TITUS ANDRONICUS. ACT THE FIRST. 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, 1i. c. My title to the succession. And suffer not dishonour to approach 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, Chosen Andronicus, surnamed Pius Lives not this day within the city walls: And now at last, laden with honour's spoils, Whom you pretend to honour and adore, That you withdraw you, and abate your strength; 2 Summoned. Dismiss your followers, and, as suitors should, Bas. Marcus Andronicus, so I do affy And so I love and honour thee and thine, [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, 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, 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, From where he circumscribed with his sword, 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 discharg'd her fraught, Here Goths have given me leave to sheath my sword. Titus, unkind, and careless of thine own, [The tomb is opened. There greet in silence, as the dead are wont, And sleep in peace, slain in your country's wars! Jupiter, to whom the Capitol was sacred. O sacred receptacle of my joys, 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: To this your son is mark'd; and die he must, It was supposed that the ghosts of unburied people appeared to solicit the rites of funeral. 5 Suffering. |