1    Noble patricians, patrons of my right,
2    Defend the justice of my cause with arms,
3    And, countrymen, my loving followers,
4    Plead my successive title with your swords:
5    I am his first-born son, that was the last
6    That wore the imperial diadem of Rome;
7    Then let my father's honours live in me,
8    Nor wrong mine age with this indignity.

9    Romans, friends, followers, favorers of my right,
10   If ever Bassianus, Caesar's son,
11   Were gracious in the eyes of royal Rome,
12   Keep then this passage to the Capitol
13   And suffer not dishonour to approach
14   The imperial seat, to virtue consecrate,
15   To justice, continence and nobility;
16   But let desert in pure election shine,
17   And, Romans, fight for freedom in your choice.

18   Princes, that strive by factions and by friends
19   Ambitiously for rule and empery,
20   Know that the people of Rome, for whom we stand
21   A special party, have, by common voice,
22   In election for the Roman empery,
23   Chosen Andronicus, surnamed Pius
24   For many good and great deserts to Rome:
25   A nobler man, a braver warrior,
26   Lives not this day within the city walls:
27   He by the senate is accit'd home
28   From weary wars against the barbarous Goths;
29   That, with his sons, a terror to our foes,
30   Hath yoked a nation strong, train'd up in arms.
31   Ten years are spent since first he undertook
32   This cause of Rome and chastised with arms
33   Our enemies' pride: five times he hath return'd
34   Bleeding to Rome, bearing his valiant sons
35   In coffins from the field;
36   And now at last, laden with horror's spoils,
37   Returns the good Andronicus to Rome,
38   Renowned Titus, flourishing in arms.
39   Let us entreat, by honour of his name,
40   Whom worthily you would have now succeed.
41   And in the Capitol and senate's right,
42   Whom you pretend to honour and adore,
43   That you withdraw you and abate your strength;
44   Dismiss your followers and, as suitors should,
45   Plead your deserts in peace and humbleness.

46   How fair the tribune speaks to calm my thoughts!

47   Marcus Andronicus, so I do ally
48   In thy uprightness and integrity,
49   And so I love and honour thee and thine,
50   Thy noble brother Titus and his sons,
51   And her to whom my thoughts are humbled all,
52   Gracious Lavinia, Rome's rich ornament,
53   That I will here dismiss my loving friends,
54   And to my fortunes and the people's favor
55   Commit my cause in balance to be weigh'd.

56   Friends, that have been thus forward in my right,
57   I thank you all and here dismiss you all,
58   And to the love and favor of my country
59   Commit myself, my person and the cause.
Exeunt the followers of SATURNINUS
60   Rome, be as just and gracious unto me
61   As I am confident and kind to thee.
62   Open the gates, and let me in.

63   Tribunes, and me, a poor competitor.

64   Romans, make way: the good Andronicus.
65   Patron of virtue, Rome's best champion,
66   Successful in the battles that he fights,
67   With honour and with fortune is return'd
68   From where he circumscribed with his sword,
69   And brought to yoke, the enemies of Rome.

70   Hail, Rome, victorious in thy mourning weeds!
71   Lo, as the bark, that hath discharged her fraught,
72   Returns with precious jading to the bay
73   From whence at first she weigh'd her anchorage,
74   Cometh Andronicus, bound with laurel boughs,
75   To re-salute his country with his tears,
76   Tears of true joy for his return to Rome.
77   Thou great defender of this Capitol,
78   Stand gracious to the rites that we intend!
79   Romans, of five and twenty valiant sons,
80   Half of the number that King Priam had,
81   Behold the poor remains, alive and dead!
82   These that survive let Rome reward with love;
83   These that I bring unto their latest home,
84   With burial amongst their ancestors:
85   Here Goths have given me leave to sheathe my sword.
86   Titus, unkind and careless of thine own,
87   Why suffer'st thou thy sons, unburied yet,
88   To hover on the dreadful shore of Styx?
89   Make way to lay them by their brethren.
The tomb is opened
90   There greet in silence, as the dead are wont,
91   And sleep in peace, slain in your country's wars!
92   O sacred receptacle of my joys,
93   Sweet cell of virtue and nobility,
94   How many sons of mine hast thou in store,
95   That thou wilt never render to me more!

96   Give us the proudest prisoner of the Goths,
97   That we may hew his limbs, and on a pile
98   Ad manes fratrum sacrifice his flesh,
99   Before this earthy prison of their bones;
100  That so the shadows be not unappeased,
101  Nor we disturb'd with prodigies on earth.

102  I give him you, the noblest that survives,
103  The eldest son of this distressed queen.

104  Stay, Roman brethren! Gracious conqueror,
105  Victorious Titus, rue the tears I shed,
106  A mother's tears in passion for her son:
107  And if thy sons were ever dear to thee,
108  O, think my son to be as dear to me!
109  Sufficeth not that we are brought to Rome,
110  To beautify thy triumphs and return,
111  Captive to thee and to thy Roman yoke,
112  But must my sons be slaughter'd in the streets,
113  For valiant doings in their country's cause?
114  O, if to fight for king and commonweal
115  Were piety in thine, it is in these.
116  Andronicus, stain not thy tomb with blood:
117  Wilt thou draw near the nature of the gods?
118  Draw near them then in being merciful:
119  Sweet mercy is nobility's true badge:
120  Thrice noble Titus, spare my first-born son.

121  Patient yourself, madam, and pardon me.
122  These are their brethren, whom you Goths beheld
123  Alive and dead, and for their brethren slain
124  Religiously they ask a sacrifice:
125  To this your son is mark'd, and die he must,
126  To appease their groaning shadows that are gone.

127  Away with him! and make a fire straight;
128  And with our swords, upon a pile of wood,
129  Let's hew his limbs till they be clean consumed.

130  O cruel, irreligious piety!

131  Was ever Scythia half so barbarous?

132  Oppose not Scythia to ambitious Rome.
133  Alarbus goes to rest; and we survive
134  To tremble under Titus' threatening looks.
135  Then, madam, stand resolved, but hope withal
136  The self-same gods that arm'd the Queen of Troy
137  With opportunity of sharp revenge
138  Upon the Thracian tyrant in his tent,
139  May favor Tamora, the Queen of Goths--
140  When Goths were Goths and Tamora was queen--
141  To quit the bloody wrongs upon her foes.

142  See, lord and father, how we have perform'd
143  Our Roman rites: Alarbus' limbs are lopp'd,
144  And entrails feed the sacrificing fire,
145  Whose smoke, like incense, doth perfume the sky.
146  Remaineth nought, but to inter our brethren,
147  And with loud 'larums welcome them to Rome.

148  Let it be so; and let Andronicus
149  Make this his latest farewell to their souls.
Trumpets sounded, and the coffin laid in the tomb
150  In peace and honour rest you here, my sons;
151  Rome's readiest champions, repose you here in rest,
152  Secure from worldly chances and mishaps!
153  Here lurks no treason, here no envy swells,
154  Here grow no damned grudges; here are no storms,
155  No noise, but silence and eternal sleep:
156  In peace and honour rest you here, my sons!

157  In peace and honour live Lord Titus long;
158  My noble lord and father, live in fame!
159  Lo, at this tomb my tributary tears
160  I render, for my brethren's obsequies;
161  And at thy feet I kneel, with tears of joy,
162  Shed on the earth, for thy return to Rome:
163  O, bless me here with thy victorious hand,
164  Whose fortunes Rome's best citizens applaud!

165  Kind Rome, that hast thus lovingly reserved
166  The cordial of mine age to glad my heart!
167  Lavinia, live; outlive thy father's days,
168  And fame's eternal date, for virtue's praise!

169  Long live Lord Titus, my beloved brother,
170  Gracious triumpher in the eyes of Rome!

171  Thanks, gentle tribune, noble brother Marcus.

172  And welcome, nephews, from successful wars,
173  You that survive, and you that sleep in fame!
174  Fair lords, your fortunes are alike in all,
175  That in your country's service drew your swords:
176  But safer triumph is this funeral pomp,
177  That hath aspired to Solon's happiness
178  And triumphs over chance in honour's bed.
179  Titus Andronicus, the people of Rome,
180  Whose friend in justice thou hast ever been,
181  Send thee by me, their tribune and their trust,
182  This palliament of white and spotless hue;
183  And name thee in election for the empire,
184  With these our late-deceased emperor's sons:
185  Be candidatus then, and put it on,
186  And help to set a head on headless Rome.

187  A better head her glorious body fits
188  Than his that shakes for age and feebleness:
189  What should I don this robe, and trouble you?
190  Be chosen with proclamations to-day,
191  To-morrow yield up rule, resign my life,
192  And set abroad new business for you all?
193  Rome, I have been thy soldier forty years,
194  And led my country's strength successfully,
195  And buried one and twenty valiant sons,
196  Knighted in field, slain manfully in arms,
197  In right and service of their noble country
198  Give me a staff of honour for mine age,
199  But not a sceptre to control the world:
200  Upright he held it, lords, that held it last.

201  Titus, thou shalt obtain and ask the empery.

202  Proud and ambitious tribune, canst thou tell?

203  Patience, Prince Saturninus.

204  Romans, do me right:
205  Patricians, draw your swords: and sheathe them not
206  Till Saturninus be Rome's emperor.
207  Andronicus, would thou wert shipp'd to hell,
208  Rather than rob me of the people's hearts!

209  Proud Saturnine, interrupter of the good
210  That noble-minded Titus means to thee!

211  Content thee, prince; I will restore to thee
212  The people's hearts, and wean them from themselves.

213  Andronicus, I do not flatter thee,
214  But honour thee, and will do till I die:
215  My faction if thou strengthen with thy friends,
216  I will most thankful be; and thanks to men
217  Of noble minds is honourable meed.

218  People of Rome, and people's tribunes here,
219  I ask your voices and your suffrages:
220  Will you bestow them friendly on Andronicus?

221  To gratify the good Andronicus,
222  And gratulate his safe return to Rome,
223  The people will accept whom he admits.

224  Tribunes, I thank you: and this suit I make,
225  That you create your emperor's eldest son,
226  Lord Saturnine; whose virtues will, I hope,
227  Reflect on Rome as Titan's rays on earth,
228  And ripen justice in this commonweal:
229  Then, if you will elect by my advice,
230  Crown him and say 'Long live our emperor!'

231  With voices and applause of every sort,
232  Patricians and plebeians, we create
233  Lord Saturninus Rome's great emperor,
234  And say 'Long live our Emperor Saturnine!'

235  Titus Andronicus, for thy favors done
236  To us in our election this day,
237  I give thee thanks in part of thy deserts,
238  And will with deeds requite thy gentleness:
239  And, for an onset, Titus, to advance
240  Thy name and honourable family,
241  Lavinia will I make my empress,
242  Rome's royal mistress, mistress of my heart,
243  And in the sacred Pantheon her espouse:
244  Tell me, Andronicus, doth this motion please thee?

245  It doth, my worthy lord; and in this match
246  I hold me highly honour'd of your grace:
247  And here in sight of Rome to Saturnine,
248  King and commander of our commonweal,
249  The wide world's emperor, do I consecrate
250  My sword, my chariot and my prisoners;
251  Presents well worthy Rome's imperial lord:
252  Receive them then, the tribute that I owe,
253  Mine honour's ensigns humbled at thy feet.

254  Thanks, noble Titus, father of my life!
255  How proud I am of thee and of thy gifts
256  Rome shall record, and when I do forget
257  The least of these unspeakable deserts,
258  Romans, forget your fealty to me.

To TAMORA
259   Now, madam, are you prisoner to
260  an emperor;
261  To him that, for your honour and your state,
262  Will use you nobly and your followers.

263  A goodly lady, trust me; of the hue
264  That I would choose, were I to choose anew.
265  Clear up, fair queen, that cloudy countenance:
266  Though chance of war hath wrought this change of cheer,
267  Thou comest not to be made a scorn in Rome:
268  Princely shall be thy usage every way.
269  Rest on my word, and let not discontent
270  Daunt all your hopes: madam, he comforts you
271  Can make you greater than the Queen of Goths.
272  Lavinia, you are not displeased with this?

273  Not I, my lord; sith true nobility
274  Warrants these words in princely courtesy.

275  Thanks, sweet Lavinia. Romans, let us go;
276  Ransomless here we set our prisoners free:
277  Proclaim our honours, lords, with trump and drum.

278  Lord Titus, by your leave, this maid is mine.

279  How, sir! are you in earnest then, my lord?

280  Ay, noble Titus; and resolved withal
281  To do myself this reason and this right.

282  'Suum cuique' is our Roman justice:
283  This prince in justice seizeth but his own.

284  And that he will, and shall, if Lucius live.

285  Traitors, avaunt! Where is the emperor's guard?
286  Treason, my lord! Lavinia is surprised!

287  Surprised! by whom?

288  By him that justly may
289  Bear his betroth'd from all the world away.

290  Brothers, help to convey her hence away,
291  And with my sword I'll keep this door safe.

292  Follow, my lord, and I'll soon bring her back.

293  My lord, you pass not here.

294  What, villain boy!
295  Barr'st me my way in Rome?

296  Help, Lucius, help!
Dies

297  My lord, you are unjust, and, more than so,
298  In wrongful quarrel you have slain your son.

299  Nor thou, nor he, are any sons of mine;
300  My sons would never so dishonour me:
301  Traitor, restore Lavinia to the emperor.

302  Dead, if you will; but not to be his wife,
303  That is another's lawful promised love.

304  No, Titus, no; the emperor needs her not,
305  Nor her, nor thee, nor any of thy stock:
306  I'll trust, by leisure, him that mocks me once;
307  Thee never, nor thy traitorous haughty sons,
308  Confederates all thus to dishonour me.
309  Was there none else in Rome to make a stale,
310  But Saturnine? Full well, Andronicus,
311  Agree these deeds with that proud brag of thine,
312  That said'st I begg'd the empire at thy hands.

313  O monstrous! what reproachful words are these?

314  But go thy ways; go, give that changing piece
315  To him that flourish'd for her with his sword
316  A valiant son-in-law thou shalt enjoy;
317  One fit to bandy with thy lawless sons,
318  To ruffle in the commonwealth of Rome.

319  These words are razors to my wounded heart.

320  And therefore, lovely Tamora, queen of Goths,
321  That like the stately Phoebe 'mongst her nymphs
322  Dost overshine the gallant'st dames of Rome,
323  If thou be pleased with this my sudden choice,
324  Behold, I choose thee, Tamora, for my bride,
325  And will create thee empress of Rome,
326  Speak, Queen of Goths, dost thou applaud my choice?
327  And here I swear by all the Roman gods,
328  Sith priest and holy water are so near
329  And tapers burn so bright and every thing
330  In readiness for Hymenaeus stand,
331  I will not re-salute the streets of Rome,
332  Or climb my palace, till from forth this place
333  I lead espoused my bride along with me.

334  And here, in sight of heaven, to Rome I swear,
335  If Saturnine advance the Queen of Goths,
336  She will a handmaid be to his desires,
337  A loving nurse, a mother to his youth.

338  Ascend, fair queen, Pantheon. Lords, accompany
339  Your noble emperor and his lovely bride,
340  Sent by the heavens for Prince Saturnine,
341  Whose wisdom hath her fortune conquered:
342  There shall we consummate our spousal rites.

343  I am not bid to wait upon this bride.
344  Titus, when wert thou wont to walk alone,
345  Dishonour'd thus, and challenged of wrongs?

346  O Titus, see, O, see what thou hast done!
347  In a bad quarrel slain a virtuous son.

348  No, foolish tribune, no; no son of mine,
349  Nor thou, nor these, confederates in the deed
350  That hath dishonour'd all our family;
351  Unworthy brother, and unworthy sons!

352  But let us give him burial, as becomes;
353  Give Mutius burial with our brethren.

354  Traitors, away! he rests not in this tomb:
355  This monument five hundred years hath stood,
356  Which I have sumptuously re-edified:
357  Here none but soldiers and Rome's servitors
358  Repose in fame; none basely slain in brawls:
359  Bury him where you can; he comes not here.

360  My lord, this is impiety in you:
361  My nephew Mutius' deeds do plead for him
362  He must be buried with his brethren.

363  And shall, or him we will accompany.

364  'And shall!' what villain was it that spake
365  that word?

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

367  What, would you bury him in my despite?

368  No, noble Titus, but entreat of thee
369  To pardon Mutius and to bury him.

370  Marcus, even thou hast struck upon my crest,
371  And, with these boys, mine honour thou hast wounded:
372  My foes I do repute you every one;
373  So, trouble me no more, but get you gone.

374  He is not with himself; let us withdraw.

375  Not I, till Mutius' bones be buried.

376  Brother, for in that name doth nature plead,--

377  Father, and in that name doth nature speak,--

378  Speak thou no more, if all the rest will speed.

379  Renowned Titus, more than half my soul,--

380  Dear father, soul and substance of us all,--

381  Suffer thy brother Marcus to inter
382  His noble nephew here in virtue's nest,
383  That died in honour and Lavinia's cause.
384  Thou art a Roman; be not barbarous:
385  The Greeks upon advice did bury Ajax
386  That slew himself; and wise Laertes' son
387  Did graciously plead for his funerals:
388  Let not young Mutius, then, that was thy joy
389  Be barr'd his entrance here.

390  Rise, Marcus, rise.
391  The dismall'st day is this that e'er I saw,
392  To be dishonour'd by my sons in Rome!
393  Well, bury him, and bury me the next.

394  There lie thy bones, sweet Mutius, with thy friends,
395  Till we with trophies do adorn thy tomb.

Kneeling
396   No man shed tears for noble Mutius;
397  He lives in fame that died in virtue's cause.

398  My lord, to step out of these dreary dumps,
399  How comes it that the subtle Queen of Goths
400  Is of a sudden thus advanced in Rome?

401  I know not, Marcus; but I know it is,
402  Whether by device or no, the heavens can tell:
403  Is she not then beholding to the man
404  That brought her for this high good turn so far?
405  Yes, and will nobly him remunerate.

406  So, Bassianus, you have play'd your prize:
407  God give you joy, sir, of your gallant bride!

408  And you of yours, my lord! I say no more,
409  Nor wish no less; and so, I take my leave.

410  Traitor, if Rome have law or we have power,
411  Thou and thy faction shall repent this rape.

412  Rape, call you it, my lord, to seize my own,
413  My truth-betrothed love and now my wife?
414  But let the laws of Rome determine all;
415  Meanwhile I am possess'd of that is mine.

416  'Tis good, sir: you are very short with us;
417  But, if we live, we'll be as sharp with you.

418  My lord, what I have done, as best I may,
419  Answer I must and shall do with my life.
420  Only thus much I give your grace to know:
421  By all the duties that I owe to Rome,
422  This noble gentleman, Lord Titus here,
423  Is in opinion and in honour wrong'd;
424  That in the rescue of Lavinia
425  With his own hand did slay his youngest son,
426  In zeal to you and highly moved to wrath
427  To be controll'd in that he frankly gave:
428  Receive him, then, to favor, Saturnine,
429  That hath express'd himself in all his deeds
430  A father and a friend to thee and Rome.

431  Prince Bassianus, leave to plead my deeds:
432  'Tis thou and those that have dishonour'd me.
433  Rome and the righteous heavens be my judge,
434  How I have loved and honour'd Saturnine!

435  My worthy lord, if ever Tamora
436  Were gracious in those princely eyes of thine,
437  Then hear me speak in indifferently for all;
438  And at my suit, sweet, pardon what is past.

439  What, madam! be dishonour'd openly,
440  And basely put it up without revenge?

441  Not so, my lord; the gods of Rome forfend
442  I should be author to dishonour you!
443  But on mine honour dare I undertake
444  For good Lord Titus' innocence in all;
445  Whose fury not dissembled speaks his griefs:
446  Then, at my suit, look graciously on him;
447  Lose not so noble a friend on vain suppose,
448  Nor with sour looks afflict his gentle heart.
Aside to SATURNINUS
449   My lord, be ruled by me,
450  be won at last;
451  Dissemble all your griefs and discontents:
452  You are but newly planted in your throne;
453  Lest, then, the people, and patricians too,
454  Upon a just survey, take Titus' part,
455  And so supplant you for ingratitude,
456  Which Rome reputes to be a heinous sin,
457  Yield at entreats; and then let me alone:
458  I'll find a day to massacre them all
459  And raze their faction and their family,
460  The cruel father and his traitorous sons,
461  To whom I sued for my dear son's life,
462  And make them know what 'tis to let a queen
463  Kneel in the streets and beg for grace in vain.
Aloud
464  Come, come, sweet emperor; come, Andronicus;
465  Take up this good old man, and cheer the heart
466  That dies in tempest of thy angry frown.

467  Rise, Titus, rise; my empress hath prevail'd.

468  I thank your majesty, and her, my lord:
469  These words, these looks, infuse new life in me.

470  Titus, I am incorporate in Rome,
471  A Roman now adopted happily,
472  And must advise the emperor for his good.
473  This day all quarrels die, Andronicus;
474  And let it be mine honour, good my lord,
475  That I have reconciled your friends and you.
476  For you, Prince Bassianus, I have pass'd
477  My word and promise to the emperor,
478  That you will be more mild and tractable.
479  And fear not lords, and you, Lavinia;
480  By my advice, all humbled on your knees,
481  You shall ask pardon of his majesty.

482  We do, and vow to heaven and to his highness,
483  That what we did was mildly as we might,
484  Tendering our sister's honour and our own.

485  That, on mine honour, here I do protest.

486  Away, and talk not; trouble us no more.

487  Nay, nay, sweet emperor, we must all be friends:
488  The tribune and his nephews kneel for grace;
489  I will not be denied: sweet heart, look back.

490  Marcus, for thy sake and thy brother's here,
491  And at my lovely Tamora's entreats,
492  I do remit these young men's heinous faults: Stand up.
493  Lavinia, though you left me like a churl,
494  I found a friend, and sure as death I swore
495  I would not part a bachelor from the priest.
496  Come, if the emperor's court can feast two brides,
497  You are my guest, Lavinia, and your friends.
498  This day shall be a love-day, Tamora.

499  To-morrow, an it please your majesty
500  To hunt the panther and the hart with me,
501  With horn and hound we'll give your grace bonjour.

502  Be it so, Titus, and gramercy too.