Dramatis Perfonæ.

Saturninus, Son to the late Emperor of Rome, and after

wards declared Emperor himself.

Baffianus, Brother to Saturninus, in Love with Lavinia. Titus Andronicus, a Noble Roman, General against

the Goths.

Marcus Andronicus, Tribune of the People, and Brother

to Titus.

Marcus,
Quintus,
Lucius,

Mutinus,

}

Sons to Titus Andronicus.

Young Lucius, a Boy, Son to Lucius.

Publius, Son to Marcus the Tribune, and Nephew to

Titus Andronicus.

Tamora, Queen of the Goths, and afterwards married to

Saturninus.

Lavinia, Daughter to Titus Andronicus.

Nurse, with a Black-a-moor Child.

Senators, Judges, Officers, Soldiers, and other Attendants,

SCENE, Rome; and the Country near it.

TITUS ANDRONICUS.

ACT I. SCENE I.

Before the Capitol in ROME.

Enter the Tribunes and Senators aloft, as in the Senate. Enter Saturninus and his followers, at one door; and Baffianus and his followers, at the other, with Drum and Colours.

N

SATURNINUS.

OBLE Patricians, Patrons of my Right,
Defend the justice of my Cause with arms :

And Countrymen, my loving followers,
Plead my fuccessive title with your fwords.
I am the first-born Son of him, that last
Wore the imperial Diadem of Rome :
Then let my father's honours live in me,
Nor wrong mine age with this indignity.

Baf. Romans, friends, follwers, favourers of my

Right,

If ever Baffianus, Cæfar's fon,
Were gracious in the eyes of royal Rome,
Keep then this passage to the Capitol;
And fuffer not dishonour to approach
Th' imperial Seat, to virtue confecrate,
To justice, continence, and nobility :
But let Defert 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, Ambitioufly for Rule and Empery!

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Know

Know, that the people of Rome, for whom we ftand
A special party, have by common voice,
In election for the Romon Empery,
Chosen Andronicus, fur-named Pius, au
For many good and great deferts to Rome.
À nobler man, a braver warrior,
Lives not this day within our city-walls.
He by the Senate is accited home,
From weary wars against the barb'rous Goths;
That with his fons (a terror to our foes)
Hath yoak'd a nation strong, train'd up in arms.
Ten Years are spent, since first he undertook
This Cause of Rome, and chastised with arms
Our enemies' pride. Five times he hath return'd
Bleeding to Rome, bearing his valiant fons
In coffins from the field.

And now at last laden with honour's Spoils,
Returns the good Andronicus to Rome,
Renowned Titus, flourishing in arms.
Let us intreat, by honour of his Name,
Whom (worthily) you would have now succeed,
And in the Capitol and Senate's Right,
Whom you pretend to honour and adore,
That you withdraw you, and abate your strength;
Dismiss your followers, and, as fuitors should,
Plead your deferts in peace and humbleness,

Sat. How fair the Tribune speaks, to calm my
Baf. Marcus Andronicus, fo I do affy.
(thoughts!

In thy uprightness and integrity,

And fo I love and honour thee and thine;
Thy noble brother Titus, and his fons,
And her to whom our 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 ballance to be weigh'd.

[Exeunt Soldiers.

Sat.

Sat. 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 Caufe:
Rome, be as just and gracious unto me,
As I am confident and kind to thee.

Open the gates, and let me in.

Baf. Tribunes, and Me, a poor Competitor.

Cap.

[They go up into the Senate-house.

ROMANS, make way: the good Andronicus,

Patron of virtue, Rome's best champion,

Successful in the battels 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.

Sound Drums and Trumpets, and then enter Mutius and Marcus: after them, two men bearing a coffin cover'd with black; then Quintus and Lucius. After them, Titus Andronicus; and then Tamora, the Queen of Goths, Alarbus, Chiron, and Demetrius, with Aaron the Moor, prisoners; foldiers, and other attendants. They fet down the coffin, and Titus Speaks.

Tit. Hail, Rome, victorious in my mourning weed! Lo, as the Bark, that hath discharg'd her freight, Returns with precious lading to the bay, From whence at first she weigh'd her anchorage; Cometh Andronicus with laurel boughs, To re-falute his Country with his tears; Tears of true joy for his return to Rome. Thou great Defender of this Capitol, Stand gracious to the Rites that we intend! Romans, of five and twenty valiant fons,

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Half

Half of the number that King Priam had,
Behold the poor Remains, alive and dead!
These, that furvive, let Rome reward with love;
These, that I bring unto their latest home,
With burial among their Ancestors.

Here Goths have given me leave to sheath my fword:
Titus, unkind, and careless of thine own,
Why fuffer'st thou thy Sons, unburied yet,
To hover on the dreadful fhore of Styx?
Make way to lay them by their brethren.

[They open the Tomb.

There greet in filence, as the dead are wont,
And fleep in peace, flain in your country's wars:
O facred receptacle of my joys,
Sweet cell of virtue and nobility,

How many fons of mine haft thou in store;
That thou wilt never render to me more?

Luc. Give us the proudest prisoner of the Goths,
That we may hew his limbs, and on a pile,
Ad manes Fratrum sacrifice his flesh,
Before this earthly prison of their bones:
That so the shadows be not unappeas'd,
Nor we disturb'd with prodigies on earth.
Tit. I give him you, the nobleft that survives:
The eldest fon of this diftreffed Queen..

Tam. Stay, Roman brethren, gracious Conqueror, Victorious Titus, rue the tears I shed, A mother's tears in paffion for her fon: And, if thy fons were ever dear to thee, O, think my fons to be as dear to me. Sufficeth not that we are brought to Rome, To beautify thy Triumphs and Return, Captive to thee and to thy Roman yoke? But must my fons be slaughter'd in the streets, For valiant doings in their country's cause ?O! if to fight for King and Common-weal Were Piety in thine, it is in these :

Andronicus, flain not thy tomb with blood.

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