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. LUCIUS, QUINTUS, MARTIUS, MUTIUS, Sons to Titus Andronicus. Young LUCIUS, a Boy, Son to Lucius. ALARBUS, CHIRON, DEMETRIUS, 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, 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. OBLE Patricians, patrons of my right, I am his first-born son, that was the last Bas. Romans, friends, followers, favourers of my right, If ever Bassianus, Cæsar's son, Were gracious in the eyes of royal Rome, But let desert in pure election shine; 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 Lives not this day within the city-walls. * * From weary wars against the barbarous Goths; Bas. Marcus Andronicus, so I do affy And so I love and honour thee and thine, Thy nobler brother Titus and his sons, And her to whom my thoughts are humbled all, Gracious Lavinia, Rome's rich ornament, [Exeunt and Followers of BASSIANUS. Sat. Friends, that have been thus forward in my right, I thank you all, and here dismiss you all; [Exeunt and Followers of SATURNINUS. Bas. Tribunes! and me, a poor competitor. [SAT. and BAs. go into the Capitol, and exeunt with Senators, MARCUS, &c. ROM SCENE II. The same. Enter a Captain, and Others. Captain. OOMANS, make way; the good Andronicus, Successful in the battles that he fights, With honour and with fortune is return'd, Flourish of Trumpets, &c. Enter MUTIUS and MAR- Lo! as the bark, that hath discharg'd her fraught, From whence at first she weigh'd her anchorage, Here Goths have given me leave to sheath my sword.— [The Tomb is opened. There greet in silence, as the dead are wont, Sweet cell of virtue and nobility, How many sons hast thou of mine 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, Tit. I give him you; the noblest that survives, 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, Oh! think my son to be as dear to me. |