I am, sir, The soldier that did company these three In poor beseeming; 'twas a fitment for The purpose I then follow'd;-That I was he, Speak, fachimo; I had you down, and might Have made you finish. lach.
I am down again: [Kneeling. But now my heavy conscience sinks my knee, As then your force did. Take that life, 'beseech you,
Which I so often owe: but, your ring first;
And here the bracelet of the truest princess
That ever swore ber faith.
Post.
Kneel not to me;
The power that I have on yon, is to spare you;
The malice towards you, to forgive you: Live,
And deal with others better.
Cym.
Nobly doom'd:
We'll learn our freeness of a son-in-law;
Pardon's the word to all.
Arv. You holp us, sir. As you did mean indeed to be our brother; Joy'd are we, that you are. [lord of Rome, Post. Your servant, princes.-Good my Call forth your soothsayer: As I slept, meGreat Jupiter, upon his eagle back, [thought, Appear'd to me, with other spritely shows Of mine own kindred: when I waked, I found This label on my bosom; whose containing Is so from sense in hardness, that I can Make no collection of it; let him show His skill in the construction.
Sooth. Here, my good lord. Luc. Read, and declare the meaning. Sooth. [Reads.] When as a lion's whelp shall, to himseiƒ unknown, without seeking find, and be embraced by a piece of tender air; and when from a stately cedar shall be topped branches, which, being dead many years shall after revive, be jointed to the old stock, and freshly grow; then shull Posthumus end his miseries, Britain be fortunate, and flourish in peace and plenty. Thou, Leonatus, art the lion's whelp; The fit and apt construction of thy name,
Being Leo-natus, doth import so much :
The piece of tender air, thy virtuous daughter
[To CYMBELINE.
Which we call mollis aër; and mollis aër
We term it mulier : which mulier I divine,
Is this most constant wife: who, even now,
Answering the letter of the oracle,
Unknown to you, unsought, were clipp'd about
With this most tender air.
Cym.
This hath some seeming.
Sooth. The lofty cedar, royal Cymbeline,
Personates thee: and thy lopp'd branches point
Thy two sons forth: who, by Belarius stolen,
For many years thought dead, are now revived,
To the majestic cedar join'd; whose issue
Promises Britain peace and plenty.
Cym.
Well,
My peace we will begin :-And, Caius Lucius,
Although the victor, we submit to Cæsar,
And to the Roman empire; promising
To pay our wonted tribute, from the which
We were dissuaded by onr wicked queen;
Whom heavens, in justice, (both on her and
Have laid most heavy hand.
[hers,)
Sooth. The fingers of the powers above do
The harmony of this peace. The vision [tune
Which I made known to Lucius, ere the stroke
Of this yet scarce-cold battle, at this instant
Is full accomplish'd: For the Roman eagle,
From south to west on wing soaring aloft,
Lessen'd herself, and in the beams o'the sun
So vanish'd; which foreshow'd our princely
The imperial Cæsar, should again unite [eagle,
His favour with the radiant Cymbeline,
Which shines here in the west.
Cym. Laud we the gods; And let our crooked smokes climb to their
From our bless'd altars! Publish we this peace
To all our subjects. Set we forward: Let
A Roman and a British ensign wave
Friendly together: so through Lud's town
And in the temple of great Jupiter [march:
Our peace we'll ratify; seal it with feasts.-
Set on there:-Never was a war did cease,
Ere bloody hands were wash'd, with such a
peace.
[Exeunt.
This play has many just sentiments, some natural dialogues, and some pleasing scenes, but they are obtained at the expense of much incongruity. To remark the folly of the fiction, the absurdity of the conduct, the confusion of the names, and manners of different times, and the impossibility of the events in any system of life, were to waste criticism upon unresisting imbecility, upon faults too evident for detection, and too gross for aggravation.— JOHNSON.
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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,
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.
Mar. Princes, that strive by factions and
by friends
Ambitionsly for rule and empery,
Know that the people of Rome, for whom
A special party, have, by their common voice,
In election for the Roman empery,
i c., My title to the succession.
Chosen Andronicus, surnamed Pius,
A nobler man, a braver warrior,
For many good and great deserts to Rome;
Lives not this day within the city walls:
From weary wars against the barbarous Goths
He by the senate is accited + home,
That, with his sons, a terror to our foes,
Hath yoked 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 re-
turn'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
Dismiss your followers, and, as suitors should, Plead your deserts in peace and humbleness. Sat. How fair the tribane speaks to calm
Bas. Marcus Andronicus, so I do affy In thy uprightness and integrity, And so I love and honour thee and thine, Thy nobler brother Titus, and his sons, [all And her, to whom my thoughts are humbled 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.
Sat. 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, and let me in.
Bas. Tribunes! aud 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 An-
dronicus,
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. 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! fraught, Lo, as the bark that hath discharged her Returns with precious lading to the bay, From whence at first she weigh'd her anchorage,
Cometh Androniens, bound with laurel boughs,
To re-solute 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 sous,
Half of the rumber 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 Goths have given me leave to sheath my sword.
Titus, unkind, and careless of thine own,
Why suffer'st 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
O sacred receptacle of my joys, [wars!
Sweet cell of virtue and notility,
How many sons of mine hast thou in store,
That thou wilt never render to me more?
Victorious Titus, rue the tears I shed,
A mother's tears in passion ý for her son:
And, if thy sons were ever dear to thee,
O, think my gon to be as dear to me.
Sufficeth 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:
Sweet mercy is nobility's true badge;
Thrice noble Titus, spare my first-born son.
Tit. Patient yourself, madam, and pardon
[beheld These are their brethren, whom you Goths Alive, and dead; and for their brethren slain, Religiously they ask a sacrifice:
To this your son is mark'd; and die he must, To appease their groaning shadows that are gone. [straight;
Luc. Away with him! and make a fire And with our swords, upon a pile of wood, Let's hew his limbs, till they be clean consumed.
[Exeunt LUCIUS, QUINTUS, MARTIUS, and MUTIUS, with ALARBUS. Tam. O cruel, irreligious piety! Chi. Was ever Scythia half so barbarous? Dem. Oppose not Scythia to ambitious Alarbus goes to rest; and we survive [Rome. To tremble under Titus's threatening look. Then, madam, stand resolved; but hope withal, [Troy
The self-same gods, that arm'd the queen of
With opportunity of sharp revenge
Upon the Thracian tyrant in his tent,
May favour 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 bloody.
Luc. See, lord and father, how we have
perform'd
Our Roman rites: Alarbus' limbs are lopp'd,
And entrails feed the sacrificing fire,
Whose smoke, like incense, doth perfume the
sky.
Remaineth nought, but to inter our brethren
Jupiter, to whom the Capitol was sacred. ghosts of unburied people appeared to solicit the rites of funeral.
It was supposed that the § Suffering.
And with loud 'larums welcome them to Upright he held it, lords, that held it last.
Tit. Let it be so, and let Andronicus
Make this his latest farewell to their souls.
[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 damned grudges; here, are no
storms,
No noise, but silence and eternal sleep:
Enter LAVINIA.
In peace and honour rest you here, my sons!
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 appland.
Tit. Kind Rome, that hast thus lovingly
reserved
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,
BASSIANUS, and Others.
Mar. Long live lord Titus, my beloved
brother,
Gracious triumpher in the eyes of Rome!
Tit. Thanks, gentle tribune, noble brother
Marcus.
[cessful wars,
Mar. And welcome, nephews, from suc-
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 aspired to Solon's happiness t,
And triumphs over chance, in honour'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 palliament of white and spotless hue;
And name thee in election for the empire,
With these our late-deceased emperor's sons
Be candidatus then, and put it on.
And help to set a head on headless Rome.
Tit. A better head her glorious body fits
Than his, that shakes for age and feebleness:
What! should I dong this robe, and trouble
Be chosen with proclamations to-day; [you?
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 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 honour for mine age,
But not a sceptre to control the world:
Mar. Titus, thou shalt obtain and ask the
empery.
[thou tell?-
Sat. Proud and ambitions tribune, canst
Tit. Patience, prince Saturnine.
Sat.
Romans, do me right;-
Patricians, draw your swords, and sheath
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-rninded Titus means to thee!
Tit. Content thee, prince; I will restore to
thee
[themselves.
The people's hearts, and wean them from
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 ineed. [here,
Tit. People of Rome, and people's tribunes
I a-k your voices, and your suffrages; [cus?
Will you bestow them friendly on Androni-
Tri. 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
That you create your emperor's eldest son,
Lord Saturnine; whose virtues will, I hope,
Reflect on Rome, as Titan's rays on earth,
And ripen justice in this common-weal:
Then if you will elect by my advice, [peror!
Crown him, and say,-Long live our em-
Mar. With voices and applause of every
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
To us in our election this day,
I give thee thanks in part of thy deserts,
And will with deeds requite thy gentleness:
And, for an onset, Titus, to advance
Thy name, and honourable family,
Lavinia will I make my emperess,
Rome's royal mistress, mistress of my heart,
And in the sacred Pantheon her espouse:
Tell me, Andronicus, doth this motion please
thee?
[match,
Tit. It doth, my worthy lord; and, in this
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.
Sat. Thanks, noble Titus, father of my life!
How proud I am of thee, and of thy gifts,
He wishes that her life may be longer than his, and her praise longer than fame. + The maxim alluded to is, that no man can be pronounced happy before his death. The sun.
Rome shall record; and, when I do forget
The least of these unspeakable deserts,
Romans, forget your fealty to me.
Tit. Now, madam, are you prisoner to an emperor; [TO TAMORA. 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; Though chance of war hath wrought this change of cheer,
Thou comest not to be made a scorn in Rome:
Princely shall be thy usage every way.
Rest on my word, and let not discontent
Daunt all your hopes; Madam, he comforts
you,
Can make you greater than the queen of Goths.
Lavinia, you are not displeased with this?
Lav. Not I, my lord; sith true nobility Warrants these words in princely courtesy. Sat. Thanks, sweet Lavinia.-Romans, let
Ransomless 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
Bas. Ay, noble Tins; and resolved withal, To do myself this reason and this right. [The Emperor courts TAMORA in dumb show.
Mar. Suum cuique is our Roman justice: This prince in justice seizeth but his own. Luc. And that he will, and shall, if Lucins live. [peror's guard? Tit. Traitors, avaunt! Where is the emTreason, my lord; Lavinia is surprised. Sur. Surprised! By whom? Bas. By him that justly may Bear his betroth'd from ail 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.
Barr'st me my way in Rome?
What, villain boy! [TITUS kills MUTIUS. Help, Lucius, help.
Re-enter LUCIUS. Luc. My lord, you are unjust: and, more
That is another's lawful promised love. [Exit
Sat. No, Titus, no; the emperor needs her
Not her, nor thee, nor any of thy stock: [not
I'll trust, by leisure, him that mocks me once;
Thee never, nor thy traitorous haughty sons,
Confederates all thus to dishonour me. [of,
Was there none else in Rome to make a stalet
But Saturnine? tull well, Andronicus,
Agree these deeds with that proud brag of thine,
That said'st, I begg'd the empire at thy hands.
Tit. O monstrous! what reproachful words
[ing piece
Sat. But go thy ways; go, give that changTo him that flourish'd for her with his sword: A valiant son-in-law thou shalt enjoy; One fit to bandy with thy lawless sons, To ruffle I in the commonwealth of Rome. Tit. These words are razors to my wounded heart. [of Goths,Sat. And therefore, lovely Tamora, queen That, like the stately Phoebe 'mongst her nymphs,
Dost overshine the gallant'st dames of Rome,
If thou be pleased with this my sudden choice,
Behold, I choose thee, Tamora, for my bride,
And will create thee emperess of Rome.
Speak, queen of Goths, dost thou applaud my
choice?
And here I swear by all the Roman gods,—
Sith priest and holy water are so near,
And tapers burn so bright, and every thing
In readiness for Hymeneus stand,-
I will not re-salute the streets of Rome,
Or climb my palace, tiil from forth this place
I lead espoused my bride along with me.
Tam. And here, in sight of heaven, to Rome
I swear,
If Saturnine advance the queen of Goths,
She will a handmaid be to his desires,
A loving nurse, a mother to his youth.
Sut. Ascend, fair queen, Pantheon:-Lords, accompany
Your noble emperor and his lovely bride,
Sent by the heavens for prince Saturnine,
Whose wisdom bath her fortune conquered:-
There shall we cónsummate our spousal rites.
[Exeunt SATURNINUS, and his Fol
lowers: TAMORA, 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 MARCI S, LUCIUS, QUINTUS, and
MARTIUS.
Mar. 0, Titus, see, O, see, what thou hast In a bad quarrel slain a virtuous son. [done! 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 Motins burial with our brethren. [tomb Tit. Traitors, away! he rests not in this This monument five hundred years bath stood Which i have sumptuously re-cdified: Į A ruffler was a bully.
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