Page 2118 - Shakespeare - Vol. 1
P. 2118
Titus, thou shalt obtain and ask the empery.
SAT URNINUS
Proud and ambitious tribune, canst thou tell?
T IT US
Patience, Prince Saturninus.
SAT URNINUS
Romans, do me right.
Patricians, draw your swords and sheathe them not
Till Saturninus be Rome’s emperor.
Andronicus, would thou were shipped 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!
T IT US
Content thee, prince, I will restore to thee [210]
The people’s hearts, and wean them from themselves.
BASSIANUS
Andronicus, I do not flatter thee,
But honour 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 honourable meed.
T IT US
People of Rome, and people’s tribunes here,
I ask your voices and your suffrages:
Will ye bestow them friendly on Andronicus?
T RIBUNES
To gratify the good Andronicus, [220]
And gratulate his safe return to Rome,
The people will accept whom he admits.
