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,
Keep then this paffage to the Capitol,
And fuffer not difhonour to approach
Th' imperial feat, to virtue confecrate,
To justice, continence and nobility;
But let defert in pure election fhine;

[right,

And, Romans, fight for freedom in your choice.
Enter Marcus Andronicus aloft, with the crown.

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.
A nobler man, a braver warrior

Lives not this day within our city-walls.
He by the fenate is accited home,

From weary wars against the barb'rous Goths,
That, with his fons, a terror to our foes,

Hath yoak'd a nation flrong, train'd up in arms.
Ten years are spent fince first he undertook
This caufe of Rome, and chaftifed with arms
Our enemies' pride. Five times he hath return'd
Bleeding to Rome, bearing his valiant fons
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 fucceed,
And in the Capitol and fenate's right,

Whom you pretend to honour and adore,

That you withdraw you, and abate your ftrength 3.
Difmifs your followers, and, as fuitors fhould,
Plead your deferts in peace and humbleness.
Sat. How fair the Tribune fpeaks to calm my
thoughts!

Baf. Marcus Andronicus, fo I do affy
In thy uprightnefs and integrity,

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,
Gracious Lavinia, Rome's rich ornament,
That I will here difinifs my loving friends,
And to my fortunes, and the people's favour,
Commit my caufe in balance to be weighed.
[Exeunt Soldiers.
Sat, Friends, that have been thus forward in my
I thank you all, and here difmifs you all,
And to the love and favour of my country
Commit myself, my perfon, and the cause:
Rome, be as juft and gracious unto me,
As I am confident and kind to thee.
Open the gates and let me in.

[right,

Baf. Tribunes!—And me, a poor competitor.
[They go up into the fenate-houfe

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,
From whence he circumfcribed with his sword,
And brought to yoke the enemies of Rome.

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,
To hover on the dreadful fhore of Styx?
Make way to lay them by their brethren.

[They open the tomb
-There greet in filence, as the dead are wont;
And fleep in peace, flain in your country's wars.
O facred receptacle of my joys,
Sweet cell of virtue and nobility,

How many fons of mine haft thou in store,
That thou wilt never render to me more?
Luc. Give us the proudeft prifoner of the Goths,
That we may hew his limbs, and on a pile
Ad manes fratrum. facrifice his flesh,
Before this earthly prifon of their bones;
That fo the fhadows be not unappeas'd,
Nor we difturb'd with prodigies on earth.
Tit. I give him you, the nobleft that furvives;
The eldest fon of this diftreffed Queen.

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.