The Complete Tragedies of William Shakespeare - All 12 Books in One Edition. William Shakespeare

PUBLIUS, Son to Marcus the Tribune.

       AEMILIUS, a noble Roman.

       ALARBUS, Son to Tamora.

       DEMETRIUS, Son to Tamora.

       CHIRON, Son 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 to Titus, Senators, Tribunes, Officers, Soldiers, and

       Attendants.

       SCENE: Rome, and the Country near it.

       ACT 1.

       SCENE I. Rome. Before the Capitol.

       [The Tomb of Andronic appearing; the Tribunes and Senators aloft.

       Enter, below, SATURNINUS and his Followers on one side, and

       BASSIANUS and his Followers at the other, with drums and

       colours.]

       SATURNINUS.

       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.

       BASSIANUS.

       Romans,—friends, followers, favourers of my right,—

       If ever Bassianus, Caesar’s son,

       Were gracious in the eyes of royal Rome,

       Keep then this passage to the Capitol;

       And suffer not dishonour to approach

       The 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.]

       MARCUS.

       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.

       SATURNINUS.

       How fair the tribune speaks to calm my thoughts!

       BASSIANUS.

       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.]

       SATURNINUS.

       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, tribunes, and let me in.

       BASSIANUS.

       Tribunes, and me, a poor competitor.

       [Flourish. Exeunt; SATURNINUS and BASSIANUS go up into the

       Capitol.]

       [Enter a Captain.]

       CAPTAIN.

       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 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 ALARBUS, DEMETRIUS, CHIRON, AARON, and other Goths, prisoners; soldiers and People following. The bearers set down the coffin, and TITUS speaks.]

       TITUS.

       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