Ford. And one that is as slanderous as Satan? | of your purpose; turned my daughter into greu Page. And as poor as Job? Ford. And as wicked as his wife? Eva. And given to fornications, and to taverns, and sack, and wine, and metheglins, and to drinkings, and swearings, and starings, pribbles and prabbles? Fal. Well, I am your theme: you have the start of me; I am dejected; I am not able to answer the Welch flannel; ignorance itself is a plummet o'e me; use me as you will. Ford. Marry, sir, we'll bring you to Windsor, to one master Brook, that you have cozened of money, to whom you should have been a pander: over and above that you have suffered, I think, to repay that money will be a biting affliction. Mrs. F. Nay, husband, let that go to make amends: Forgive that sum, and so we'll all be friends. Ford. Well, here's my hand; all's forgiven at last. Page. Yet be cheerful, knight: thou shalt eat a posset to-night at my house; where I will desire thee to laugh at my wife, that now laughs at thee: tell her, master Slender hath married her daughter. Mrs. P. Doctors doubt that: If Anne Page be my daughter, she is, by this, doctor Caius' wife. Enter Slender. [aside. Slen. Whoo, ho! ho! father Page! Page. Son! how now? how now, son? have you despatched? Slen. Despatched! I'll make the best in Gloces tershire know on't; would I were hanged, la, else. Page. Of what, son? Slen. I came yonder at Eton to marry mistress Anne Page, and she's a great lubberly boy: if it had not been i'the church, I would have swinged him, or he should have swinged me. If I did not think it had been Anne Page, would I might never stir, and 'tis a post-master's boy. Page. Upon my life then you took the wrong. Slen. What need you tell me that? I think so, when I took a boy for a girl: If I had been married to him, for all he was in woman's apparel, I would not have had him. Page. Why, this is your own folly. Did not I tell you, how you should know my daughter by her garments. Slen. I went to her in white, and cry'd mum, and the cry'd budget, as Anne and I had appointed; and yet it was not Anne, but a post-master's boy. Eva. Jeshu! master Slender, cannot you see bat marry boys? L'age. O, I am vexed at heart: what shall I do? Mre P. Good George, be not angry: I knew and, indeed, she is now with the doctor at the deanery, and there married. Enter Caius. Caius. Vere is mistress Page? by gar, I am cozened; I ha' married un garçon, a boy; un paisan, by gar, a boy; it is not Anne Page: by gar, I am cozened. Mrs. P. Why, did you take her in green? Caius. Ay, be gar, and 'tis a boy be gar, I'l raise all Windsor. [exit Caius. Ford. This is strange: who hath got the right Anne? Page. My heart misgives me: Here comes master Fenton. Enter Fenton and Anne Page. How now, master Fenton? Anne. Pardon, good father, good my mother, pardon' Page. Now, inistress? how chance you went not with master Slender? Mrs. P. Why went you not with master doctor, maid? Fent. You do amaze her: hear the truth of it. You would have married her most shamefully, Where there was no proportion held in love. The truth is, she and I, long since contracted, Are now so sure, that nothing can dissolve us. The offence is holy, that she hath committed: And this deceit loses the name of craft. Of disobedience, or unduteous title; Since therein she doth evitate and shun A thousand irreligious cursed hours, Which forced marriage would have brought upo her. Ford. Stand not amaz'd: here is no remedy:In love the heavens themselves do guide the state; Money buys lands, and wives are sold by fate. Fal. I am glad, though you have ta’en a special stand to strike at me, that your arrow hath glanced. Page. Well, what remedy? Fenton, heaven give thee joy! What cannot be eschew'd, must be embrac'd. Fal. When night-dogs run, all sorts of deer are chas'd. Eva. I will dance and eat plums at your wedding. Mrs. P. Well, I will muse no further :-Mas ter Fenton, Heaven give you many, many merry days! Ford. Let it be so:- Returns the good Andronicus to Rome, Sat. NOBLE patricians, patrons of my right, Defend the justice of my cause with arms; And, countrymen, my loving followers, Plead my successive title with your swords: I am his first-born son, that was the last That wore the imperial diadem of Rome; Then let my father's honours live in me, Nor wrong mine age with this indignity. Bas. Romans,-friends, followers, favourers of If ever Bassianus, Cæsar's son, [my right, Were gracious in the eyes of royal Rome, Keep then this passage to the capitol; And suffer not dishonour to approach The imperial seat, to virtue consecrate, To justice, continence, and nobility: But let desert in pure election shine; And, Romans, fight for freedom in your choice. Enter Marcus Andronicus, aloft, with the crown. Mar. Princes, that strive by factions, and by friends, Ambitiously for rule and empery,— Know, that the people of Rome, for whom we stand And now, at last, laden with honour's spoils, Sat. How fair the tribune speaks to calm ing thoughts! Bas. Marcus Andronicus; so I do affy In thy uprightness and integrity, And so I love and honour thee and thine, Thy noble brother Titus, and his sons, And her, to whom my thoughts are humbled all, Gracious Lavinia, Rome's rich ornament, That I will here dismiss my loving friends; And to my fortunes, and the people's favour, Commit my cause in balance to be weigh'd. [er. Foll. Sat. Friends, that have been thus forward in I thank you all, and here dismiss you all; [my right, And to the love and favour of my country Commit myself, my person, and the cause. [cx. Foll. Rome, be as just and gracious unto me, As I am confident and kind to thee.Open the gates, and let me in. Bas. Tribunes! and me, a poor competitor [Sat. and Bas. go into the capitol; with Senators,&c SCENE II. THE SAME. Enter a Captain, and others. Cap. Romans, make way: the good Andronicus, Patron of virtue, Rome's best champion, Successful in the battles that he fights, With honour and with fortune is return'd, From whence he circumscribed with his sword, And brought to yoke, the enemies of Rome. Flourish of trumpets, &c. Enter Mutius and Mar tius: after them, two men bearing a coffin, covered with black; then Quintus and Lucius. After them Titus Andronicus; and then Tamora, wuh Alarbus, Chiron, Demetrius, Aaron, and other Goths, prisoners; Soldiers and people following. The bearers set down the coffin, and Titus speaks. Tit. Hail, Rome, victorious in thy mourning | Alarbus goes to rest; and we survive weeds! To tremble under 'fit us' threat'ning look. Lo, as the bark, that hath discharg'd her fraught, | Then, madam, stand resolv'd; but hope withal, The self-same gods, that arm'd the queen of Troy [tomb opened. There greet in silence, as the dead are wont, How many sons of mine hast thou in store, Luc. Give us the proudest prisoner of the Goths, [queror, Tam. Stay, Roman brethren;-Gracious con- To this your son is mark'd; and die he must, Chi. Was ever Scythia half so barbarons? Luc. See, lord and father, how we have perform'd [trumpets sounded, and the coffin laid in the tomb. In peace and honour rest you here, my sons! I render, for my brethren's obsequies; Tit. Kind Rome, that hast thus lovingly reserv'd Mar. Long live lord Titus, my beloved brother, Tit. Thanks, gentle tribune, noble brother Mar. And welcome, nephews, from successful And set abroad new business for you all? Luc. Proud Saturnine, interrupter of the good That noble-minded Titus means to thee! Tit. Content thee, prince; I will restore to thee The people's hearts, and wean them from themBas. Andronicus, I do not flatter thee, [selves. But honour thee, and will do, till I die; My faction, if thou strengthen with thy friends, Tit. People of Rome, and people's tribunes here, Tit. Tribunes, I thank you: and this suit I I give thee thanks in part of thy deserts, Sat. Thanks, noble Titus, father of my life! The least of these unspeakable deserts, Romans, forget your fealty to me. peror; Tit. Now, madam, are you prisoner to an er [to Tamore. To him, that, for your honour and your state, Will use you nobly, and your followers. Sat. A goodly lady, trust me; of the hue Thou com'st not to be made a scorn in Rome: Lav. Not I, my lord; sith true nobility Sat. Thanks, sweet Lavinia.-Romans, let us Ramsomless here we set our prisoners free: [go; Proclaim our honours, lords, with trump and drum. Bas. Lord Titus, by your leave, this maid is mine. [seizing Lavinia. Tit. How, sir? Are you in earnest then, my lord? Bas. Ay, noble Titus; and resolv'd withal, To do myself this reason and this right. [the emperor courts Tamora in dumb show. Mar. Suum cuique is our Roman justice: This prince in justice seizeth but his own. Luc. And that he will, and shall, if Lucius live. [guard: Tit. Traitors, avaunt! Where is the emperor's Treason, my lord; Lavinia is surpris'd. Sut. Surpris'd! by whom? Bas. By him that justly may Bear his betroth'd from all the world away. [exeunt Marcus and Bassianus, with Lavinia. Mut. Brothers, help to convey her hence away, And with my sword I'll keep this door safe. [exeunt Lucius, Quintus, and Martius. Tit. Follow, my lord, and I'll soon bring her Mut. My lord, you pass not here. [back. Tit. What, villain boy! Barr'st me my way in Rome? [Titus kills Mutius. Mut. Help, Lucius, help. Re-enter Lucius. Luc. My lord, you are unjust: and, more than In wrongful quarrel you have slain your son. Tit. Nor thou, nor he, are any sons of mine. My sons would never so dishonour me: Traitor, restore Lavinia to the emperor. Luc. Dead, if you will; but not to be his wife, That is another's lawful promis'd love. + 'rit. Sat. No, Titus, no; the emperor needs her not, Not 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 of, But Saturnine? Full well, Andronicus, Agree these deeds with that proud brag of the, That said'st, I begg'd the empire at thy hands. Tit. O monstrous! what reproachful words are these? Sat. But go thy ways; go, give that changing My foes I do repute you every one; piece To him that flourished for her with his sword: Tit. These words are razors to my wounded Sat. And therefore, lovely Tamora, queen of Or climb my palace, till from forth this place So trouble me no more, but get you goue. Mart. He is not with himself; let us withdraw. Quin. Not I, till Mutius' bones be buried. [Marcus and the Sons of Titus kncel. Mar. Brother, for in that name doth nature plead. [speak. Quin. Father, and in that name doth nature Mar. Suffer thy brother Marcus to inter Tit. Rise, Marcus, rise: Tam. And here, in sight of heaven, to Rome I The dismall'st day is this, that e'er I saw, swear, If Saturnine advance the queen of Goths, Sat. Ascend, fair queen, Pantheon:-Lords, acYour noble emperor, and his lovely bride [company Sent by the heavens for prince Saturnine, Whose wisdom hath her fortune conquered : There shall we consummate our spousal rites. [exeunt Saturninus, and his followers, Tamora, and her Sons, Aaron, and Goths. Tit. I am not bid to wait upon this bride; Titus, when wert thou wont to walk alone, Dishonour'd thus, and challenged of wrongs? Re-enter Marcus, Lucius, Quintus, and Martius. Mar. O, Titus, see, O, see what thou hast doen! In a bad quarrel slain a virtuous son. Tit. No, foolish tribune, no; no son of mine,Nor thou, nor these, confederates in the deed That hath dishonour'd all our family: Unworthy brother, and unworthy sons! Luc. But let us give him burial, as becomes; Give Mutius burial with our brethren. Tit. 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, To be dishonour'd by my sons in Rome!- [Mutius is put into the tomb Luc. There lie thy bones, sweet Mutius, with thy friends, Till we with trophies do adorn thy tomb ;— All. No man shed tears for noble Mutius: He lives in fame, that died in virtue's cause. Mar. My lord,-to step out of these dreary dumps. How comes it, that the subtle queen of Goths Tit. I know not, Marcus: but I know, it is: Sat. So, Bassianus, you have play'd your prize; God give you joy, sir, of your gallant bride. Bas. 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. Bas. 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 possess'd 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. Bas. My lord, what I have done, as best I may Answer I must, and shall do, with my life. Only this 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 slay his youngest son, In zeal to you, and highly mov'd to wrath |