Whom heavens, in justice, (both on her and hers,) Have laid most heavy hand. Sooth. The fingers of the powers above do tune The harmony of this peace. The vision The imperial Cesar, should again unite Cym. Laud we the gods; And let our crooked smokes climb to their nostrils From our bless'd altars! Publish we this peace And in the temple of great Jupiter [Exeunt. A SONG, Sung by Guiderius and Arviragus over Fidele, supposed to be dead. BY WILLIAM COLLINS. To fair Fidele's grassy tomb, Soft maids and village hinds shall bring And mourn'd, till pity's self be devi. 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 Col ours. 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 of my right, If ever Bassianus, Cesar's son, Were gracious in the eyes of royal Rome, Enter MARCUS ANDRONICUS, aloft, with the Crown. A special party, have, by their common voice, Bleeding to Rome, bearing his valiant sous And now at last, laden with honour's spoils, Dismiss your followers, and, as suitors should, Bas. Marcus Andronicus, so I do affy In thy uprightness and integrity, Mar. Princes that strive by factions, and And so I love and honour thee and thine, by friends, Ambitiously for rule and empery, [all, Thy nobler brother Titus, and his sons, Know, that the people of Rome, for whom we Gracious Lavinia, Rome's rich ornament. stand I. e. My title to the succession. That I will here dismiss my loving friends Summoned. And to my fortunes, and the people's favour, Commit my cause in balance to be weigh'd. [Exeunt the Followers of BASSIANUS. Sat. Friends, that have been thus forward in my right, I thank you all, and here dismiss you all; Tit. give him you; the noblest that surThe eldest son of this distressed queen. [vives, Tam. Stay, Roman brethren; Gracious conqueror, 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, O, think my son 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 sons 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, stain not thy tomb with blood: Wilt thou draw near the nature of the gods? Draw near them then in being merciful; Sweet mercy is nobility's true badge; Andro-Thrice-noble Titus, spare my first-born son. Tit. Patient yourself, madam, and pardon Bas. Tribunes! and me, a poor competitor. SAT. and BAS. go into the Capitol, and exeunt with SENATORS, MARCUS, &c. SCENE II.-The same. Patron of virtue, Rome's best champion, Tit. Hail, Rome, victorious in thy mourning weeds! [fraught, Lo, as the bark that hath discharged her Returns with precious lading to the bay, From whence at first she weigh'd her anchor age, Cometh Andronicus, bound with laurel boughs, These, that I bring unto their latest home, Titus, unkind, and careless of thine own, [The Tomb is opened. That we may hew his limbs, and, on a pile, ⚫ Freight. + Jupiter, to whom the Capitol was sacred. It was supposed that the ghosts of unburied people appeared to soucit the rites of funeral, me. [beheld These are their brethren, whom you Goths Alive, and dead; and for their brethren slain, Religiously they ask a sacrifice: To this your son is mark'd; and die he must, To appease their groaning shadows that are gone. Luc. Away with him! and make a fire [Exeunt LUCIUS, QUINTUS, MARTIUS, and MUTIUS, with ALARBUS. Tam. O cruel, irreligious piety! Chi. Was ever Scythia half so barbarous? Dem. Oppose not Scythia to ambitious Rome. Alarbus goes to rest; and we survive To tremble under Titus' threatening look. [al, Then, madam, stand resolv'd; but hope withWith opportunity of sharp revenge The salf-same gods, that arm'd the queen of Upon the Thracian tyrant in his tent, May favour Tamora, the queen of Goths, (When Goths were Goths, and Tamora was queen,) [Troy To quit the bloody wrongs upon her foes. Luc. See, lord and father, how we have perform'd Our Roman rites: Alarbus' limbs are lopp'd, [Trumpets sounded, and the Coffins luid in the Tomb. In peace and honour rest you here, my sons: Rome's readiest champions, repose you here, Secure from worldly chances and mishaps! Here lurks no treason, here no envy swells, Here grow no damned grudges; here, are nc storms, No noise, but silence and eternal sleep: My noble lord and father, live in fame The cordial of mine age to glad my heart!- Mar. Long live lord Titus, my beloved brother, Gracious triumpher in the eyes of Rome! Marcus. Mur. And welcome, nephews, from successful wars, You that survive, and you that sleep in fame. swords: But safer triumph is this funeral pomp, Tit. A better head her glorious body fits, empery. Sut. Proud and ambitious tribune, canst thou tell? Tit. Patience, prince Saturnine. Sat. Romans, do me right;Patricians, draw your swords, and sheath them not Till Saturninus be Rome's emperor : Andronicus, 'would thou wert shipp'd to hell, Tit. Content thee, prince; I will restore to thee The people's hearts, and wean them from themselves. I will most thankful be: and thanks, to when Of noble minds, is honourable meed. Tit. People of Rome, and people's tribune I ask your voices, and your suffrages; hers, Will you bestow them friendly on Andronicus Trib. To gratify the good Åndronicus, And gratulate his safe return to Rome, The people will accept whom he admits. Tit. Tribunes, I thank you: and this suit I make, That you create your emperor's eldest son, Mar. With voices and applause of every sort, [A long Flourish. Sut. Titus Andronicus, for thy favours done To us in our election this day, I give thee thanks in part of thy deserts, Tit. It doth, my worthy lord; and, in this match, I hold me highly honour'd of your grace: And here, in sight of Rome, to Saturnine,King and commander of our common-weal, The wide world's emperor,-do I consecrate My sword, my chariot, and my prisoners; Receive them then, the tribute that I owe, Presents well worthy Rome's imperial lord: Mine honour's ensigns humbled at thy feet. Sut. Thanks, noble Titus, father of my life! How proud I am of thee, and of thy gifts, Rome shall record; and, when I do forget The least of these unspeakable deserts, Romans, forget your fealty to me. Tit. Now, madam, are you prisoner to an emperor; [TO TAMORA, To him, that for your honour and your state, Will use you nobly, and your followers. Sat. A goodly lady, trust me; of the hue Clear up, fair queen, that cloudy countenance; That I would choose, were I to choose anew.Though chance of war hath wrought this change of cheer, Lav. Not I, my lord; sitht true nobility Warrants these words in princely courtesy.. Sat. Thanks, sweet Lavinia.-Romans, let Ransomless here we set our prisoners free: Proclaim our honours, lords, with trump and drum. us go: To do myself this reason and this right. [The Emperor courts TAMORA in dumb show. Mar. Suum cuique is our Roman justice: Tit. Traitors, avaunt! Where is the emper- Treason, my lord; Lavinia is surpris'd. Mut. Brothers, help to convey her hence And with my sword I'll keep this door safe. TIUS. Tit. Follow my lord, and I'll soon bring her Mut. My lord, you pass not here. Tam. And here, in sight of heaven, to Rome If Saturnine advance the queen of Goths, accompany Your noble emperor, and his lovely bride, ers; TAMORA, und her Sons; AARON, Tit. I am not bid to wait upon this bride;Titus, when wert thou wont to talk alone, Dishonour'd thus, and challenged of wrongs? Re-enter MARCUS, LUCIUS, QUINTUS, and MARTIUS. Mar. O, Titus, see, O, see, what thou hast In a bad quarrel slain a virtuous son. [done! Tit. No, foolish tribune, no; no son of mine, Nor thon, nor these, confederates in the deed [TITUS kills MUTIUS. That hath dishonour'd all our family; Unworthy brother, and unworthy sons! Mut. Help, Lucius, help. Re-enter LUCIUS. Sat. But go thy ways; go, give that changing To him that flourish'd for her with his sword: Sat. And therefore, lovely Tamora, queen And here I swear by all the Roman gods,— I will not re-salute the streets of Rome, Luc. But let us give him burial as becomes; Give Mutius burial with our brethren. Tit. Traitors, away! he rests not in this tomb. This monument five hundred years hath stood, Mur. My lord, this is impiety in you: Quin. Mart. And shall, or him we will ac company. Tit. And shall? What villain was it spoke that word? Quin. He that would vouch't in any place but here. Tit. What, would you bury him in my despite ? Mar. No, noble Titus; but entreat of thee To pardon Mutius, and to bury him. Tit. Marcus, even thou hast struck upon my crest, And, with these boys, mine honour thou hast My foes I do repute you every one; draw. Quin. Not I, till Mutius' bones be buried. Quin. Father, and in that name doth nature Tit. Speak thou no more, if all the rest will speed. Mar. Renowned Titus, more than half my soul, Luc. Dear father, soul and substance of ua all, Mar. Suffer thy brother Marcus to inter * Invited |