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 . How fair the tribune speaks to calm my thoughts ! Friends , that have been thus forward in my right , I thank you all and here dismiss you all ; And to the love and favour of my country Commit myself , my person , and the cause . Rome , be as just and gracious unto me As I am confident and kind to thee .— Open the gates , tribunes , and let me in . Proud and ambitious tribune , canst thou tell ? Romans , do me right ;— Patricians , draw your swords , and sheathe them not Till Saturninus be Rome 's Emperor .— Andronicus , would thou were shipp 'd to hell Rather than rob me of the people 's hearts ! Titus Andronicus , for thy favours done To us in our election this day I give thee thanks in part of thy deserts , And will with deeds requite thy gentleness ; And for an onset , Titus , to advance Thy name and honourable family , Lavinia will I make my empress , Rome 's royal mistress , mistress of my heart , And in the sacred Pantheon her espouse : Tell me , Andronicus , doth this motion please thee ? Thanks , noble Titus , father of my life ! How proud I am of thee and of thy gifts Rome shall record ; and when I do forget The least of these unspeakable deserts , Romans , forget your fealty to me . A goodly lady , trust me ; of the hue That I would choose , were I to choose anew .— Clear up , fair queen , that cloudy countenance : Though chance of war hath wrought this change of cheer , Thou com'st not to be made a scorn in Rome : Princely shall be thy usage every way . Rest on my word , and let not discontent Daunt all your hopes : madam , he comforts you Can make you greater than the Queen of Goths .— Lavinia , you are not displeas 'd with this ? Thanks , sweet Lavinia .— Romans , let us go : Ransomless here we set our prisoners free : Proclaim our honours , lords , with trump and drum . Surpris 'd ! by whom ? 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 said'st I begg 'd the empire at thy hands . 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 . 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 empress 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 . Ascend , fair queen , 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 . So , Bassianus , you have play 'd your prize : God give you joy , sir , of your gallant bride ! Traitor , if Rome have law or we have power , Thou and thy faction shall repent this rape . ‘ Tis good , sir . You are very short with us ; But if we live we 'll be as sharp with you . What , madam ! be dishonoured openly , And basely put it up without revenge ? Rise , Titus , rise ; my empress hath prevail 'd . Away , and talk not ; trouble us no more . 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 .— 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 . Be it so , Titus , and gramercy too . And you have rung it lustily , my lord ; Somewhat too early for new-married ladies . Come on then , horse and chariots let us have , And to our sport .— Madam , now shall ye see Our Roman hunting . Along with me : I 'll see what hole is here , And what he is that now is leap 'd into it .— Say , who art thou that lately didst descend Into this gaping hollow of the earth ? My brother dead ! I know thou dost but jest : He and his lady both are at the lodge Upon the north side of this pleasant chase ; ‘ Tis not an hour since I left them there . Here , Tamora ; though griev 'd with killing grief . Now to the bottom dost thou search my wound ; Poor Bassianus here lies murdered . ‘ An if we miss to meet him handsomely ,— Sweet huntsman , Bassianus ‘ tis we mean ,— Do thou so much as dig the grave for him : Thou know'st our meaning . Look for thy reward Among the nettles at the elder-tree Which overshades the mouth of that same pit Where we decreed to bury Bassianus . Do this , and purchase us thy lasting friends . ’ O Tamora ! was ever heard the like ?— This is the pit and this the elder-tree :— Look , sirs , if you can find the huntsman out That should have murder 'd Bassianus here . Two of thy whelps , fell curs of bloody kind , Have here bereft my brother of his life .— Sirs , drag them from the pit unto the prison : There let them bide until we have devis 'd Some never-heard-of torturing pain for them . If it be prov 'd ! You see it is apparent .— Who found this letter ? Tamora , was it you ? Thou shalt not bail them : see thou follow me .— Some bring the murder 'd body , some the murderers : Let them not speak a word ,— the guilt is plain ; For , by my soul , were there worse end than death , That end upon them should be executed . Why , lords , what wrongs are these ! was ever seen An emperor in Rome thus overborne , Troubled , confronted thus ; and , for the extent Of legal justice , us 'd in such contempt ? My lords , you know , as know the mightful gods , However these disturbers of our peace Buzz in the people 's ears , there naught hath pass 'd But even with law , against the wilful sons Of old Andronicus . And what an if His sorrows have so overwhelm 'd his wits , Shall we be thus afflicted in his freaks , His fits , his frenzy , and his bitterness ? And now he writes to heaven for his redress : See , here 's to Jove , and this to Mercury ; This to Apollo ; this to the God of War ;— Sweet scrolls to fly about the streets of Rome ! What 's this but libelling against the senate , And blazoning our injustice everywhere ? A goodly humour , is it not , my lords ? As who would say , in Rome no justice were . But if I live , his feigned ecstasies Shall be no shelter to these outrages : But he and his shall know that justice lives In Saturninus ’ health ; whom , if she sleep , He 'll so awake as he in fury shall Cut off the proud'st conspirator that lives . Go take him away , and hang him presently . Despiteful and intolerable wrongs ! Shall I endure this monstrous villainy ? I know from whence this same device proceeds : May this be borne ,— as if his traitorous sons , That died by law for murder of our brother , Have by my means been butchered wrongfully ?— Go , drag the villain hither by the hair ; Nor age nor honour shall shape privilege .— For this proud mock I 'll be thy slaughter-man ; Sly frantic wretch , that holp'st to make me great , In hope thyself should govern Rome and me . What news with thee , Aemilius ? Is warlike Lucius general of the Goths ? These tidings nip me ; and I hang the head As flowers with frost , or grass beat down with storms : Ay , now begins our sorrows to approach : ‘ Tis he the common people love so much ; Myself hath often overheard them say ,— When I have walked like a private man ,— That Lucius ’ banishment was wrongfully , And they have wish 'd that Lucius were their emperor . Ay , but the citizens favour Lucius , And will revolt from me to succour him . But he will not entreat his son for us . Aemilius , do this message honourably : And if he stand on hostage for his safety , Bid him demand what pledge will please him best . Then go successantly , and plead to him . What , hath the firmament more suns than one ? Marcus , we will . Why art thou thus attir 'd , Andronicus ? It was , Andronicus . Because the girl should not survive her shame , And by her presence still renew his sorrows . What hast thou done , unnatural and unkind ? What , was she ravish 'd ? tell who did the deed . Go , fetch them hither to us presently . Die , frantic wretch , for this accursed deed !