PERSONS REPRESENTED. SATURNINUS, Son to the late Emperor of Rome, and afterwards declared 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. AARON, a Moor, beloved by Tamora. A Captain, Tribune, Messenger, and Clown; Romans. Goths and 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. Saturninus. 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, Keep then this passage to the Capitol ; And suffer not dishonour to approach 1 my successive title-] i. e. my title to the succession. The imperial seat, to virtue consecrate, 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 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; And now at last, laden with honour's spoils, Let us entreat,-By honour of his name, 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! † "chastis'd with his arms "-MALONE. Bas. Marcus Andronicus, so do I affy And so I love and honour thee and thine, And her, to whom my thoughts are humbled all, [Exeunt 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, Open the gates, and let me in. Bas. Tribunes! and me, a poor competitor. [SAT. and BAs. go into the Capitol, and exeunt with Senators, MARCUS, &c. SCENE II. 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 circumscribed 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, Cometh Andronicus, bound with laurel boughs, To re-salute 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 sons, Half of the number that king Priam had, Behold the poor remains, alive, and dead! These, that survive, let Rome reward with love; These, that I bring unto their latest home, With burial amongst their ancestors: Here Goths have given me leave to sheath my sword. [The Tomb is opened. 3 Thou great defender of this Capitol,] Jupiter, to whom the Capitol was sacred. 3 To hover on the dreadful shore of Styx?] Here we have one of the numerous classical notions that are scattered with a pedantick profusion through this piece. MALONE. |