PERSONS REPRESENTED. Saturninus, son to the late Emperor of Rome, and afterwards declared Emperor himself. Bassianus, brother to Saturninus; in love with Lavinia. Tituз Andronicus, a noble Roman, general against the Goths. Marcus Andronicus, tribune of the people; and brother to Titus. Lucius, Quintus, sons to Titus Andronicus. Martius, Mutius, Young Lucius, a boy, son to Lucius. Alarbus, Demetrius, } sons to Tamora. Aaron, a Moor, beloved by Tamora. A Captain, Tribune, Messenger, and Clown; Romans. Tamora, Queen of the Goths. Lavinia, daughter to Titus Andronicus. A Nurse, and a black Child. Kinsmen of Titus, Senators, Tribunes, Officers, Soldiers, and Attendants. Scene, Rome; and the country near it. TITUS ANDRONICUS. ACT I. SCENE I. Rome. Before the Capitol. The tomb of the Andronici appearing; the Tribunes and Senators aloft, as in the Senate. Enter, below, Saturninus and his followers, on one side; and Bassianus and his Followers, on 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 ware 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 of my right, If ever Bassianus, Cæsar's son, Were gracious in the eyes of royal Rome, Enter Marcus Andronicus aloft, with the croun. Mar. Princes that strive by factions, and by friends, i. e. My title to the succession. Ambitiously for rule and empery, Know, that the people of Rome, for whom we stand For many good and great deserts to Rome; Lives not this day within the city walls : From weary wars against the barbarous Goths; And now at last, laden with honour's spoils, Whom you pretend to honour and adore,— Bas. Marcus Andronicus, so I do affy And so I love and honour thee and thine, And her to whom my thoughts are humbled all, [Exeunt the Followers of Bassianus. *Summoned. Sat. Friends, that have been thus forward in my right, I thank you all, and here dismiss you all; [Exeunt the Followers of Saturniuus. Bas. Tribunes! and me, a poor competitor. [Sat. and Bas. go into the Capitol, and exeunt, with Senators, Marcus, &c. SCENE 11. The same. Enter a Captain, and others. Cap. Romans, make way; The good Andronicus, 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 circumscibed with his sword, And brought to yoke, the enemies of Rome. Flourish of trumpets, &c. Enter Mutius and Martius: after them, two men bearing a coffin covered with black; then Quintus and Lucius. 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, From whence at first she weigh'd her anchorage, * Freight. Cometh Andronicus, bound with laurel boughs, Here Goths have given me leave to sheath my sword. [The tomb is opened. There greet in silence, as the dead are wont, Sweet cell of virtue and nobility, How many sons of mine hast thou in store, Luc. Give us the proudest prisoner of the Goths, Tit. I give him you; the noblest that survives, The eldest son of this distressed queen. Tam. Stay, Roman brethren ;-Gracious conqueror, Victorious Titus, rue the tears I shed, * Jupiter, to whom the Capitol was sacred. + It was supposed that the ghosts of unburied people appeared to solicit the rites of funeral. + Suffering. |