The Lamentable Tragedy of
Actus Primus. Scana Prima.
Flourish. Enter the Tribunes and Senators aloft. And then enter Saturninus and his Followers at one doore, and Bassianus and
his Followers at the other, with Drum
Oble Patricians, Patrons of my right,
Defend the justice of my Cause with Armes.
And Countrey-men, my loving Followers,
Successive Title with your Swords.
Pleade my
I was the first borne Sonne, that was the last
That wore the Imperiall Diadem of Rome:
Then let my Fathers Honours live in me,
Nor wrong mine Age with this indignitie.
Bassianus. Romaines, Friends, Followers,
Favourers of my Right,
If ever Bassianus, Cesars Sonne,
Were gracious in the eyes of Royall Rome,
Keepe then this passage to the Capitoll:
And suffer not Dishonour to approach
Th'Imperiall Seate to Vertue: consecrate
To Justice, Continence, and Nobility:
But let Desert in pure Election shine;
And Romanes, fight for Freedome in your Choice.
Enter Marcus Andronicus aloft with the Crowne. Princes, that strive by Factions, and by Friends, Ambitiously for Rule and Empery:
Know, that the people of Rome for whom we stand
A speciall Party, have by Common voyce
In Election for the Romane Emperie,
Chosen Andronicus, Sur-named Pious,
For many good and great deserts to Rome.
A Nobler man, a braver Warriour,
Lives not this day within the City Walles.
He by the Senate is accited home
From weary Warres against the barbarous Gothes,
That with his Sonnes (a terror to our Foes)
Hath yoak'd a Nation strong, train'd up in Armes.
Ten yeares are spent, since first he undertooke
This Cause of Rome, and chasticed with Armes
Our Enemies pride. Five times he hath return'd
Bleeding to Rome, bearing his Valiant Sonnes
In Coffins from the Field.
And now at last, laden with Honours Spoyles,
Returnes the good Andronicus to Rome.
Renowned Titus, flourishing in Armes.
Let us intreat, by Honour of his Name,
Whom (worthily) you would have now succeede,
And in the Capitoll and Senates right,
Whom you pretend to Honour and Adore,
That you withdraw you, and abate your Strength,
Dismisse your Followers, and as Suters should,
Pleade your Deserts in Peace and Humblenesse.
Saturnine. How fayre the Tribune speakes,
To calme my thoughts.
Marcus Andronicus, so I do affie
In thy uprightnesse and integrity:
And so I Love and Honor thee, and thine,
Thy Noble Brother Titus, and his Sonnes,
And Her (to whom my thoughts are humbled all)
Gracious Lavinia, Romes rich Ornament,
That I will heere dismisse my loving Friends:
And to my Fortunes, and the Peoples Favour,
Commit my Cause in ballance to be weigh'd.
Saturnine. Friends, that have beene
Thus forward in my Right,
I thanke you all, and heere Dismisse you all,
And to the Love and Favour of my Countrey,
Commit my Selfe, my Person, and the Cause:
Rome, be as just and gracious unto me,
As I am confident and kinde to thee.
Open the Gates, and let me in.
Bassia. Tribunes, and me, a poore Competitor.
Flourish. They go up into the Senat house.
Enter a Captaine.
Cap. Romanes make way: the good Andronicus,
Patron of Vertue, Romes best Champion,
Successefull in the Battailes that he fights,
With Honour and with Fortune is return'd,
From whence he circumscribed with his Sword,
And brought to yoke the Enemies of Rome.
bearing a Coffin covered with After them, Titus Andronicus,
Sound Drummes and Trumpets. And then enter two of Titus Sonnes; After them, two men blacke, then two other Sonnes. and then Tamora the Queene of Gothes, & her two Sonnes Chiron and Demetrius, with Aaron the Moore, and others, as many as can bee: They set downe the Coffin, and Titus speakes.
Andronicus. Haile Rome :
Victorious in thy Mourning Weedes :
Loe as the Barke that hath discharg'd his fraught,
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