Cym. Well, My peace we will begin :-And, Caius Lucius, Although the victor, we submit to Cæsar, And to the Roman empire; promising To pay our wonted tribute, from the which We were dissuaded by our wicked queen; Whom heavens, in justice (both on her and hers,) Have laid most heavy hand. Sooth. The fingers of the powers above do tune The harmony of this peace. The vision Which I made known to Lucius, ere the stroke Of this yet scarce-cold battle, at this instant Is full accomplish'd: For the Roman eagle, From south to west on wing soaring aloft, Lessen'd herself, and in the beams o'the sun So vanish'd: which foreshow'd our princely eagle, The imperial Cæsar, should again unite His favour with the radiant Cymbeline, Which shines here in the west. Cym. Laud we the gods And let our crooked smokes climb to their nostrils; A Roman and a British ensign wave Friendly together: So through Lud's town march: Our peace we'll ratify; seal it with feasts.- This play has many just sentiments, some natural dialogues, and some pleasing scenes, but they are obtained at the expense of much incongruity. To remark the folly of the fiction, the absurdity of the conduct, the confusion of the names and manners of different times, and the impossibility of the events in any system of life, were to waste criticism upon unresisting imbecility, upon faults too evident for detection, and too gross for aggravation. JOHNSON. TITUS ANDRONICUS. PERSONS REPRESENTED. Saturninus, son to the late emperor of Rome, and Alarbus, afterwards declared emperor himself. Chiron, Bassianus, brother to Saturninus; in love with Demetrius, Lavinia. Aaron, a Moor, beloved by Tamora. Titus Andronicus, a noble Roman, general against A Captain, Tribune, Messenger, and Clown ; the Goths. Romans. Marcus Andronicus, tribune of the people; and Goths, and Romans. brother to Titus. Lucius, Tamora, Queen of the Goths. Lavinia, daughter to Titus Andronicus. Kinsmen of Titus, Senators, Tribunes, Officers, Scene, Rome; and the country near it. ACT I. 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. Saturninus. NOBLE patricians, patrons of my right, If ever Bassianus, Cæsar's son, Enter Marcus Andronicus aloft, with the crown. Lives not this day within the city walls: And now at last, laden with honour's spoils, Mar. Princes that strive by factions, and by friends, Ambitiously for rule and empery, Sat. How fair the tribune speaks to calm my Bas. Marcus Andronicus, so I do affy thank you all, and here dismiss you all; Know, that the people of Rome, for whom we And to the love and favour of my country stand A special party, have, by their comon voice, For many good and great deserts to Rome; (1) i. e. Title to the succession. (2) Summoned. Commit myself, my person, and the cause. [Exeunt the Followers of Saturninus. Bas. Tribunes! and me, a poor competitor. 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, With honour and with fortune is return'd, From where he circumscribed with his sword, And brought to yoke, the enemies of Rome. 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 Lo, as the bark that hath discharg'd her fraught,' Draw near them then in being merciful: To this your son is mark'd; and die he must, Tam. O cruel, irreligious piety! Chi. Was ever Scythia half so barbarous? To tremble under Titus' threatening look. Luc. See, lord and father, how we have perform'd Whose smoke, like incense, doth perfume the sky. Here Goths have given me leave to sheathe my Remaineth nought, but to inter our brethren, sword. Titus, unkind, and careless of thine own, [The tomb is opened. How many sons of mine hast thou in store, Luc. Give us the proudest prisoner of the Goths, Tit. I give him you; the noblest that survives, Victorious Titus, rue the tears I shed, (1) Freight. con (2) Jupiter, to whom the Capitol was sacred. (3) It was supposed that the ghosts of unburied people appeared to solicit the rites of funeral. And with loud 'larums welcome them to Rome. [Trumpets sounded, and the coffins laid in In Enter Lavinia. peace and honour rest you here, my sons! I render, for my brethren's obsequies; Tit. Kind Rome, that hast thus lovingly reserv'd Mar. Long live lord Titus, my beloved brother, Mar. And welcome, nephews, from successful You that survive, and you that sleep in fame. Fair lords, your fortunes are alike in all, Tit. A better head her glorious body fits, Luc. Proud Saturnine, interrupter of the good That noble-minded Titus means to thee! Tit. Content thee, prince; I will restore to thee The people's hearts, and wean them from themselves. Bas. Andronicus, I do not flatter thee, Of noble minds, is honourable meed. Tit. People of Rome, and people's tribunes here, I ask your voices, and your suffrages; Will you bestow them friendly on Andronicus? Tit. Tribunes, I thank you: and this suit I make, Lord Saturninus, Rome's great emperor; [A long flourish. Sat. Titus Andronicus, for thy favours done I give thee thanks in part of thy deserts, (1) The maxim alluded to is, that no man can be pronounced happy before his death. Tell me, Andronicus, doth this motion please thee? Tit. Now, madam, are you prisoner to an emperor; [To Tamora. To him that, for your honour and your state, Will use you nobly, and your followers. Sat. A goodly lady, trust me; of the hue Thou com'st not to be made a scorn in Rome : Lav. Not I, my lord; sith true nobility Sat. Thanks, sweet Lavinia.-Romans, let us go: Ransomless here we set our prisoners free: Proclaim our honours, lords, with trump and drum. Bas. Lord Titus, by your leave, this maid is mine. [Seizing Lavinia. Tit. How, sir? Are you in earnest then, my lord? Bas. Ay, noble Titus; and resolv'd withal, To do myself this reason and this right. [The emperor courts Tamora in dumb show. Mar. Suum cuique is our Roman justice: This prince in justice seizeth but his own. Luc. And that he will, and shall, if Lucius live. Tit. Traitors, avaunt! Where is the emperor's guard? Treason, my lord; Lavinia is surpris'd. Sat. Surpris'd! By whom? By him that justly may Bear his betroth'd from all the world away. [Exeunt Marcus and Bassianus, with Lavinia. Mut. Brothers, help to convey her hence away, And with my sword I'll keep this door safe. [Exeunt Lucius, Quintus, and Martius. Tit. Follow, my lord, and I'll soon bring her back. Mut. My lord, you pass not here. Tit. Barr'st me my way in Rome? Mut. What, villain boy! [Titus kills Mutius. Help, Lucius, help. Re-enter Lucius. Luc. My lord, you are unjust: and, more than so, In wrongful quarrel you have slain your son. Tit. Nor thou, nor he, are any sons of mine: My sons would never so dishonour me: Traitor, restore Lavinia to the emperor. Luc. Dead, if you will; but not to be his wife, [Exit. That is another's lawful promis'd love. Sat. No, Titus, no; the emperor needs her not, (3) i. e. Do on, put it on. (2) A robe. (4) The sun's. (5) Since. Not her, nor thee, nor any of thy stock: Was there none else in Rome to make a stale' of, Sat. But go thy ways; go, give that changing piece To him that flourish'd for her with his sword: To ruffle in the commonwealth of Rome. Tit. These words are razors to my wounded heart. Sat. And therefore, lovely Tamora, queen of Goths, Quin. He that would vouch't in any place but here. Tit. What, would you bury him in my despite ? Mar. No, noble Titus; but entreat of thee To pardon Mutius and to bury him. Tit. Marcus, even thou hast struck upon my crest, And, with these boys, mine honour thou hast wounded: My foes I do repute you every one; So trouble me no more, but get you gone. Mart. He is not with himself; let us withdraw. Quin. Not I, till Mutius' bones be buried. [Marcus and the Sons of Titus kneel. Mar. Brother, for in that name doth nature plead. Quin. Father, and in that name doth nature speak. Tit. Speak thou no more, if all the rest will speed. Mar. Renowned Titus, more than half my soul,Luc. Dear father, soul and substance of us all,Mar. Suffer thy brother Marcus to inter His noble nephew here in virtue's nest, That died in honour and Lavinia's cause. Thou art a Roman, be not barbarous. The Greeks, upon advice, did bury Ajax my That slew himself; and wise Laertes' son Did graciously plead for his funerals. Let not young Mutius then, that was thy joy, Be barr'd his entrance here. That, like the stately Phoebe 'mongst her nymphs, choice? And here I swear by all the Roman gods,- Tam. And here, in sight of heaven, to Rome I swear, If Saturnine advance the queen of Goths, Sat. Ascend, fair queen, Pantheon :-Lords, ac company Your noble emperor, and his lovely bride, [Exeunt Saturninus, and his followers; Ta- Tit. No, foolish tribune, no; no son of mine,→ Nor thou, nor these, confederates in the deed That hath dishonoured all our family; Unworthy brother, and unworthy sons! Luc. But let us give him burial, as becomes; Give Mutius burial with our brethren. Tit. Traitors, away! he rests not in this tomb. This monument five hundred years hath stood, Which I have sumptuously re-edified: Here none but soldiers, and Rome's servitors, Mar. My lord, this is impiety in you: Quin. Mart. And shall, or him we will accompany. Tit. And shall? What villain was it spoke that word? VOL. II. (1) A stalking-horse. Tit. Rise, Marcus, rise :The dismall'st day is this, that e'er I saw, To be dishonour'd by my sons in Rome!Well, bury him, and bury me the next. [Mutius is put into the tomb. Luc. There lie thy bones, sweet Mutius, with thy friends, Till we with trophies do adorn thy tomb!- How comes it that the subtle queen of Goths Tit. I know not, Marcus; but, I know, it is; Flourish. Re-enter, at one side, Saturninus, at- Thou and thy faction shall repent this rape. Bas. Rape, call you it, my lord, to seize my own, My true-betrothed love, and now my wife? But let the laws of Rome determine all; Mean while I am possess'd of that is mine. Sat. 'Tis good, sir: You are very short with us; But, if we live, we'll be as sharp with you. Bas. My lord, what I have done, as best I may, Answer I must, and shall do with my life. Only thus much I give you grace to know, By all the duties that I owe to Rome, This noble gentleman, lord Titus here, Is in opinion, and in honour, wrong'd; That, in the rescue of Lavinia, With his own hand did slay his youngest son, (3) Invited. (2) A ruffler was a bully. 3 G |