DRAMATIS PERSONE. SATURNINUS, Son to the late Emperor of Rome, and afterwards declar'd Emperor himself. BASSIANUS, 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, LUCIUS, } Sons to Titus Andronicus. Young LUCIUS, a Boy, Son to Lucius. PUBLIUS, Son to Marcus Andronicus the Tribune. ALARBUS, CHIRON, AARON, a Moor, belov'd by Tamora. EMILIUS, a Roman. TAMORA, Queen of the Goths, and afterwards married to Saturninus. LAVINIA, Daughter to Titus Andronicus. A Nurfe with a black-a-moor Child. Senators, Judges, Officers, Soldiers, and other Attendants. SCENE Rome, and the Country near it. TITUS * TITUS ANDRONICUS. ACTI SCENE I. ROME. Enter the Tribunes and Senators aloft, as in the Senate, Enter Saturninus and his followers at one door, and Baffianus and bis followers at the other, with drum and colours, Sat. N O BLE Patricians, patrons of my right, Defend the juftice of my cause with arms: And countrymen my loving followers, Plead my fucceffive title with your fwords. Then let my father's honours live in me, Nor wrong mine age with this indignity. Baf. Romans, friends, foll'wers, favourers of my right; If ever Baffianus, Cefar's fon, Were gracious in the eyes of royal Rome, This is one of the Plays which ought not to be look'd upon to be of Shakespear's compofition. By giving it the credit of a few, of his lines inferted here and there he got the difcredit of writing the whole. But But let defert in pure election fhine; And, Romans, fight for freedom in your choice. Enter Marcus Andronicus aloft with the crown. Mar. Princes, that strive by factions and by friends, Ambitiously for rule and empery! Know that the people of Rome, for whom we stand From weary wars against the barb'rous Goths, Hath yoak'd a nation strong, train'd up in arms, And now at laft, laden with honour's fpoils, Whom you pretend to honour and adore, That you withdraw you, and abate your ftrength; Difmifs your followers, and as fuitors fhould, Plead your deferts in peace and humbleness. Sat. How fair the Tribune fpeaks, to calm my thoughts! Baf. Marcus Andronicus, fo I do affie In thy uprightness and integrity, And fo I love and honour thee and thine, And her to whom our thoughts are humbled all, Commit Commit my caufe in ballance to be weigh'd. [Exe. Soldiers Baf. Tribunes, and me, a poor competitor. [They go up into the Senate-bouse, SCENE II. Enter a Captain. Cap. Romans, make way: the good Andronicus, Patron of virtue, Rome's beft champion, Successful in the battels that he fights, With honour and with fortune is return'd From whence he circumfcribed with his sword, And brought to yoak the enemies of Rome. Sound drums and trumpets, and then enter Mutius and Maz cus: 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, prifoners; Soldiers, and other Attendants. They fet down the coffin, and Titus fpeaks. Tit. Hail, Rome, victorious in thy mourning weeds! Lo, as the bark that hath discharg'd her freight, Returns with precious lading to the bay, From whence at firft fhe 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, Half of the number that King Priam had, Behold the poor remains alive and dead! These that furvive, let Rome reward with love Thefe that I bring unto their latest home, With burial among their ancestors, Here Here Goths have given me leave to fheath my fword: Make way to lay them by their brethren. [They open the tomb. And fleep in peace, flain in your country's wars: Sweet cell of virtue and nobility, How many fons of mine haft thou in ftore, Tam. Stay, Roman brethren, gracious conqueror, A mother's tears in paffion for her fon: Tit. Patient your felf, Madam, and pardon me." |