Page 2127 - Shakespeare - Vol. 1

Thou and thy faction shall repent this rape.

BASSIANUS

Rape call you it, my lord, to seize my own,
My true-betrothèd love, and now my wife?
But let the laws of Rome determine all;
Meanwhile am I possessed of that is mine.

SAT URNINUS

’Tis good, sir; you are very short with us,
But if we live we’ll be as sharp with you. [410]

BASSIANUS

My lord, what I have done, as best I may
Answer I must, and shall do with my life.
Only thus much I give your grace to know:
By all the duties that I owe to Rome,
This noble gentleman, Lord Titus here,
Is in opinion and in honour wronged,
That, in the rescue of Lavinia,
With his own hand did slay his youngest son,
In zeal to you, and highly moved to wrath
To be controlled in that he frankly gave, [420]
Receive him then to favour, Saturnine,
that hath expressed himself in all his deeds
A father and a friend to thee and Rome.

T IT US

Prince Bassianus leave to plead my deeds;
’Tis thou and those that have dishonoured me.
Rome and the righteous heavens be my judge
How I have loved and honoured Saturnine.

T AMORA

My worthy lord, if ever Tamora
Were gracious in those princely eyes of thine,
Then hear me speak indifferently for all; [430]
And at my suit, sweet, pardon what is past.

SAT URNINUS