse, and so I take my leaue.
Saturnine. Traitor, if Rome haue law, or we haue power,
Thou and thy faction shall repent this Rape.
Bassianus. Rape call you it my Lord to ceaze my owne,
455My true betrothed loue, and now my wife:
But let the lawes of Rome determine all,
Meanewhile am I possest of that is mine.
Saturnine. Tis good sir, you are verie short with vs.
But if we liue, weele be as sharpe with you.
460Bascianus. My Lord what I haue done as best I may,
Answere I must, and shall doo with my life,
Onely thus much I giue your Grace to know,
By all the dueties that I owe to Rome,
This Noble Gentleman Lord Titus here,
465Is in opinion and in honour wrongd,
That in the rescue of Lauinia,
With his owne hand did slay his youngest sonne,
In zeale to you, and highly moude to wrath,
To be controwld in that he frankelie gaue.
470Receaue him then to fauour Saturnine,
That hath exprest himselfe in all his deeds,
A father and a friend to thee and Rome.
Titus. Prince Bascianus leaue to pleade my deeds,
Tis thou, and those, that haue dishonoured me,
475Rome and the righteous heauens be my iudge,
How I haue loude and honoured Saturnine.
Tamora,