75NOble Patricians, Patrons of my Right,

86Defend the iustice of my cause with armes.

97And Countrimen my louing followers,

108Plead my successiue Title with your swords:

119I am his first borne sonne, that was the last

1210That ware the Imperiall Diademe of Rome,

1311Then let my Fathers honours liue in me,

1412Nor wrong mine age with this indignitie,

1614Romaines, friends, followers, fauourers of my Right,

1715If euer Bassianus Ceasars sonne,

1816Were gratious in the eyes of Royall Rome,

1917Keepe then this passage to the Capitoll,

2018And suffer not dishonour to approch,

2119The Imperiall seate to vertue, consecrate

A₃

2220To iustice, continence, and Nobillitie:

2321But let desert in pure election shine,

2422And Romaines fight for freedome in your choice.

2624Princes that striue by factions and by friends,

2725Ambitiously for Rule and Emperie,

2826Know that the people of Rome for whom we stand

2927A speciall Partie, haue by common voice,

3028In election for the Romaine Empery

3129Chosen Andronicus, surnamed Pius:

3230For many good and great deserts to Rome,

3331A Nobler man, a brauer Warriour,

3432Liues not this day within the Cittie walls.

3533Hee by the Senate is accited home,

3634From weary warres against the barbarous Gothes,

3735That with his sonnes a terrour to our foes,

3836Hath yoakt a Nation strong, traind vp in Armes.

3937Tenne yeares are spent since first he vndertooke

4038This cause of Rome, and chastised with armes

4139Our enemies pride: Fiue times he hath returnd

4240Bleeding to Rome, bearing his valiant sonnes,

4341In Coffins from the field, and at this day,

43.142To the Monument of that Andronicy

43.243Done sacrifice of expiation,

43.344And slaine the Noblest prisoner of the Gothes.

4445And now at last laden with honours spoiles,

4546Returnes the good Andronicus to Rome,

4647Renowned Titus flourishing in Armes.

4748Let vs intreat by honour of his name,

4849Whom worthily you would haue now succeede,

4950And in the Capitall and Senates Right,

5051Whom you pretend to honour and adore,

5152That you withdraw you, and abate your strength,

5253Dismisse your followers, and as suters should,

5354Pleade your deserts in peace and humblenes.

5556How faire the Tribune speakes to calme my thoughts.

58Marcus Andronicus, so I doe affie,

5759In thy vprightnes and integritie,

5860And so I loue and honour thee and thine,

5961Thy Noble brother Titus and his sonnes,

6062And her to whom my thoughts are humbled all,

6163Gratious Lauinia, Romes rich ornament,

6264That I will here dismisse my louing friends:

6365And to my fortunes and the peoples fauour,

6466Commit my cause in ballance to be waid. Exit Soldiers.

6768Friends that haue beene thus forward in my right.

6869I thanke you all, and here dismisse you all,

6970And to the loue and fauour of my Countrie,

7071Commit myselfe, my person, and the cause:

7172Rome be as iust and gratious vnto me,

7273As I am confident and kinde to thee.

7374Open the gates and let me in.

7475Bassianus. Tribunes and me a poore Competitor.

7778Romaines make way, the good Andronicus,

7879Patron of vertue, Romes best Champion:

7980Succesful in the battailes that he fights,

8081With honour and with fortune is returnd,

8182From where he circumscribed with his sword,

8283And brought to yoake the enemies of Rome.

9190Titus. Haile Rome, victorious in thy mourning weeds,

9291Lo as the Barke that hath dischargd his fraught,

9392Returnes with pretious lading to the bay,

9493From whence at first shee wayd her anchorage;

9594Commeth Andronicus, bound with Lawrell bowes,

9695To resalute his Countrie with his teares,

9796Teares of true ioy for his returne to Rome,

9897Thou great defender of this Capitoll,

9998Stand gratious to the rights that we entend.

10099Romaines, of fiue and twenty valiant sonnes,

101100Halfe of the number that king Priam had,

102101Behold the poore remaines aliue and dead:

103102These that suruiue, let Rome reward with loue:

104103These that I bring vnto their latest home,

105104With buriall amongst their auncestors.

106105Here Gothes haue giuen me leaue to sheath my sword,

107106Titus vnkinde, and careles of thine owne,

108107Why sufferst thou thy sonnes vnburied yet,

109108To houer on the dreadfull shore of slix,

110109Make way to lay them by their brethren.

112111There greete in silence as the dead are wont,

113112And sleepe in peace, slaine in your Countries warres:

114113O sacred Receptacle of my ioyes,

115114Sweete Cell of vertue and Nobilitie,

116115How many sonnes hast thou of mine in store,

117116That thou wilt neuer render to me more.

118117Lucius. Giue vs the prowdest prisoner of the Gothes.

119118That we may hew his limbs and on a pile,

120119Ad manus fratrum, sacrifice his flesh:

121120Before this earthy prison of their boanes,

122121That so the shadows be not vnappeazde,

123122Nor we disturbde with prodegies on earth.

124123Titus. I giue him you the Noblest that suruiues,

125124The eldest sonne of this distressed Queene.

126125Tamora. Stay Romaine brethren, gratious Conque-(rour,

127126Victorious Titus, rue the teares I shed,

128127A mothers teares in passion for her sonne:

+

129128And if thy sonnes were euer deare to thee,

130129Oh thinke my sonne to be as deare to mee.

131130Sufficeth not that we are brought to Rome

132131To beautifie thy triumphs, and returne

133132Captiue to thee, and to thy Romaine yoake:

134133But must my sonnes be slaughtered in the streets,

135134For valiant dooings in their Countries cause?

136135O if to fight for king and common-weale,

137136Were pietie in thine, it is in these:

138137Andronicus, staine not thy tombe with bloud.

139138Wilt thou draw neere the nature of the Gods?

140139Draw neere them then in being mercifull,

141140Sweete mercie is Nobilities true badge,

142141Thrice Noble Titus, spare my first borne sonne.

143142Titus. Patient yourselfe Madam, and pardon me,

144143These are their brethren, whom your Gothes beheld

145144Aliue and dead, and for their brethren slaine,

146145Religiously they aske a sacrifice:

147146To this your sonne is markt, and die he must,

148147T'appease their groning shadowes that are gone.

149148Lucius. Away with him, and make a fire straight,

150149And with our swords vpon a pile of wood,

151150Lets hew his limbs till they be cleane consumde.

153152Tamora. O cruell irreligeous pietie.

154153Chiron. Was neuer Sythia halfe so barbarous.

155154Demetrius. Oppose not Sythia to ambitious Rome,

156155Alarbus goes to rest and we suruiue,

157156To tremble vnder Titus threatning looke,

B Then

158157Then Madam stand resolud, but hope withall,

159158The selfe same Gods that armde the Queene of Troy

160159With opportunitie of sharpe reuenge

161160Vpon the hracian yrant in his ent,

162161May fauour amora the Queene of Gothes,

163162(When Gothes were Gothes, and amora was Queene,)

164163o quit the bloodie wrongs vpon her foes.

166165Lucius. See Lord and father how we haue performd

167166Our Romane rights, Alarbus limbs are lopt,

168167And intrals feede the sacrifising fire,

169168Whose smoke like incense doth perfume the skie,

170169Remaineth nought but to interre our brethren,

171170And with lowd larums welcome them to Rome.

172171Titus. Let it be so, and let Andronicus,

173172Make this his latest farewell to their soules.

176174In peace and honour rest you here my sonnes,

177175Roomes readiest Champions, repose you here in rest,

178176Secure from worldly chaunces and mishaps:

179177Here lurks no treason, here no enuie swels,

180178Here grow no damned drugges, here are no stormes,

181179No noyse, but silence and eternall sleepe,

182180In peace and honour rest you here my sonnes.

184182In peace and honour, liue Lord Titus long,

185183My Noble Lord and father liue in fame:

186184Lo at this Tombe my tributarie teares,

187185I render for my brethrens obsequies:

exequies

188186And at thy feete I kneele, with teares of ioy

189187Shed on this earth, for thy returne to Rome,

190188O blesse me here with thy victorious hand,

191189Whose fortunes Roomes best Citizens applaud.

192190Titus. Kinde Rome that hast thus louingly reserude,

194191The Cordiall of mine age to glad my hart,

195192Lauinia liue, outliue thy fathers daies,

196193And fames eternall date for vertues praise.

197194Marcus. Long liue Lord Titus my beloued brother,

198195Gratious triumpher in the eies of Rome.

199196Titus. Thanks gentle Tribune, Noble brother Marcus.

201197Marcus. And welcome Nephews from succesfull wars

202198You that suruiue, and you that sleepe in fame:

203199Faire Lords, your fortunes are alike in all,

204200That in your Countries seruice drew your swords,

205201But safer triumph is this funerall pompe,

206202That hath aspirde to Solons happines,

207203And triumphs ouer chaunce in honours bed.

208204Titus Andronicus, the people of Rome,

209205Whose friend in iustice thou hast euer beene,

210206Send thee by mee their Tribune and their trust,

211207This Palliament of white and spotles hue,

212208And name thee in election for the Empire,

213209With these our late deceased Emperours sonnes:

214210Be Candidatus then and put it on,

215211And helpe to set a head on headles Roome.

216212Titus. A better head her glorious bodie fits,

217213Than his that shakes for age and feeblenes:

218214What should I don this Roabe and trouble you?

219215Be chosen with Proclamations to daie,

220216To morrow yeeld vp rule, resigne my life,

221217And set abroad new busines for you all.

222218Roome I haue beene thy souldier fortie yeares,

223219And led my Countries strength succesfullie,

224220And buried one and twentie valiant sonnes

225221Knighted in Field, slaine manfullie in Armes,

226222In right and seruice of their Noble Countrie:

227223Giue me a staffe of Honour for mine age,

228224But not a scepter to controwle the world,

229225Vpright he held it Lords that held it last.

B2 Marcus.

230226Marcus. Titus thou shalt obtaine & aske the Emperie.

231227Saturni. Proud and ambitious Tribune canst thou tell.

232228Titus. Patience Prince Saturninus.

233229Saturninus. Romaines doe me right.

234230Patricians draw your swords and sheath them not,

235231Till Saturninus be Romes Emperour:

236232Andronicus would thou were shipt to hell,

237233Rather than robbe me of the peoples harts.

238234Lucius. Prowd Saturnine, interrupter of the good,

239235That noble minded Titus meanes to thee.

240236Titus. Content thee Prince, I will restore to thee

241237The peoples harts, and weane them from themselues.

242238Bassianus. Andronicus I doo not flatter thee,

243239But honour thee and will doo till I die:

244240My faction if thou strengthen with thy friends

245241I will most thankefull be, and thanks to men

246242Of Noble minds, is honourable meede.

247243Titus. People of Rome, and peoples Tribunes here,

248244I aske your voyces and your suffrages,

249245Will yee bestow them friendly on Andronicus.

250246Tribunes. To gratifie the good Andronicus,

251247And gratulate his safe returne to Rome,

252248The people will accept whom he admits.

253249Titus. Tribunes I thanke you, and this sute I make,

254250That you create our Emperours eldest sonne,

255251Lord Saturnine: whose vertues will I hope,

256252Reflect on Rome as Tytus Raies on earth,

257253And ripen iustice in this Commonweale:

258254Then if you will elect by my aduise,

259255Crowne him and say, Long liue our Emperour.

260256Marcus An. With voyces and applause of euery sort,

sort

261257Patricians and Plebeans, we create

262258Lord Saturninus Romes great Emperour,

263259And say Long liue our Emperour Saturnine.

265260Saturnine. Titus Andronicus, for thy fauours done,

266261To vs in our election this day,

267262I giue thee thankes in part of thy deserts,

268263And will with deeds requite thy gentlenes:

269264And for an onset Titus to aduance,

270265Thy name and honourable familie,

271266Lauinia will I make my Empresse,

272267Romes Royall Mistris, Mistris of my hart,

273268And in the sacred Pathan her espouse:

274269Tell me Andronicus doth this motion please thee.

275270Titus. It doth my worthie Lord, and in this match,

276271I hold me highly Honoured of your Grace,

277272And here in sight of Rome to Saturnine,

278273King and Commander of our commonweale,

279274The wide worlds Emperour, doe I consecrate

280275My sword, my Chariot, and my Prisoners,

281276Presents well worthy Romes imperious Lord:

282277Receiue them then, the tribute that I owe,

283278Mine honours Ensignes humbled at thy feete.

284279Saturnine. Thankes Noble Titus Father of my life,

285280How proude I am of thee and of thy gifts

286281Rome shall record, and when I doe forget

287282The least of these vnspeakeable deserts,

288283Romans forget your Fealtie to me.

289284Titus. Now Madam are you prisoner to an Emperour.

290285To him that for your honour and your state,

291286Will vse you Nobly, and your followers.

292287Saturnine. A goodly Lady trust me of the hue,

293288That I would choose were I to choose a new:

294289Cleare vp faire Queene that cloudy countenance,

295290Though change of war hath wrought this change of chear

297291Thou comst not to be made a scorne in Rome.

298292Princely shall be thy vsage euerie waie

299293Rest on my word, and let not discontent,

300294Daunt all your hopes, Madam he comforts you,

301295Can make you greater than the Queene of Gothes,

B₃ Lauinia.

302296Lauinia you are not displeasde with this.

303297Lauinia. Not I my Lord, sith true Nobilitie,

304298Warrants these words in Princely curtesie.

305299Saturnine. Thanks sweete Lauinia, Romans let vs goe,

306300Raunsomles here we set our prisoners free,

307301Proclaime our Honours Lords with Trumpe and Drum.

308302Bassianus. Lord Titus by your leaue, this maid is mine.

309303Titus. How sir, are you in earnest then my Lord?

310304Bascianus. I Noble Titus and resolude withall,

311305To doo myselfe this reason and this right.

312306Marcus. Suum cuiqum is our Romane iustce,

313307This Prince in iustice ceazeth but his owne.

314308Lucius. And that he will, and shall if Lucius liue.

315309Titus. Traitors auaunt, where is the Emperours gard?

316310Treason my Lord, Lauinia is surprizde.

317311Saturnine. Surprizde, by whom?

318312Bascianus. By him that iustly may,

319313Beare his betrothde from all the world away.

320314Mutius. Brothers, helpe to conuay her hence away,

321315And with my sword Ile keepe this doore safe.

322316Titus. Follow my Lord, and Ile soone bring her backe.

323317Mutius. My Lord you passe not here.

324318Titus. What villaine boy, barst me my way in Rome?

325319Mutius. Helpe Lucius, helpe.

326320Lucius. My Lord you are vniust, and more than so,

327321In wrongfull quarrell you haue slaine your sonne.

328322Titus. Nor thou, nor he, are any sonnes of mine,

329323My sonnes would neuer so dishonour me,

330324Traitor restore Lauinia to the Emperour.

331325Lucius, Dead if you will, but not to be his wife,

332326That is anothers lawfull promist loue.

335329Emperour. No Titus, no, the Emperour needes her not,

336330Nor her, nor thee, nor any of thy stocke:

337331Ile trust by leysure, him that mocks me once,

338332Thee neuer, nor thy traiterous hawtie sonnes,

339333Confederates all thus to dishonour mee.

340334Was none in Rome to make a stale

341335But Saturnine? Full well Andronicus

342336Agree these deeds, with that prowd bragge of thine,

343337That saidst I begd the Empire at thy hands.

344338Titus O monstrous, what reprochfull words are these?

345339Saturn. But goe thy waies, goe giue that changing piece,

346340To him that florisht for her with his sword:

347341A valiant sonne in law thou shalt inioy,

348342One fit to bandie with thy lawlesse sonnes,

349343To ruffle in the Common-wealth of Rome.

350344Titus. These words are rasors to my wounded hart.

351345Satur. And therfore louely Tamora Queene of Gothes,

352346That like the statelie Thebe mongst her Nymphs,

353347Dost ouershine the gallanst Dames of Rome,

354348If thou be pleasde with this my sodaine choise,

355349Behold I choose thee Tamora for my Bride,

356350And will create thee Emperesse of Rome.

357351Speake Queene of Gothes dost thou applaud my choise?

358352And here I sweare by all the Romane Gods,

359353Sith Priest and holy water are so neere,

360354And tapers burne so bright, and euerything

361355In readines for Hymeneus stand,

362356I will not resalute the streets of Rome,

363357Or clime my Pallace, till from forth this place,

364358I lead espowsde my Bride along with mee.

365359Tamora. And here in sight of heauen to Rome I sweare,

366360If Saturnine aduaunce the Queene of Gothes,

367361Shee will a handmaide be to his desires,

368362A louing Nurse, a Mother to his youth.

369363Sat. Ascend faire Queene: Panthean Lords accompany

371364Your Noble Emperour and his louelie Bride,

372365Sent by the Heauens for Prince Saturnine,

373366Whose wisdome hath her Fortune conquered,

374367There shall wee consummate our spousall rites.

376369Titus. I am not bid to wait vpon this bride,

377370Titus when wert thou wont to walke alone,

378371Dishonoured thus and challenged of wrongs.

380373Marcus. O Titus see: O see what thou hast done

381374In a bad quarrell slaine a vertuous sonne.

382375Titus. No foolish Tribune, no: No sonne of mine,

383376Nor thou, nor these, confederates in the deede,

384377That hath dishonoured all our Familie,

385378Vnworthy brother, and vnworthy sonnes.

386379Lucius. But let vs giue him buriall as becomes,

387380Giue Mucius buriall with our bretheren.

388381Titus. Traitors away, he rests not in this toombe:

389382This monument fiue hundreth yeares hath stood,

390383Which I haue sumptuouslie reedified:

391384Here none but souldiers and Romes seruitors

392385Repose in fame: None basely slaine in braules.

393386Burie him where you can he comes not here.

394387Marcus. My Lord this is impietie in you,

395388My Nephew Mutius deedes doo plead for him,

396389He must be buried with his brethren.

398391And shall or him wee will accompanie.

399392Titus. And shall. what villaine was it spake that word?

401394He that would vouch it in any place but here.

402395Titus. What would you burie him in my despight?

403396Marcus. No Noble Titus, but intreat of thee.

404397To pardon Mutius and to bury him.

405398Titus. Marcus: Euen thou hast stroke vpon my Crest.

406399And with these boyes mine honour thou hast wounded,

407400My foes I doe repute you euerie one,

408401So trouble me no more, but get you gone.

409402₃. Sonne. He is not with himselfe, let vs withdraw.

4104032. Sonne. Not I till Mutius bones be buried.

412405Marcus. Brother, for in that name doth nature pleade.

4134062. sonne. Father, and in that name doth nature speake.

414407Titus. Speake thou no more, if all the rest will speede.

415408Marcus. Renowmed Titus, more than halfe my soule.

416409Lucius. Deare father, soule and substance of vs all.

417410Marcus Suffer thy brother Marcus to interre,

418411His Noble Nephew here in vertues nest,

419412That died in honour and Lauinias cause.

420413Thou art a Romane, be not barbarous:

421414The Greeks vpon aduise did burie Ayax

422415That slew himselfe: and wise Laertes sonne,

423416Did gratiouslie plead for his Funeralls:

424417Let not young Mutius then that was thy ioy,

425418Be bard his entrance here.

426419Titus. Rise Marcus, rise,

427420The dismalst day is this that ere I saw,

428421To be dishonoured by my sonnes in Rome:

429422Well burie him, and burie me the next.

431424Lucius. There lie thy bones sweete Mutius with thy(friends,

432425Till wee with Trophees doo adorne thy tombe:

434427 No man shed teares for Noble Mutius,

435428He liues in fame, that dide in vertues cause.

430Marcus. My Lord to step out of these dririe dumps,

437431How comes it that the subtile Queene of Gothes,

438432Is of a sodaine thus aduaunc'd in Rome.

439433Titus. I know not Marcus, but I know it is.

440434(Whether by deuise or no, the heauens can tell.)

441435Is shee not then beholding to the man,

C That

442436That brought her for this high good turne so farre.

448440Saturnine. So Bascianus, you haue plaid your prize,

449441God giue you ioy sir of your gallant Bride.

450442Bascianus. And you of yours my Lord, I say no more,

451443Nor wish no lesse, and so I take my leaue.

452444Saturnine. Traitor, if Rome haue law, or we haue power,

453445Thou and thy faction shall repent this Rape.

454446Bassianus. Rape call you it my Lord to ceaze my owne,

455447My true betrothed loue, and now my wife:

456448But let the lawes of Rome determine all,

457449Meanewhile am I possest of that is mine.

458450Saturnine. Tis good sir, you are verie short with vs.

459451But if we liue, weele be as sharpe with you.

460452Bascianus. My Lord what I haue done as best I may,

461453Answere I must, and shall doo with my life,

462454Onely thus much I giue your Grace to know,

463455By all the dueties that I owe to Rome,

464456This Noble Gentleman Lord Titus here,

465457Is in opinion and in honour wrongd,

466458That in the rescue of Lauinia,

467459With his owne hand did slay his youngest sonne,

468460In zeale to you, and highly moude to wrath,

469461To be controwld in that he frankelie gaue.

470462Receaue him then to fauour Saturnine,

471463That hath exprest himselfe in all his deeds,

472464A father and a friend to thee and Rome.

473465Titus. Prince Bascianus leaue to pleade my deeds,

474466Tis thou, and those, that haue dishonoured me,

475467Rome and the righteous heauens be my iudge,

476468How I haue loude and honoured Saturnine.

477469Tamora. My worthy Lord, if euer Tamora,

478470Were gratious in those Princelie eies of thine,

479471Then heare me speake indifferently for all:

480472And at my sute (sweete) pardon what is past.

481473Saturnine. What Madam be dishonoured openly,

482474And baselie put it vp without reuenge.

483475Tamora. Not so my Lord, the Gods of Rome forfend.

485476I should be Authour to dishonour you.

486477But on mine honour dare I vndertake,

487478For good Lord Titus innocence in all,

488479Whose furie not dissembled speakes his griefes:

489480Then at my sute looke gratiouslie on him,

490481Loose not so noble a friend on vaine suppose,

491482Nor with sowre looks afflict his gentle hart.

492483 My Lord: Be rulde by me, be wonne at last,

493484Dissemble all your griefes and discontents,

494485You are but newlie planted in your Throne,

495486Least then the people, and Patricians too,

496487Vpon a iust suruay take Titus part,

497488And so supplant you for ingratitude,

498489Which Rome reputes to be a hainous sinne.

499490Yeeld at intreats: and then let me alone,

500491Ile find a day to massacre them all,

501492And race their faction and their familie,

502493The cruell father, and his traiterous sonnes,

503494To whom I sued for my deare sonnes life.

504495And make them know what tis to let a Queene,

505496Kneele in the streets and begge for grace in vaine.

506497Come, come sweete Emperour, (come Andronicus:)

507498Take vp this good old man, and cheare the hart,

508499That dies in tempest of thy angrie frowne.

509500Saturnine. Rise Titus rise, my Empresse hath preuaild.

511501Titus. I thanke your Maiestie, and her my Lord,

513502These words, these looks, infuse new life in me.

515503Tamora. Titus I am incorporate in Rome,

C2 A

516504A Roman now adopted happilie,

517505And must aduise the Emperour for his good,

518506This day all quarrels die Andronicus.

519507And let it be mine honour good my Lord,

520508That I haue reconciled your friends and you.

521509For you Prince Bassianus I haue past

522510My word and promise to the Emperour,

523511That you will be more milde and tractable.

524512And feare not Lords, and you Lauinia,

526513By my aduise all humbled on your knees,

527514You shall aske pardon of his Maiestie.

528515Wee doo, and vowe to Heauen and to his Highnes,

530516

+

That what wee did, was mild ie as we might,

531517Tendring our sisters honour and our owne.

532518Marcus. That on mine honour here doo I protest.

533519Saturnine. Away, and talke not, trouble vs no more.

534520Tamora. Nay, nay sweet Emperor, we must all be friends,

535521The Tribune and his Nephews kneele for grace,

537522I will not be denied, sweetehart looke backe.

538523Saturnine. Marcus, for thy sake, and thy brothers here,

540524And at my louelie Tamoras intreats,

541525I doo remit these young mens hainous faults,

542526Stand vp: Lauinia though you left me like a Churle,

543527I found a friend, and sure as death I swore,

544528I would not part a Batchiler from the Priest.

545529Come if the Emperours Court can feast two Brides,

546530You are my guest Lauinia and your friends:

547531This daie shall be a loue-daie Tamora.

548532Titus. To morrow and it please your Maiestie,

549533To hunt the Panther and the Hart with me,

550534

+

With horne and hound, weele giue your grace boniour.

552535Saturnine. Be it so Titus and gramercie too. Exeunt.