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 Colors.

Sat. Noble patricians, patrons of my right,
Defend the justice of my cause with arms;
And, countrymen, my loving followers,
Plead my successive title1 with your swords;
I am his first-born son, that was the last
That ware the imperial diadem of Rome;
Then let my father's honors live in me,
Nor wrong mine age with this indignity.

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 honor's spoils,
Returns the good Andronicus to Rome,
Renowned Titus, flourishing in arms.
Let us entreat,-By honor of his name,
Whom, worthily, you would have now succeed,
And in the Capitol and senate's right,
Whom you pretend to honor and adore,-
That you withdraw you, and abate your strength:

my right,

If ever Bassianus, Cæsar's son,

Were gracious in the eyes of royal Rome,
Keep then this passage to the Capitol;
And suffer not dishonor 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.
Marc. 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 their 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 accited2 home,

From weary wars against the barbarous Goths;

i. e. My title to the succession.

Summoned.

Plead your deserts in peace and humbleness. Sat. How fair the tribune speaks to calm my thoughts!

Bas. Marcus Andronicus, so do I affy In thy uprightness and integrity, And so I love and honor 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, That I will here dismiss my loving friends; And to my fortunes, and the people's favor, Commit my cause in balance to be weigh d.

[Exeunt the Followers of BASSIANTS Sat. Friends, that have been thus forward in my right,

I thank you all, and here dismiss you all; And to the love and favor 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, and let me in. Bas. Tribunes! and me, a poor competitor. [SAT. and BAS. go into the Capitol, and exeunt with Senators, MARCU

SCENE II.-The same.
Enter a Captain and others.

Cup. Romans, make way; the good Andronicus,
Patron of virtue, Rome's best champion,
Successful in the battles that he fights,
With honor 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
overed with black; then QUINTUS and LUCIUS.
After them, TITUS ANDRONICUs; and then TA-
MORA, with ALARBUS, CHIRON, DEMETRIUS, AARON,
and other Goths, prisoners; Soldiers and People,
wing. The Bearers set down the Coffin, and
TITT's speaks.

Tu. Hail, Rome, victorious in thy mourning weeds!

Lo, as the bark that hath discharged her fraught,
Returns with precious lading to the bay,
Fom whence at first she weigh'd her anchorage,
Cometh Andronicus, bound with Iurel boughs,
To re-salute his country with his tears;
Tears of true joy for his return to Rome.-
Thon 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 I bring unto their latest home,
With burial amongst their ancestors:

Here Goth have given me leave to sheath my sword.
Tis, unkind, and careless of thine own,
Why sufferest 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!

Lue. Give us the proudest prisoner of the Goths,
That we may hew his limbs, and, on a pile,
Amanes fratrum sacrifice his flesh,
Belive this earthly prison of their bones;
That so the shadows be not unappeas'd,
Nr we disturb'd with prodigies on earth.3

Tf. Igive him you; the noblest that survives, The eldest son of this distressed queen.

Tum. Stay, Roman brethren;-Gracious con

queror,

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,
think my son to be as dear to me.
Seeth not, that we are brought to Rome,
To beautify thy triumphs, and return,
Captive to thee, and to thy Roman yoke;

But must my sons be slaughter'd in the streets,
For valiant doings in their country's cause?
O! if to fight for king and common-weal
Were piety in thine, it is in these.
Andronicus, stain not thy tomb with blood:
Wilt thou draw near the nature of the gods?
Draw near them then in being merciful:
Keet mercy is nobility's true badge;
Thrice noble Titus, spare my first-born son.
Tit. Patient yourself, madam, and pardon me.
These are their brethren, whom you Goths beheld
Alive, and dead; and for their brethren slain,
Nigiously they ask a sacritice:

this your son is mark'd; and die he must, To appease their groaning shadows that are gone. Luc. Away with him! and make a fire straight; A with our swords, upon a pile of wood, Let's hew his limbs, till they be clean consumed. [Exeunt LuciÚS, QUINTUS, MARTIUS, and MUTIUS, with ALAREUS.

Tam. O cruel, irreligious piety! Chi. Was ever Scythia half so barbarous? Dem. Oppose not Scythia to ambitious Rome. Alarbus goes to rest; and we survive To tremble under Titus' threatening look.

It was supposed that the ghosts of unburied people appeared to solicit the rites of funeral. • Suffering.

Then, madam, stand resolv'd; but hope withal,
The self-same gods, that arm'd the queen of Troy
With opportunity of sharp revenge
Upon the Thracian tyrant in his tent,
May favor Tamora, the queen of Goths,
(When Goths were Goths, and Tamora was queen,
To quit the bloody wrongs upon her foes
Re-enter LUCIUS, QUINTUS, MARTIUS, and MUTIUS,
with their Swords blooly.

Luc. See, lord and father, how we have pertorm'd
Our Roman rites: Alarbus' limbs are lopp'd,
And entrails feed the sacrificing fire,
Whose smoke, like incense, doth perfume the sky.
Remaineth naught, but to inter our brethren,
And with loud larums welcome them to Rome.
Til. Let it be so, and let Andronicus
Make this his latest tarewell to their souls.
[Trumpets sounded, and the Coffins
laid in the Tomb.

In peace and honor 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 damned grudges; here are no storms,
No noise, but silence and eternal sleep:

Enter LAVINIA.

In peace and honor rest you here, my sons!
Lav. In peace and honor 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, BASSI-
ANUS, and others.

Marc. Long live lord Titus, my beloved brother, Gracious triumpher in the eyes of Rome!

Tit.Thanks, gentle tribune noble brother Marcus. Marc. And welcome, nephews, from successful

wars,

You that survive, and you that sleep in fame.
Fair lords, your fortunes are alike in all,
That in your country's service drew your swords:
But safer triumph is this funeral pomp,
That hath aspir'd to Solon's happiness,5
And triumphs over chance, in honor's bed.-
Titus Andronicus, the people of Rome,
Whose friend in justice thou hast ever been,
Send thee by me, their tribune, and their trust,
This parliament of white and spotless hue;
And name thee in election for the empire.
With these our late-deceased emperor's sons:
Be candiiatus then, and put it on,
And help to set a head on headless Rome.
Tit. A better head her glorious body hits,
Than his that shakes for age and feebleness:
What! should I don? this robe, and trouble you?
Be chosen with proclamations to-day;
To-morrow yield up rule, resign my life,
And set abroad new business for you all?
Rome, I have been thy soldier forty years,
And led my country's strength successfully,
And buried one-and-twenty valiant sons,
Knighted in field, slain manfully in arms,
In right and service of their noble country:
Give me a staff of honor for mine age,
But not a sceptre to control the world:
Upright he held it, lords, that held it last.
Marc. Titus,thou shalt obtain and ask the empery.
Sat. Proud and ambitious tribune, canst thou
tell?-

Tit. Patience, prince Sa.urnine.
Sat.
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!

The maxim alluded to is that no man can be pronounced happy before his death. • A robe. 1 i. e. Do on, put it on

Tu. What! would you bury him in my despite? Mare. No, noble Títus; but entreat of thee To pardon Mutius, and to bury him.

Til. Marcus, even thou hast struck upon my crest, And, with these boys, mine honor thou hast wounded:

My foes I do repute you every one;

So trouble me no more, but get you gone.
Marc. He is not with himself; let us withdraw.
Quin. Not I, till Mutius' bones be buried.

[MARCUS and the Sons of TITUS kneel. Mare. 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,

Luc. Dear father, soul and substance of us all,-
Mare. Suffer thy brother Marcus to inter
His noble nephew here in virtue's nest,
That died in honor and Lavinia's cause.
Thou art a Roman, be not barbarous.
The Greeks, upon advice, did bury Ajax,
That slew himself; and wise Laërtes' son
Did graciously plead for his funerals.

Let not young Mutius then, that was thy joy,
Be barr'd his entrance here.
Tit.
Rise, Marcus, rise :-
The dismal'st day is this that e'er I saw,
To be dishonor'd by my sons in Rome!-
Well, bury him, and bury me the next.

[MUTIUS is put into the Tomb. Luc. There lie thy bones, sweet Mutius, with thy friends,

Till we with trophies do adorn thy tomb!
All. No man shed tears for noble Mutius:
He lives in fame that died in virtue's cause.
Marc. My lord,-to step out of these dreary
dumps,-

How comes it, that the subtle queen of Goths
Is of a sudden thus advanced in Rome?

Tif. I know not, Marcus; but, I know, it is;
Whether by device or no, the heavens can tell:
Is she not then beholden to the man

That brought her for this high good turn so far? Yes, and will nobly him remunerate.

Flourish. Re-enter, at one side, SATURNINUS, attented; TAMORA, CHIRON, DEMETRIUS, and AARON: at the other, BASSIANUS, LAVINIA, and

others.

Sat. So, Bassianus, you have play'd your prize; God give you joy, sir, of your gallant bride.

power,

Bas. And you of yours, my lord: I say no more, Nor wish no less; and so I take my leave. Sat. Traitor, if Rome have law, or we have Thou and thy faction shall repent this rape. Bas. Rape, call you it, my lord, to seize my own, My true-betrothed love, and now my wife? But let the laws of Rome determine all: Meanwhile I am possess'd of that is mine.

Sat. 'Tis good, sir: You are very short with us;
But, if we live, we'll be as sharp with you.
Bas. My lord, what I have done, as best I may,
Answer I must, and shall do with my life.
Only thus much I give your grace to know,
By all the duties that I owe to Rome,
This noble gentleman, lord Titus here,
Is in opinion, and in honor wrong'd;
That, in the rescue of Lavinia,

With his own hand did slay his youngest son,
In zeal to you, and highly mov'd to wrath
To be controll'd in that he frankly gave:
Receive him then to favor, Saturnine;
That hath express'd himself, in all his deeds,
A father, and a friend, to thee, and Rome.
Tit. Prince Bassianus, leave to plead my deeds;

'Tis thou, and those, that have dishonor'd me: Rome and the righteous heavens be my judge, How I have lov'd and honor'd Saturnine!

Tam. My worthy lord, if ever Tamora Were gracious in those princely eyes of thine, Then hear me speak indifferently for all; And at my suit, sweet, pardon what is past. Sat. What! madam! be dishonor'd openly, And basely put it up without revenge!

Tam. Not so, my lord: The gods of Rome forefend,4

I should be author to dishonor you!
But, on mine honor, dare I undertake
For good lord Titus' innocence in all,
Whose fury, not dissembled, speaks his griefs:
Then, at my suit, look graciously on him;
Lose not so noble a friend on vain suppose,
Nor with sour looks afflict his gentle heart.-
My lord, be rul'd by me, be won at last,
Dissemble all your griefs and discontents:
You are but newly planted in your throne:
Lest then the people and patricians too,
Upon a just survey, take Titus' part,
And so supplant us for ingratitude,
(Which Rome reputes to be a heinous sin,)
Yield at entreats, and then let me alone:
I'll find a day to massacre them all,
And raze their faction, and their family,
The cruel father, and his traitorous sons,
To whom I sued for my dear son's life;
And make them know, what 'tis to let a
queen

Kneel in the streets, and beg for grace in
vain.-

Aside.

Come, come, sweet emperor,-come, Andronicus, Take up this good old man, and cheer the heart That dies in tempest of thy angry frown.

Sat. Rise, Titus, rise; my empress hath prevail'd Tit. I thank your majesty, and her, my lord: These words, these looks, infuse new life in me. Tam. Titus, I am incorporate in Rome,

A Roman now adopted happily,
And must advise the emperor for his good.
This day all quarrels die, Andronicus;-
And let it be mine honor, good my lord,
That I have reconciled your friends and you.-
For you, prince Bassianus, I have pass'd
My word and promise to the emperor,
That you will be more mild and tractable.-
And fear not, lords,-and you, Lavinia ;-
By my advice, all humbled on your knees,
You shall ask pardon of his majesty.

Luc. We do, and vow to heaven and to his high

ness,

That, what we did, was mildly, as we might,
Tend'ring our sister's honor, and our own.

Marc. That on mine honor here I do protest.
Sat. Away, and talk not; trouble us no more.--
Tam. Nay, nay, sweet emperor, we must all be
friends:

The tribune and his nephews kneel for grace;
I will not be denied. Sweet heart, look back.
Sat. Marcus, for thy sake, and thy brother's here,
And at my lovely Tamora's entreats,

I do remit these young men's heinous faults.
Stand up.

Lavinia, though you left me like a churl,
I found a friend; and sure as death I swore,
I would not part a bachelor from the priest.
Come, if the emperor's court can feast two brides,
You are my guest, Lavinia, and your friends;
This day shall be a love-day, Tamora.

Tit. To-morrow, an it please your majesty,
To hunt the panther and the hart with me,
With horn and hound, we'll give your grace bonjour
Sat. Be it so, Titus, and gramercy too.

• Forbid.

[Exeunt

SCENE I.-Before the Palace.

Enter AARON.

Aar. Now climbeth Tamora Olympus' top,
Safe out ofortune's shot: and sits aloft,
Secure of thunder's crack, or lightning's flash;
Advanced above pale envy's threat'ning reach.
As when the golden sun salutes the morn,
And having gilt the ocean with his beams,
Gallops the zodiac in his glistering coach,
And overlooks the highest-peering hills;
So Tamora.-

Upon her wit doth earthly honor wait,

And virtue stoops and trembles at her frown.
Then, Aaron, arm thy heart, and fit thy thoughts
To mount aloft with thy imperial mistress,
And mount her pitch; whom thou in triumph long
Hast prisoner held, fetter'd in amorous chain,
And faster bound to Aaron's charming eyes,
Than is Prometheus tied to Caucasus.
Away with slavish weeds, and idle thoughts!
I will be bright, and shine in pearl and gold,
To wait upon this new-made emperess.
To wait, said I? to wanton with this queen,
This goddess, this Semiramis;-this queen,
This syren, that will charm Rome's Saturnine,
And see his shipwreck, and his common-weal's.
Holla! what storm is this?

Enter CHIRON and DEMETRIUS, braving. Dem. Chiron, thy years want wit, thy wit wants edge,

And manners, to intrude where I am graced;
And may, for aught thou know'st, affected be.
Chi. Demetrius, thou dost overween in all;
And so in this to bear me down with braves.
'Tis not the difference of a year, or two,
Makes me less gracious, thee more fortunate:
I am as able, and as fit as thou,

To serve, and to deserve my mistress' grace;
And that my sword upon thee shall approve,
And plead my passions for Lavinia's love.
Aar. Clubs! clubs! these lovers will not keep

the peace.

Dem. Why, boy, although our mother, unadvis'd, Gave you a dancing-rapier by your side, Are you so desperate grown, to threat your friends? Go to; have your lath glued within your sheath, Till you know better how to handle it.

Chi. Meanwhile, sir, with the little skill I have,
Full well shalt thou perceive how much I dare.
Dem. Ay, boy, grow ye so brave? [They draw.
Aar.
Why, how now, lords?
So near the emperor's palace dare you draw,
And maintain such a quarrel openly?
Full well I wote the ground of all this grudge;
I would not for a million of gold,

The case were known to them it most concerns:
Nor would your noble mother, for much more,
Be so dishonor'd in the court of Rome.
For shame, put up.
Dem.
Not I; till I have sheath'd
My rapier in his bosom, and withal,
Thrust these reproachful speeches down his throat,
That he hath breath'd in my dishonor here.

Ch. For that I am prepar'd and fell resolv'd.Foul-spoken coward, that thunder'st with thy

tongue,

And with thy weapon nothing dar'st perform.
Aar. Away, I say.-

Now by the gods, that warlike Goths adore,
This petty brabble will undo us all.-

Why, lords, and think you not how dangerous
It is to jut upon a prince's right?

What, is Lavinia then become so loose,
Or Bassianus so degenerate,

That for her love such quarrels may be broach'd,
Without controlment, justice, or revenge?
Young lords, beware!-an should the empress know
This discord's ground, the music would not please.
Chi. I care not, I, knew she and all the world;
I love Lavinia more than all the world.

This was the usual outcry for assistance, when any riot in the street happened. • Know.

Dem. Youngling, learn thou to make some meaner choice:

Lavinia is thine elder brother's hope.

Aur. Why, are ye mad? or know ye not, in Rome How furious and impatient they be,

And cannot brook competitors in love?

I tell you, lords, you do but plot your deaths
By this device.

Chi.
Aaron, a thousand deaths
Would I propose, to achieve her whom I love.
Aar. To achieve her!-How!

Dem.
Why mak'st thou it so strange
She is a woman, therefore may be woo'd;
She is a woman, therefore may be won;
She is Lavinia, therefore must be lov'd.
What, man! more water glideth by the mill
Than wots the miller of; and easy it is
Of a cut loaf to steal a shive, we know:
Though Bassianus be the emperor's brother,
Better than he have yet worn Vulcan's badge.
Aar. Ay, and as good as Saturninus may.

[Aside Dem. Then why should he despair, that knows

to court it

Aar. For shame, be friends; and join for that you jar.

'Tis policy and stratagem must do
That you affect; and so must you resolve;
That what you cannot, as you would, achieve,
You must perforce accomplish as you may.
Take this of me, Lucrece was not more chaste
Than this Lavinia, Bassianus' love.

A speedier course than lingering languishment
Must we pursue, and I have found the path.
My lords, a solemn hunting is in hand;
There will the lovely Roman ladies troop:
The forest walks are wide and spacious;
And many unfrequented plots there are,
Fitted by kind for rape and villany:

Single you thither then this dainty doe,
And strike her home by force, if not by words.
This way, or not at all, stand you in hope.
Come, come, our empress, with her sacred wit,
To villany and vengeance consecrate,
Will we acquaint with all that we intend;
And she shall file our engines with advice,
That will not suffer you to square yourselves,
But to your wishes' height advance you both.
The emperor's court is like the house of fame.
The palace full of tongues, of eyes, of ears:
The woods are ruthless, dreadful, deat, and dullt
There speak, and strike, brave boys, and take your

turns:

There serve your lust, shadow'd from heaven's eye, And revel in Lavinia's treasury.

Chi. Thy counsel, lad, smells of no cowardice. Dem. Sit fas aut nefas, till I find the stream To cool this heat, a charm to calm these 1ts, Per Styga, per manes vehor. Ereun!

SCENE II-A Forest near Rome. A Lotze seen at a distance. Horns and Cry of Hounds heard. Enter TITUS ANDRONICUS, with Hunters, MARCUS, LUCIUS, QUINTUS, and MARTIUS Tit. The hunt is up, the morn is bright and grey ↑ Slice. • Quarrel. By mature

1 Sacred here signifies accursed; a Latinism.