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MEN.

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.

MARCUS,

QUINTUS,

LUCIUS,

MUTIUS,

Sons to Titus Andronicus.

Young Lucius, a Boy, Son to Lucius.

PUBLIUS, Son to Marcus the Tribune, and Nephew to Titus Andronicus.

SEMPRONIUS.

ALARBUS,

CHIRON,

DEMETRIUS,

Sons to Tamora.

AARON, a Moor, belov'd by Tamora.

Captain from Titus's Camp.
EMILIUS, a Messenger.
Goths, and Romans,

Clown.

WOMEN.

TAMORA, Queen of the Goths, and afterwards married to

Saturninus.

LAVINIA, Daughter to Titus Andronicus.

Nurse, with a Black-a-moor Child.

Senators, Judges, Officers, Soldiers, and other Attendants. SCENE, Rome; and the Country near it.

TITUS ANDRONICUS.

ACT I. SCENE 1.

Before the Capitol in Rome.

Enter the Tribunes, and

Senators aloft, as in the Senate. Then enter SATURNINUS and his Followers, at one Door; and BASSIANUS and his Followers, at the other; with Drum and Colours.

Saturninus.

NOBL

O BLE 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

Bas. Romans,-friends, followers, favourers of

iny 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.

10

Mar. Princes, that strive by factions, and by friends,

Ambitiously for rule and empery!

21

Know, that the people of Rome, for whom we stand
A special party, have, by common voice,
In election for the Roman empery,
Chosen Andronicus, surnamed Pius

For many good and great deserts to Rome;
A nobler man, a braver warrior,
Lives not this day within the city walls :
He by the senate is accited home,
From weary wars against the barbarous Goths;
That, with his sons, a terror to our foes,
Hath yok'd 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 return'd

30

Bleeding

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, 40
And in the Capitol and senate's right,

Whom you pretend to honour and adore,—

That you

withdraw you, and abate your strength; Dismiss your followers, and, as suitors should, Plead your deserts in peace and humbleness.

Sat. How fair the tribune speaks to calm my thoughts!

Bas. Marcus Andronicus, so I do affy

In thy uprightness and integrity,

And so I love and honour thee, and thine,

Thy noble brother Titus, and his sons,

And her, to whom our thoughts are humbled all,
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.

50

[Exeunt Soldiers. 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:
Rome, be as just and gracious unto me,

69 As

As I am confident and kind to thee.

Open the gates and let me in.

Bas. Tribunes! and me, a poor competitor.

[They go up into the Senate-House.

SCENE 11.

Enter a Captain.

Capt. 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,
And brought to yoke, the enemies of Rome.

Sound Drums and Trumpets, and then enter MUTIUS and MARCUS after them, two Men bearing a Coffin cover'd with black; then QUINTUS and LUCIUS. After them TITUS ANDRONICUS; and then TAMORA, the Queen of Goths, ALARBUS, CHIRON, and DEMETRIUS, with AARON the Moor, Prisoners; Soldiers, and other Attendants. They set down the Coffin, and TITUS speaks.

70

Tit. Hail, Rome, victorious in thy mourning weeds! Lo, as the bark, that hath discharg'd her fraught, Returns with precious lading to the bay, From whence at first she weigh'd her anchorage,

Cometh

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