TITUS ANDRONICUS. DRAMATIS PERSONÆ. SATURNINUS, Son to the late Em- SEMPRONICS, peror of Rome, and afterwards declared Emperor. 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. CAIUS, VALENTINE, kinsmen to Titus. EMILIUS, a noble Roman. sons to Tamora. AARON, a Moor, beloved by Ta mora. A Captain, Tribune, Messenger, and Clown; Romans. QUINTUS, sons to Titus Andro- Goths and Romans. MARTIUS, nicus. YOUNG LUCIUS, a boy, son to PUBLIUS, son to Marcus the Tri- Senators, Tribunes, Officers, Solbune. diers, and Attendants. SCENE: Rome and the country near it. The Tomb of the ANDRONICI appearing; the Tribunes and Senators aloft. Enter, below, from one side, SATURNINUS and his Followers; and, from the other side, BASSLANUS and his Followers; with drum and colours. Sat. Noble patricians, patrons of my right, Bas. Romans, friends, followers, favourers of my right, If ever Bassianus, Cæsar's son, Were gracious in the eyes of royal Rome, And, Romans, fight for freedom in your choice. Enter MARCUS ANDRONICUS, aloft, with the crown. Marc. Princes, that strive by factions and by friends Ambitiously for rule and empery, 10 Know that the people of Rome, for whom we stand 20 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: Lives not this day within the city walls: From weary wars against the barbarous Goths; Hath yoked a nation strong, train'd up in arms. And now at last, laden with honour's spoils, 30 Whom worthily you would have now succeed, 40 Whom you pretend to honour and adore, That you withdraw you and abate your strength; Plead your deserts in peace and humbleness. 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 all, That I will here dismiss my loving friends, 30 50 And to my fortunes and the people's favour [Ereunt the Followers of Bassianus. 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 cause. [Exeunt the Followers of Saturninus. Rome, be as just and gracious unto me Bas. Tribunes, and me, a poor competitor. 60 Saturninus and Bassianus go up into the Enter a Captain. Cap. Romans, make way; the good Andronicus, Drums and trumpets sounded. 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, DEMETRIUS, CHIRON, 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! 70 From whence at first she weigh'd her anchorage, Here Goths have given me leave to sheathe my sword. 80 Why suffer'st thou thy sons, unburied yet, [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, Tam. Stay, Roman brethren! Gracious conqueror, A mother's tears in passion for her son; 1it. Patient yourself, madam, and pardon me. To this your son is mark'd, and die he must, 90 100 110 120 [Exeunt Lucius, Quintus, Martius, and Mutius, with Tam. O cruel, irreligious piety! Alarbus. 130 Chi. Was ever Scythia half so barbarous? To tremble under Titus' threatening looks. Upon the Thracian tyrant in his tent, May favour Tamora, the Queen of Goths When Goths were Goths and Tamora was queen 140 To quit the bloody wrongs upon her foes. Re-enter LUCIUS, QUINTUS, MARTIUS, and MUTIUS, with their swords bloody. Luc. See, lord and father, how we have perform'd Our Roman rites: Alarbus' limbs are lopp'd, And entrails feed the sacrificing fire, Whose smoke, like incense, doth perfume the sky. Make this his latest farewell to their souls. [Trumpets sounded, and the coffin laid in the tomb. In peace and honour rest you here, my sons; In peace and honour rest you here, my sons! Enter LAVINIA. Lav. In peace and honour live Lord Titus long; I render, for my brethren's obsequies: And at thy feet I kneel, with tears of joy, O, bless me here with thy victorious hand, Whose fortunes Rome's best citizens applaud! Tit. Kind Rome, that hast thus lovingly reserved The cordial of mine age to glad my heart! Lavinia, live; outlive thy father's days, And faine's eternal date, for virtue's praise! 150 160 Enter, below, MARCUS ANDRONICUS and Tribunes; re-enter SATURNINUS and BASSIANUS, attended. |