Dramatis Perfonæ. SATURNINUS, fon 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. MARCUS, QUINTUS, LUCIUS, MUTIUS, Sons to Titus Andronicus. Young LUCIUS, a boy, fon to Lucius. PUBLIUS, fon to Marcus the Tribune, and nephew to Titus Andronicus. SEMPRONIUS, ALARBUS, # CHIRON, DEMETRIUS, Sons to Tamora. AARON, a Moor, beloved by Tamora. Captain, from Titus' Camp. EMILIUS, a meffenger. Goths and Romans. Clown. TAMORA, Queen of the Goths, and afterwards married to Saturninus. LAVINIA, daughter to Titus Andronicus. Nurfe, with a black-a-moor child. Senators, Judges, Officers, Soldiers, and other Attendants SCENE, Rome, and the country near it. TITUS ANDRONICUS. ACT I. SCENE I. nate. Before the Capitol in Rome. Enter the Tribunes and Senators aloft, as in the SeEnter Saturninus and his followers at one door, and Ballianus and his followers at the other, with drum and colours. NR Saturninus. OBLE Patricians, patrons of my right, Defend the justice of my caufe with arms; And countrymen, my loving followers, Plead my fucceffive title with your words. I am the firft-born fon of him that laft Wore the imperial diadem of Rome; Then let my father's honours live in me, Nor wrong mine age with this indignity. Baf Romans, friends, follwers, favourers of my If ever Batlianus, Cæfar's fon, Were gracious in the eyes of royal Rome, [right, And, Romans, fight for freedom in your choice. Mar. Princes, that strive by factions and by friends Ambitioufly for rule and empery! Know that the people of Rome, for whom we ftand! A fpecial party, have by common voice, In election for the Roman empery, Chofen Andronicus, furnamed Pius, For many good and great deserts to Rome. Lives not this day within our city-walls. From weary wars against the barb'rous Goths, Hath yoak'd a nation flrong, train'd up in arms. And now at last, laden with Honour's spoils, Whom you pretend to honour and adore, That you withdraw you, and abate your ftrength 3. Baf. Marcus Andronicus, fo I do affy And fo I love and honour thee and thine, Thy noble brother Titus, and his fons, And her to whom our thoughts are humbled all, [right, Baf. Tribunes!—And me, a poor competitor. Capt. Romans, make way. The good Andronicus, Patron of virtue, Rome's beft champion, Successful in the battles that he fights, With honour and with fortune is return'd, Sound drums and trumpets, and then enter Mutius and Marcus; after them two men bearing a coffin cover'd with black; then Quintus and Lucius. After them Titus Andronicus; and then Tamora the Queen of Goths, Alarbus, Chiron and Demetrius, with Aaron the Moor, prifoners; Soldiers, and other Attendants. They fet down the coffin, and Titus peaks. Tit Hail, Rome, victorious in thy mourning weeds! : Lo, as the bark that hath discharg'd her freight, Returns with precious lading to the bay From whence at firft fhe weigh'd her anchorage, Cometh Andronicus with laurel boughs To re-falute 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 fons, Half of the number that King Priam had Behold the poor remains, alive and dead! Those that furvive let Rome reward with love; : These that I bring unto their latest home, With burial among their ancestors. Here Goths have given me leave to heath my fword: 1: Titus, unkind, and careless of thine own, Jupiter, to whom the Capitol was facred. Johnson. Why fuffer'ft thou thy fons, unburied yet, [They open the tomb How many fons of mine haft thou in store, 4 Tam. Stay, Roman brethren; gracious conqueror,~ Victorious Titus, rue the tears I fhed, A mother's tears in paflion for her fon; And if thy fons were ever dear to thee, a think my fons 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 yoak; But muft my fons be flaughter'd in the streets, For valiant doings in their country's caufe? O! if to fight for king and common-weal Were piety in thine, it is in these : Andronicus, ftain 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. Thrice noble Titus, fpare my first-born son. Tit. Patient yourself, Madam, and pardon me. These are their brethren, whom you Goths behold Alive and dead, and for their brethren flain Religioufly they afk a facrifice : To this your fon is mark'd, and die he muft, T'appeafe their groaning fhadows that are gone. Luc. Away with him, and make a fire ftraight. |