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, ; 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; Lives not this day within the city walls: From weary wars against the barbarous Goths; And now at last, laden with honour's spoils, Whom you pretend to honour and adore,— 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, [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, MAR. &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, Stand gracious to the rites that we intend !— Behold the poor remains, alive, and dead! These, that survive, let Rome reward with love; 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, Nor we disturb'd with prodigies on earth.' [2] Jupiter, to whom the Capitol was sacred. JOHNSON. It was supposed by the ancients, that the ghosts of unburied people appeared to their friends, to solicit the rites of funeral. STEEVENS. |