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Where have you lurk'd, that you make doubt of it?
Ne'er through an arch so hurried the blown tide,
As the recomforted through the gates. Why, hark
you!
[Trumpets and hautboys sounded, and drums
beaten, all together. Shouting also within.
The trumpets, sackbuts, psalteries, and fifes,
Tabors, and cymbals, and the shouting Romans,
Make the sun dance. Hark you! [Shouting again.
Men.
This is good news:
I will go meet the ladies. This Volumnia
Is worth of consuls, senators, patricians,
A city full; of tribunes, such as you,
A sea and land full. You have pray'd well to-day:
This morning for ten thousand of your throats
I'd not have given a doit.-Hark, how they joy!
[Shouting and music.
Sic. First, the gods bless you for your tidings;

next,

Accept my thankfulness.

Sir, we have all

2 Mess. Great cause to give great thanks. Sic.

They are near the city?

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A good construction. I rais'd him, and I pawn'd
Mine honour for his truth: who being so heighten'd,
He water'd his new plants with dews of flattery,
Seducing so my friends; and, to this end,
He bow'd his nature, never known before
But to be rough, unswayable, and free.
3 Con. Sir, his stoutness
When he did stand for consul, which he lost
By lack of stooping,-
Auf.
That I would have spoke of:
Being banish'd for 't, he came unto my hearth;
Presented to my knife his throat: I took him;
Made him joint-servant with me; gave him way
In all his own desires; nay, let him choose
Out of my files, his projects to accomplish,
My best and freshest men; serv'd his designments
In mine own person; holp to reap the fame
Which he did end all his; and took some pride
To do myself this wrong: till, at the last,
I seem'd his follower, not partner; and
He waged me with his countenance, as if
I had been mercenary.
I Con.

So he did, my lord,-
The army marvell'd at it; and, in the last,
When we had carried Rome, and that we look'd
For no less spoil than glory,-
Auf.

There was it ;

For which my sinews shall be stretch'd upon him.
At a few drops of women's rheum, which are
As cheap as lies, he sold the blood and labour
Of our great action: therefore shall he die,
And I'll renew me in his fall. But, hark!

[Drums and trumpets sound, with great shouts
of the people.

1 Con. Your native town you enter'd like a post, And had no welcomes home; but he returns, Splitting the air with noise.

Welcome, ladies,

2 Con.

Welcome! [A flourish with drums and trumpets. [Exeunt.

SCENE V.-ANTIUM. A Public Place.

Enter TULLUS AUFIDIUS, with Attendants.

Auf. Go tell the lords of the city I am here:
Deliver them this paper: having read it,
Bid them repair to the market-place; where I,
Even in theirs and in the commons' ears,
Will vouch the truth of it. Him I accuse,
The city ports, by this, hath enter'd, and
Intends to appear before the people, hoping
To purge himself with words: despatch.

[Exeunt Attendants. Enter three or four Conspirators of AUFIDIUS' faction. Most welcome!

I Con. How is it with our general?
Auf.

As with a man by his own alms empoison'd,
And with his charity slain.

2 Con.

Even so,

Most noble Sir,

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And patient fools,

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I Lord.

We have.

And grieve to hear it. What faults he made before the last, I think, Might have found easy fines: but there to end Where he was to begin, and give away The benefit of our levies, answering us With our own charge, making a treaty where There was a yielding,-this admits no excuse. Auf. He approaches: you shall hear him.

Enter CORIOLANUS, with drums and colours; a crowd of
Citizens with him.

Cor. Hail, lords! I am return'd your soldier;
No more infected with my country's love
Than when I parted hence, but still subsisting
Under your great command. You are to know,

That prosperously I have attempted, and,
With bloody passage, led your wars even to

The gates of Rome. Our spoils we have brought

home,

Do more than counterpoise, a full third part,
The charges of the action.
We have made peace,
With no less honour to the Antiates,
Than shame to the Romans; and we here deliver,
Subscrib'd by the consuls and patricians,
Together with the seal o' the senate, what
We have compounded on.

Which was your shame, by this unholy braggart, 'Fore your own eyes and ears?

Conspirators. Let him die for 't.

Citizens. [Speaking promiscuously.] Tear him to pieces; do it presently: he killed my son;-my daughter; he killed my cousin Marcus;-he killed my father,

2 Lord. Peace, ho!-no outrage:-peace! The man is noble, and his fame folds in This orb o' the earth. His last offences to us Shall have judicious hearing.-Stand, Aufidius, Read it not, noble lords; And trouble not the peace. But tell the traitor, in the highest degree Cor. O that I had him, He hath abus'd your powers. With six Aufidiuses, or more, his tribe, To use my lawful sword!

Auf.

Cor. Traitor!-How now!

Ay, traitor, Marcius.
Marcius!

Auf.
Cor.

Auf. Ay, Marcius, Caius Marcius: dost thou
think

I'll grace thee with that robbery, thy stol'n name
Coriolanus in Corioli?—

You lords and heads of the state, perfidiously
He has betray'd your business, and given up,
For certain drops of salt, your city Rome
(I say your city) to his wife and mother;
Breaking his oath and resolution, like
A twist of rotten silk; never admitting
Counsel o' the war; but, at his nurse's tears,
He whin'd and roar'd away your victory;
That pages blush'd at him, and men of heart
Look'd wondering each at other.
Cor.
Hear'st thou, Mars?
Auf. Name not the god, thou boy of tears!
Cor.

Auf. No more.

Ha!

Cor. Measureless liar, thou hast made my heart Too great for what contains it. Boy! O slave!— Pardon me, lords, 'tis the first time that ever

I was forc'd to scold. Your judgments, my grave
lords,

Must give this cur the lie: and his own notion
(Who wears my stripes impress'd upon him; that
Must bear my beating to his grave) shall join
To thrust the lie unto him.

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Insolent villain!

Auf.
Conspirators. Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill him!
[AUFIDIUS and the Conspirators draw, and
kill CORIOLANUS, who falls: AUFIDIUS
stands on him.

Lords.
Hold, hold, hold, hold!
Auf. My noble masters, hear me speak.
I Lord.
O Tullus!
2 Lord. Thou hast done a deed whereat valour
will weep.

3 Lord. Tread not upon him.-Masters all, be
Put up your swords.
[quiet.-

Auf. My lords, when you shall know (as in this

rage,

Provok'd by him, you cannot) the great danger
Which this man's life did owe you, you'll rejoice
That he is thus cut off. Please it your honours
To call me to your senate, I'll deliver
Myself your royal servant, or endure
Your heaviest censure.

I Lord.
Bear from hence his body,-
And mourn you for him:-let him be regarded
As the most noble corse that ever herald
Did follow to his urn.

2 Lord.
His own impatience
Takes from Aufidius a great part of blame.
Let's make the best of it.
Auf.
My rage is gone;
And I am struck with sorrow.-Take him up:-
Help, three o' the chiefest soldiers; I'll be one.-
Beat thou the drum, that it speak mournfully:
Trail your steel pikes.-Though in this city he
Hath widow'd and unchilded many a one,
Which to this hour bewail the injury,

Yet he shall have a noble memory.

Assist.

[Exeunt, bearing the body of CORIOLANUS A dead march sounded.

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ACT I.

EMILIUS, a noble Roman.
ALARBUS,
DEMETRIUS,
CHIRON,

}

Sons to TAMORA.

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, ind Attendants.

SCENE, ROME, and the Country near it.

SCENE I.-ROME. Before the Capitol.

The tomb of the Andronici appearing: the Tribunes and
Senators aloft, as in the Senate. Enter, below, SATUR-
NINUS and his followers, on one side; and BASSIANUS and
his followers, on the other; 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 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, Cæsar's son,

Were gracious in the eyes of royal Rome,
Keep, then, this passage to the Capitol;
And suffer not dishonour to approach
Th' 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. Mar. 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 yok'd 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!

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,
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. 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. SAT. and BAS. go up 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. 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 ÁLARBUS, CHIRON, DEMETRIUS, AARON, and other Goths, prisoners; Soldiers and people following. The bearers set down the coffin, and TITUS speaks.

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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 sheathe my sword.

Titus, unkind, and careless of thine own,
Why suffer'st thou thy sons, unburied yet,
To hover on the dreadful shore of Styx?---
Make way to lay them by their brethren.-

[The tomb is opened.
There greet in silence, as the dead are wont,
And sleep in peace, slain in your country's wars!
O sacred receptacle of my joys,
Sweet cell of virtue and nobility,

How many sons of mine hast thou in store,
That thou wilt never render to me more!

Luc. Give us the proudest prisoner of the Goths,
That we may hew his limbs, and on a pile
Ad manes fratrum sacrifice his flesh,
Before this earthy prison of their bones;
That so the shadows be not unappeas'd,
Nor we disturb'd with prodigies on earth.

Tit. I give him you,-the noblest that survives, The eldest son of this distressèd queen.

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 commonweal
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:
Thrice-noble Titus, spare my first-born son.

Tit. Patient yourself, Madam, and pardon me. These are their brethren, whom you Goths beheld 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 straight;
And with our swords, upon a pile of wood,
Let's hew his limbs till they be clean consum'd.
[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' threat'ning look.
Then, Madam, stand resolv'd; but hope withal,
The self-same gods, that arm'd the queen of Troy
With opportunity of sharp revenge
Upon the Thracian tyrant in his tent,
May favour Tamora, the queen of Goths,
(When Goths were Goths, and Tamora was queen,)
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.
Remaineth naught, but to inter our brethren,
And with loud "larums welcome them to Rome.
Tit. Let it be so; and let Andronicus
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;
Rome's readiest champions, repose you here in rest,
Secure from worldly chances and mishaps!
Here lurks no treason, here no envy swells,
Here grow no damned grudges; here are no storms,
No noise, but silence and eternal sleep:

Enter LAVINIA.

In peace and honour rest you here, my sons!
Lav. In peace and honour live lord Titus long;
My noble lord and father, live in fame!
Lo, at this tomb my tributary tears

I render, for my brethren's obsequies;
And at thy feet I kneel, with tears of joy,
Shed on the earth, for thy return to Rome:
O, bless me here with thy victorious hand,
Whose fortunes Rome's best citizens applaud!

Tit. Kind Rome, that hast thus lovingly reserv'd
The cordial of mine age to glad my heart!-
Lavinia, live; outlive thy father's days,
And fame's eternal date, for virtue's praise!
Enter MARCUS ANDRONICUS, SATURNINUS, BASSIANUS, and

others.

Mar. Long live lord Titus, my beloved brother, Gracious triumpher in the eyes of Rome!

Tit. Thanks, gentle tribune, noble brother Mar

cus.

Mar. And welcome, nephews, from successful

wars,

You that survive, and you that sleep in fame!
Fair lords, your fortunes are alike in all,

That in your country's service drew your swords:
But safer triumph is this funeral pomp,
That hath aspir'd to Solon's happiness,
And triumphs over chance in honour's bed.-.
Titus Andronicus, the people of Rome,
Whose friend in justice thou hast ever been,
Send thee by me, their tribune and their trust,
This palliament of white and spotless hue;
And name thee in election for the empire,
With these our late-deceased emperor's sons:
Be candidatus, then, and put it on,
And help to set a head on headless Rome.

Tit. A better head her glorious body fits,
Than his, that shakes for age and feebleness
What should I don this robe, and trouble you?
Be chosen with proclamations to-day,
To-morrow yield up rule, resign my life,
And set abroad new business for you all?-
Rome, I have been thy soldier forty years,
And led my country's strength successfully,
And buried one and twenty valiant sons,
Knighted in field, slain manfully in arms,
In right and service of their noble country:
Give me a staff of honour for mine age,
But not a sceptre to control the world:
Upright he held it, lords, that held it last.

Mar. Titus, thou shalt obtain and ask the empery.
Sat. Proud and ambitious tribune, canst thou
tell?

Tit. Patience, prince Saturnine.

Sat. Romans, do me right;Patricians, draw your swords, and sheathe them not Till Saturninus be Rome's emperor.Andronicus, would thou wert shipp'd to hell, Rather than rob me of the people's hearts!

-

Luc. Proud Saturnine, interrupter of the good That noble-minded Titus means to thee!

Tit. Content thee, prince; I will restore to thee The people's hearts, and wean them from themselves. Bas. Andronicus, I do not flatter thee,

But honour thee, and will do till I die:

My faction if thou strengthen with thy friends,

I will most thankful be; and thanks, to men

Of noble minds, is honourable meed.

Tit. People of Rome, and people's tribunes here,

I ask your voices and your suffrages:

Will you bestow them friendly on Andronicus?
Tribunes. To gratify the good Andronicus,
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,
Lord Saturnine; whose virtues will, I hope,
Reflect on Rome, as Titan's rays on earth,
And ripen justice in this commonweal:
Then, if you will elect by my advice,
Crown him, and say,-"Long live our emperor!"
Mar. With voices and applause of every sort,
Patricians and plebeians, we create

Lord Saturninus Rome's great emperor, And say,-"Long live our Emperor Saturnine!" [A long flourish.

Sat. Titus Andronicus, for thy favours done

To us in our election this day,

I give thee thanks in part of thy deserts,

And will with deeds requite thy gentleness:
And, for an onset, Titus, to advance
Thy name and honourable family,
Lavinia will I make my empress,

Rome's royal mistress, mistress of my heart,
And in the sacred Pantheon her espouse:

Tell me, Andronicus, doth this motion please thee?
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 commonweal,
The wide world's emperor,-do I consecrate
My sword, my chariot, and my prisoners;
Presents well worthy Rome's imperial lord:
Receive them, then, the tribute that I owe,
Mine honour's ensigns humbled at thy feet.
Sat. 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. [To TAMORA.] Now, Madam, are you prisoner to an emperor;

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
That I would choose, were I to choose anew.—
Clear up, fair queen, that cloudy countenance:
Though chance of war hath wrought this change of

cheer,

Thou com'st not to be made a scorn in Rome:
Princely shall be thy usage every way.

Rest on my word, and let not discontent
Daunt all your hopes: Madam, he comforts you,
Can make you greater than the queen of Goths.-
Lavinia, you are not displeas'd with this?

Lav. Not I, my lord; sith true nobility
Warrants these words in princely courtesy.

Sat. Thanks, sweet Lavinia.-Romans, let us go; Ransomless here we set cur prisoners free: Proclaim our honours, lords, with trump and drum. [Flourish. SATURNINUS courts TAMORA in dumb show.

Bas. Lord Titus, by your leave, this maid is mine. [Seizing LAVINIA. Tit. How, Sir! Are you in earnest, then, my

lord?

Bas. Ay, noble Titus; and resolv'd withal, To do myself this reason and this right.

Mar. Suum cuique is our Roman justice: This prince in justice seizeth but his own.

Luc. And that he will, and shall, if Lucius live. Tit. Traitors, avaunt!-Where is the emperor's guard?

Treason, my lord,-Lavinia is surpris'd!
Sat. Surpris'd! By whom?
Bas.

By him that justly may
Bear his betroth'd from all the world away.
[Exeunt MARCUS and BASSIANUS, with
LAVINIA.
Mut. Brothers, help to convey her hence away,
And with my sword I'll keep this door safe.

[Exeunt LUCIUS, QUINTUS, and MARTIUS. Tit. Follow, my lord, and I'll soon bring her back. Mut. My lord, you pass not here.

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