TITUS ANDRONICUS

DRAMATIS PERSONA.

SATURNINUS, Son to the late Emperor eror of Rome, ÆMILIUS, a noble Roman.

and afterwards declared Emperor. ALARBUS, BASSIANUS, Brother to Saturninus, in love DEMETRIUS,

with Lavinia.

Sons to Tamora.

CHIRON,
AARON, a Moor, beloved by Tamora.
A Captain, Tribune, Messenger, and Clown;

Romans.

SCENE. Rome, and the Country near it.

ACT I.

SCENE I.-Rome.

The Tomb of the Andronici appearing. The
Tribunes and Senators aloft; and then enter
Saturninus and his Followers at one door,
and Bassianus and his Followers at the other,

with drum and colours.

Sat. Noble patricians, patrons of my right,
Defend the justice of my cause with arms;
And, countrymen, my loving followers,
Plead my successive title with your swords:
I am his first-born son that was the last
That wore the imperial diadem of Rome;
Then let my father's honours live in me,
Nor wrong mine age with this indignity.

Bas. Romans, friends, followers, favourers
my right,

A special party, have, by common voice,
In election for the Roman empery,
Chosen Andronicus, surnamed Pius,
For many good and great deserts to Rome: 24

A nobler man, a braver warrior,

4 Lives not this day within the city walls:
He by the senate is accited home

8

of

From weary wars against the barbarous Goths;
That, with his sons, a terror to our foes,
Hath yok'd a nation, strong, train'd up in

arms.

29

Ten years are spent since first he undertook
This cause of Rome, and chastised with arms 32
Our enemies' pride: five times he hath return'd

If ever Bassianus, Cæsar's son,
Were gracious in the eyes of royal Rome,
Keep then this passage to the Capitol,
And suffer not dishonour to approach
The imperial seat, to virtue consecrate,
To justice, continence, and nobility;
But let desert in pure election shine,
And, Romans, fight for freedom in your Let us entreat, by honour of his name,

12 Bleeding to Rome, bearing his valiant sons
In coffins from the field;

choice.

And now at last, laden with honour's spoils, 36
Returns the good Andronicus to Rome,

16 Renowned Titus, flourishing in arms.

Whom worthily you would have now succeed, 40

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 suitors should,
Plead your deserts in peace and humbleness. 45
Sat. How fair the tribune speaks to calm my
thoughts!

Bas. Marcus Andronicus, so I do affy
In thy uprightness and integrity,
And so I love and honour thee and thine,
Thy noble brother Titus and his sons,

And her to whom my thoughts are humbled
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 balance to be weigh'd.

48 Here Goths have given me leave to sheathe my

all,

52

[Exeunt the Followers of BasSIANUS. Sat. Friends, that have been thus forward in my right, 56

I thank you all and here dismiss you all;
And to the love and favour of my country
Commit myself, my person, and the cause.

60

[Exeunt the Followers of SATURNINUS.
Rome, be as just and gracious unto me
As I am confident and kind to thee.
Open the gates, and let me in.

Bas. Tribunes, and me, a poor competitor.

[Flourish. They go up into the
Senate-house.

sword.

100

That we may hew his limbs, and on a pile
Ad manes fratrum sacrifice his flesh,
Before this earthy 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 noblest that survives
The eldest son of this distressed queen.
Tam. Stay, Roman brethren! Gracious con-
queror,

Victorious Titus, rue the tears I shed,
A mother's tears in passion for her son:
And if thy sons were ever dear to thee,

Patron of virtue, Rome's best champion,
Successful in the battles that he fights,
With honour and with fortune is return'd
From where he circumscribed with his sword, 68 O! think my son to be as dear to me.

And brought to yoke, the enemies of Rome.

Drums and trumpets sounded, and then enter MARTIUS and MUTIUS; after them two Men bearing a coffin covered with black; then LUCIUS and QUINTUS. After them TITUS ANDRONICUS; and then TAMORA, with ALARBUS, CHIRON, DEMETRIUS, AARON, and other Goths, prisoners; Soldiers and people following. The bearers set down the coffin, and TITUS speaks.

Tit. Hail, Rome, victorious in thy mourning weeds!

Lo! as the bark, that hath discharg'd her
fraught,

Returns with precious lading to the bay
72
From whence at first she weigh'd her anchorage,
Cometh Andronicus, bound with laurel boughs,
To re-salute his country with his tears,
Tears of true joy for his return to Rome.

76

104

108

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 sons be slaughter'd in the

streets

112

For valiant doings in their country's cause?
O! if to fight for king and commonweal
Were piety in thine, it is in these.
Andronicus, stain not thy tomb with blood: 116
Wilt thou draw near the nature of the gods?
Draw near them then in being merciful;
Sweet mercy is nobility's true badge:
Thrice-noble Titus, spare my first-born son. 120

Tit. Patient yourself, madam, and pardon

me.

These are their brethren, whom your Goths
beheld

Alive and dead, and for their brethren slain
Religiously they ask a sacrifice:

To this your son is mark'd, and die he must,

124

160 Till Saturninus be Rome's emperor. Andronicus, would thou wert shipp'd to hell, Rather than rob me of the people's hearts! Luc. Proud Saturnine, interrupter of the good