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. Sat. 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 ware the imperial diadem of Rome; Then let my father's honours live in me, Nor wrong mine age with this indignity. Bas. Romans, friends, followers, favourers of my right, If ever Bassianus, Cæsar's son, Were gracious in the eyes of royal Rome, my successive title] i. e. my title to the succession. VOL. VIII. M But let desert in pure election shine; And, Romans, fight for freedom in your choice. 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 A nobler man, a braver warrior, Lives not this day within the city walls; From weary wars against the barbarous Goths; And now at last, laden with honour's spoils, Whom you pretend to honour and adore,-- Sat. How fair the tribune speaks to calm my Bas. Marcus Andronicus, so I do affy In thy uprightness and integrity, And so I love and honour thee and thine, 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. Rome, be as just and gracious unto me, 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, MARCUS, &c. SCENE II. The same. 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, Flourish of Trumpets, &c. enter MUTIUS and MAR- vered with black; then QUINTUS and LUCIUS. After 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. Tit. Hail, Rome, victorious in thy mourning weeds! Lo, as the bark, that hath discharg'd her fraught, Here Goths have given me leave to sheath my sword. [The Tomb is opened. Thou great defender of this Capitol,] Jupiter, to whom the Capitol was sacred. 3 To hover on the dreadful shore of Styx!] Here we have one of the numerous classical notions that are scattered with a pedantick profusion through this piece. MALONE. Sweet cell of virtue and nobility, How many sons of mine hast thou in store, 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, Before this earthly prison of their bones; That so the shadows be not unappeas'd, Nor we disturb'd with prodigies on earth.* Tit. I give him you; the noblest that survives, The eldest son of this distressed queen. Tam. Stay, Roman brethren;-Gracious con queror, 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: • Nor we disturb'd with prodigies on earth.] It was supposed by the ancients, that the ghosts of unburied people appeared to their friends and relations, to solicit the rites of funeral. 5 Patient yourself, &c.] Patient is here a verb. |