340 PERSONS REPRESENTED. SATURNINUS, Son to the late Emperor of Rome, and afterwards declared Emperor himself. BASSIANUS, Brother to Saturninus; in love with Lavinia. TITUS ANDRONICUS, a noble Roman, General against the Goths. MARCUS ANDRONICUS, Tribune of the People; and Brother to Titus. ALARBUS, CHIRON, DEMETRIUS, Sons 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 of Titus, Senators, Tribunes, Officers, Soldiers, and Attendants. SCENE, Rome; and the Country near it 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 colors. 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 ware the imperial diadem of Rome; Then let my father's honors live in me, Nor wrong mine age? with this indignity. Bas. Romans,-friends, followers, favorers of my right,— If ever Bassianus, Cæsar's son, Were gracious in the eyes of royal Rome, 1 i. e. my title to the succession. "The empire being elective, and not successive, the emperors in being made profit of their own times."-Raleigh. 2 Saturninus means his seniority in point of age. In a subsequent passage, Tamora speaks of him as a very young man. But let desert in pure election shine; 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 From weary wars against the barbarous Goths; And now at last, laden with honor's spoils, Whom you pretend to honor and adore,— you Dismiss your followers, and, as suitors should, Sat. How fair the tribune speaks to calm my thoughts! Bas. Marcus Andronicus, so I do affy 1 Summered. 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 honor and with fortune is returned, 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! Lo, as the bark that hath discharged her fraught, Returns with precious lading to the bay, From whence at first she weighed her anchorage, Here Goths have given me leave to sheathe my sword. [The tomb is opened. There greet in silence, as the dead are wont, And sleep in peace, slain in your country's wars! Sweet cell of virtue and nobility, How many sons of mine hast thou in store, That thou wilt never render to me more! 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, Tit. I give him you; the noblest that survives, Tam. Stay, Roman brethren.-Gracious conqueror, Victorious Titus, rue the tears I shed, 3 A mother's tears in passion for her son; And, if thy sons were ever dear to thee, 1 Jupiter, to whom the Capitol was sacred. 2 Earthy. Ed. 1600. 3 i. e. in grief. |