And entrails feed the sacrificing fire,

Whose smoke, like incense, doth perfume the sky.
Remaineth naught, but to inter our brethren,
And with loud 'larums welcome them to Rome.
Tit. Let it be so, and let Andronicus
Make this his latest farewell to their souls.

[trumpets sounded, and the coffins laid in the tomb. In peace and honor rest you here, my sons; "Rome's readiest champions, repose you here in

rest,

"Secure from worldly chances and mishaps! "Here lurks no treason, here no envy swells, "Here grow no damned grudges; here are no

storms,

"No noise, but silence and eternal sleep :

In

Enter LAVINIA.

peace and honor rest you here, my sons!
Lav. In peace and honor live lord Titus long ;
My noble lord and father, live in fame!
Lo! at this tomb my tributary tears
I render, for my brethren's obsequies;
And at thy feet I kneel, with tears of joy
Shed on the earth, for thy return to Rome.
O, bless me here with thy victorious hand,
Whose fortunes Rome's best citizens applaud.

Tit. Kind Rome, that hast thus lovingly reserved

The cordial of mine age to glad my heart'—

Lavinia, live; outlive thy father's days,

And fame's eternal date, for virtue's praise!

Enter MARCUS ANDRONICUS, SATURNINUS, BASSIANUS, and others.

Mar. Long live lord Titus, my beloved brother, Gracious triumpher in the eyes of Rome!

Tit. Thanks, gentle tribune, noble brother Marcus. Mar. And welcome, nephews, from successful

wars,

You that survive, and you that sleep in fame.
Fair lords, your fortunes are alike in all,
That in your country's service drew your swords:
But safer triumph is this funeral pomp,
That hath aspired to Solon's happiness,
And triumphs over chance, in honor's bed.2
Titus Andronicus, the people of Rome,
Whose friend in justice thou hast ever been,
Send thee by me, their tribune, and their trust,
This palliament of white and spotless hue;
And name thee in election for the empire,
With these our late-deceased emperor's sons.
Be candidatus then, and put it on,
And help to set a head on headless Rome.

Tit. A better head her glorious body fits,
Than his, that shakes for age and feebleness.

'i. e. he wishes that her life may be longer than his, and her praise longer than fame.'-Johnson.

2 The maxim of Solon here alluded to is, that no man can be pronounced happy before his death. 3 Robe.

What! should I don1 this robe, and trouble you?
Be chosen with proclamations to-day;
To-morrow, yield up rule, resign my life,
And set abroad new business for you all?
Rome, I have been thy soldier forty years,
And led my country's strength successfully;
And buried one and twenty valiant sons,
Knighted in field, slain manfully in arms,
In right and service of their noble country.
Give me a staff of honor for mine age,
But not a sceptre to control the world.
Upright he held it, lords, that held it last.

Mar. Titus, thou shalt obtain and ask the em

pery.

Sat. Proud and ambitious tribune, canst thou

tell?

Tit. Patience, prince Saturnine.

Sat.

Romans, do me right: Patricians, draw your swords, and sheathe them not Till Saturninus be Rome's emperor.

Andronicus, would thou wert shipp'd to hell,
Rather than rob me of the people's hearts.

Lucius. 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 them

selves.

Bas. Andronicus, I do not flatter thee,

Put on.

But honor thee, and will do till I die.

My faction if thou strengthen with thy friends,
I will most thankful be; and thanks, to men

Of noble minds, is honorable meed.

Tit. People of Rome, and people's tribunes here, I ask your voices and your suffrages;

Will you bestow them friendly on Andronicus ?
Tri. To gratify the good Andronicus,

And gratulate his safe return to Rome,
The people will accept whom he admits.

Tit. Tribunes, I thank you: and this suit I

make;

That you create your emperor's eldest son,
Lord Saturnine; whose virtues will, I hope,
Reflect on Rome, as Titan's 1 rays on earth,
And ripen justice in this commonweal.

Then if you will elect by my advice,

Crown him, and say,- Long live our emperor!
Mar. With voices and applause of every sort,
Patricians and plebeians, we create

Lord Saturninus Rome's great emperor;

And say,- Long live our emperor Saturnine!'

[a long florish.

Sat. Titus Andronicus, for thy favors 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

1 The sun's.

Thy name and honorable family,

Lavinia will I make my emperess,

Rome's royal mistress, mistress of my heart,
And in the sacred Pantheon her espouse.

Tell me, Andronicus, doth this motion please thee?
Tit. It doth, my worthy lord; and, in this match,
I hold me highly honor'd of your grace:
And here, in sight of Rome, to Saturnine,—
King and commander of our commonweal,
The wide world's emperor,—do I consecrate
My sword, my chariot, and my prisoners;
Presents well worthy Rome's imperial lord.
Receive them then, the tribute that I owe,
Mine honor's ensigns humbled at thy feet.

Sat. 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.

Tit. Now, madam, are you prisoner to an em

peror;

[to Tamora. To him, that for your honor and your state, Will use you nobly, and your followers.

Sat. 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,1

J Countenance.