TITUS ANDRONICUS.

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ1.

SATURNINUS, son to the late Emperor of Rome, afterwards emperor.

BASSIANUS, brother to Saturninus.

TITUS ANDRONICUS, a noble Roman.

MARCUS ANDRONICUS, tribune of the people, and brother to Titus.

ALARBUS,

DEMETRIUS,

CHIRON,

AARON, a Moor, beloved by Tamora.

A Captain, Tribune, Messenger, and Clown; Romans and Goths.

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.

1 First given imperfectly by Rowe.

THE TRAGEDY OF

TITUS ANDRONICUS.

ACT I.

SCENE I. Rome. Before the Capitol. The Tomb of the Andronici appearing.

Flourish. Enter the Tribunes and Senators aloft. And then enter,
below, SATURNINUS and his Followers from one side, and BAS-
SIANUS and his Followers from the other side, 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,

ACT I. SCENE I.] Actus Primus. Scæna Prima. Ff. om. Qq.

colours] Ff. Trumpets. Qq.

3. my] Ff. and Rowe.

I

5, 6. I am his... That ware] Qq.
I was the... That wore F,F2F3.
was the first-born son of him that last
Wore F4. I am the firstborn son of
him that last Wore Pope. I am his...
That wore Collier. I am the first-
born son of him, the last That wore
Collier MS.

9. Romans, friends] Friends, Ro-
mans Anon. conj.

Romans...right] One line in

Qq. Two in Ff.

5

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
The imperial seat, to virtue consecrate,
To justice, continence and nobility:
But let desert in pure election shine;

And, Romans, fight for freedom in your choice.

Enter MARCUS ANDRONICUS, aloft, with the crown.

10

Marc. Princes, that strive by factions and by friends Ambitiously for rule and empery,

Know that the people of Rome, for whom we stand

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:
A nobler man, a braver warrior,

Lives not this day within the city walls:
He by the senate is accited home

From weary wars against the barbarous Goths;
That, with his sons, a terror to our foes,
Hath yoked a nation strong, train'd up in arms.
Ten years are spent since first he undertook
This cause of Rome, and chastised with arms
Our enemies' pride: five times he hath return'd
Bleeding to Rome, bearing his valiant sons.
In coffins from the field.

And now at last, laden with honour's spoils,
Returns the good Andronicus to Rome,
Renowned Titus, flourishing in arms.

Let us entreat, by honour of his name,
Whom worthily you would have now succeed,
And in the Capitol and senate's right,
Whom you pretend to honour and adore,

That you withdraw you and abate your strength,
Dismiss your followers and, as suitors should,
Plead your deserts in peace and humbleness.

Sat. How fair the tribune speaks to calm my thoughts!
Marcus Andronicus, so I do affy

Bas.

In thy uprightness and integrity,

40

45

And so I love and honour thee and thine,

Thy noble brother Titus and his sons,

50

And her to whom my thoughts are humbled all,

Gracious Lavinia, Rome's rich ornament,

That I will here dismiss my loving friends,
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,
And to the love and favour of my country

Commit myself, my person and the cause.

[Exeunt the Followers of Saturninus.

55

Rome, be as just and gracious unto me

As I am confident and kind to thee.

Open the gates, and let me in.

Bas. Tribunes, and me, a poor competitor.
[Flourish. Saturninus and Bassianus go up

into the Capitol.

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