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  • Title: Titus Andronicus (Folio, 1623)

    • Copyright Internet Shakespeare Editions. This text may be freely used for educational, non-proift purposes; for all other uses contact the Coordinating Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Not Peer Reviewed

    Titus Andronicus (Folio, 1623)

    31
    The Lamentable Tragedy of
    Titus Andronicus.
    1Actus Primus. Scoena 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
    5other, with Drum & Colours.

    Saturninus.
    NOble Patricians, Patrons of my right,
    Defend the iustice of my Cause with Armes.
    And Countrey-men, my louing Followers,
    10Pleade my Successiue Title with your Swords.
    I was the first borne Sonne, that was the last
    That wore the Imperiall Diadem of Rome:
    Then let my Fathers Honours liue in me,
    Nor wrong mine Age with this indignitie.
    15Bassianus. Romaines, Friends, Followers,
    Fauourers of my Right:
    If euer Bassianus, Caesars Sonne,
    Were gracious in the eyes of Royall Rome,
    Keepe then this passage to the Capitoll:
    20And suffer not Dishonour to approach
    Th'Imperiall Seate to Vertue: consecrate
    To Iustice, Continence, and Nobility:
    But let Desert in pure Election shine;
    And Romanes, fight for Freedome in your Choice.

    25Enter Marcus Andronicus aloft with the Crowne.

    Princes, that striue by Factions, and by Friends,
    Ambitiously for Rule and Empery:
    Know, that the people of Rome for whom we stand
    A speciall Party, haue by Common voyce
    30In Election for the Romane Emperie,
    Chosen Andronicus, Sur-named Pious,
    For many good and great deserts to Rome.
    A Nobler man, a brauer Warriour,
    Liues not this day within the City Walles.
    35He 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 vp in Armes.
    Ten yeares are spent, since first he vndertooke
    40This Cause of Rome, and chasticed with Armes
    Our Enemies pride. Fiue 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,
    45Returnes the good Andronicus to Rome,
    Renowned Titus, flourishing in Armes.
    Let vs intreat, by Honour of his Name,
    Whom (worthily) you would haue now succeede,
    And in the Capitoll and Senates right,
    50Whom 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,
    55To calme my thoughts.
    Bassia. Marcus Andronicus, so I do affie
    In thy vprightnesse and Integrity:
    And so I Loue and Honor thee, and thine,
    Thy Noble Brother Titus, and his Sonnes,
    60And Her (to whom my thoughts are humbled all)
    Gracious Lauinia, Romes rich Ornament,
    That I will heere dismisse my louing Friends:
    And to my Fortunes, and the Peoples Fauour,
    Commit my Cause in ballance to be weigh'd.
    65Exit Souldiours.
    Saturnine. Friends, that haue beene
    Thus forward in my Right,
    I thanke you all, and heere Dismisse you all,
    And to the Loue and Fauour of my Countrey,
    70Commit my Selfe, my Person, and the Cause:
    Rome, be as iust and gracious vnto me,
    As I am confident and kinde to thee.
    Open the Gates, and let me in.
    Bassia. Tribunes, and me, a poore Competitor.
    75 Flourish. They go vp 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,
    80With Honour and with Fortune is return'd,
    From whence he circumscribed with his Sword,
    And brought to yoke the Enemies of Rome.

    Sound Drummes and Trumpets. And then enter two of Titus
    Sonnes; After them, two men bearing a Coffin couered
    85with blacke, then two other Sonnes. After them, Titus
    Andronicus, 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.

    90Andronicus. Haile Rome:
    Victorious in thy Mourning Weedes:

    Loe,
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