SCENE I. ACT I. Rome. Before the Capitol. Drum and Colours. Sat. Noble patricians, patrons of my right, Ambitiously for rule and empery, Know, that the people of Rome, for whom we stand A nobler man, a braver warrior, Lives not this day within the city walls: Bas. Romans, friends, followers, favourers of Bleeding to Rome, bearing his valiant sons my right If ever Bassianus, Cæsar's son, Were gracious in the eyes of royal Rome, i. e. My title to the succession. In coffins from the field; And now at last, laden with honour's spoils, Renowned Titus, flourishing in arms. Bas. Marcus Andronicus, so do I affy And her, to whom my thoughts are humbled all, [Exeunt the Followers of BASSIANUS. Sat. Friends, that have been thus forward in my right, I thank you all, and here dismiss you all; [Exeunt the Followers of SATURNINUS. Bas. Tribunes! and me, a poor competitor. [SAT. and BAs. go into the Capitol, and exeunt with Senators, MARCUS, &c. 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. 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. After Tit. Hail, Rome, victorious in thy mourning weeds! Lo, as the bark that hath discharg'd her fraught, [The Tomb is opened. Luc. Give us the proudest prisoner of the Goths, That we may hew his limbs, and, on a pile, Victorious Titus, rue the tears I shed, 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, Upon the Thracian tyrant in his tent, Luc. See, lord and father, how we have perform'd [Trumpets sounded, and the Coffins laid in the Tomb. In peace and honour rest you here, my sons; Rome's readiest champions, repose you here, Secure from worldly chances and mishaps! Here lurks no treason, here no envy swells, Here grow no inward grudges; here are no storms, No noise, but silence and eternal sleep: Enter LAVINIA. In peace and honour rest you here, my sons! 3 It was supposed that the ghosts of unburied people ap peared to solicit the rites of funeral, * Suffering. 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, Marc. Long live lord Titus, my beloved brother, Marc. And welcome, nephews, from successful wars, You that survive, and you that sleep in fame. Tit. A better head her glorious body fits, empery. Tit. People of Rome, and people's tribunes here, I ask your voices, and your suffrages; Will you bestow them friendly on Andronicus? Trib. 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 9 rays on earth, And ripen justice in this common-weal : Then if you will elect by my advice, Crown him and say,- Long live our emperor ! Marc. 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 I give thee thanks in part of thy deserts, 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 common-weal, 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. 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; Sat. Proud and ambitious tribune, canst thou Though chance of war hath wrought this change of Romans, do me right ;Patricians, draw your swords, and sheath 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. The maxim alluded to is, that no man can be pronounced happy before his death. A robe. i.e. Do on, put it on. cheer, Thou com'st not to be made a scorn in Rome: Lav. Not I, my lord: sith true nobility Sat. Thanks, sweet Lavinia. - Romans, let us go: Ransomeless here we set our prisoners free : Proclaim our honours, lords, with trump and drum. 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. [The Emperor courts TAMORA in dumb show. Marc. 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 surpriz'd. Sat. Surpriz'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. Tit. What, villain boy! Barr'st me my way in Rome? [TITUS kills MUTIUS. Mut. Help, Lucius, help. Re-enter LUCIUS. Luc. My lord, you are unjust; and, more than so, In wrongful quarrel you have slain your son. Tit. Nor thou, nor he, are any sons of mine: Luc. Dead, if you will: but not to be his wife, That is another's lawful promis'd love. [Exit. Sat. No, Titus, no; the emperor needs her not, Was there none else in Rome to make a stale of, Sat. But, go thy ways; go, give that changing piece Tit. These words are razors to my wounded heart. Sat. And therefore, lovely Tamora, queen of Goths, That, like the stately Phoebe 'mongst her nymphs, And here I swear by all the Roman gods, my I lead espous'd my bride along with me. swear, If Saturnine advance the queen of Goths, She will a handmaid be to his desires, A loving nurse, a mother to his youth. Sent by the heavens for prince Saturnine, Whose wisdom hath her fortune conquered : There shall we cónsummate our spousal rites. [Exeunt SATURNINUS, and his Followers; TA MORA, and her Sons; AARON, and Goths. Tit. I am not bid to wait upon this bride; Titus, when wert thou wont to walk alone, Dishonour'd thus, and challenged of wrongs? Re-enter MARCUS, LUCIUS, QUINTUS, and MARTIUS. Marc. O, Titus, see, O, see, what thou hast done! In a bad quarrel slain a virtuous son. Tit. No, foolish tribune, no: no son of mine, Nor thou, nor these confederates in the deed That hath dishonour'd all our family; Unworthy brother, and unworthy sons! Luc. But let us give him burial, as becomes; Give Mutius burial with our brethren. Tit. Traitors, away! he rests not in this tomb. This monument five hundred years hath stood, Which I have sumptuously re-edified: Here none but soldiers, and Rome's servitors, Repose in fame; none basely slain in brawls: Bury him where you can, he comes not here. Marc. My lord, this is impiety in you: My nephew Mutius' deeds do plead for him; He must be buried with his brethren. Quin. Mart. And shall, or him we will accompany. Tit. And shall? What villain was it spoke that word? Quin. He that would vouch't in any place but here. Tit. What, would you bury him in my despite? Marc. No, noble Titus; but entreat of thee To pardon Mutius, and to bury him. Tit. Marcus, even thou hast struck upon my crest, And, with these boys, mine honour thou hast wounded: My foes I do repute you every one; So trouble me no more, but get you gone. [MARCUS and the Sons of Tirus kneel. Marc. Brother, for in that name doth nature plead. Quin. Father, and in that name doth nature speak. Tit. Speak thou no more, if all the rest will speed. Marc. Renowned Titus, more than half my soul, [MUTIUS is put into the Tomb. Luc. There lie thy bones, sweet Mutius, with thy friends, Till we with trophies do adorn thy tomb! Sat. Ascend, fair queen, Pantheon: - Lords, He lives in fame that died in virtue's cause. accompany Your noble emperor, and his lovely bride, 2 A stalking horse. 3 A ruffler was a bully. to step out of these dreary Marc. My lord, dumps, 4 Invited. |