I Guard. O Cæsar, This Charmian liv'd but now; she stood, and spake : On her dead mistress; tremblingly she stood, O noble weakness ! Cæs. In her strong toil of grace. Dol. Here, on her breast, There is a vent of blood, and something blown : The like is on her arm. 1 Guard. This is an aspic's trail: and these fig-leaves Have slime upon them, such as the aspic leaves Upon the caves of Nile. Cæs. Most probable That so she died; for her physician tells me She hath pursued conclusions infinite Of easy ways to die.-Take up her bed; And bear her women from the monument : She shall be buried by her Antony: No grave upon the earth shall clip in it A pair so famous. High events as these Strike those that make them; and their story is No less in pity than his glory, which Brought them to be lamented. Our army shall, And then to Rome. -Come, Dolabella, see [Exeunt. TITUS ANDRONICUS. PERSONS REPRESENTED. SATURNINUS, son to the late Emperor of Rome. TITUS ANDRONICUS, a noble Roman. MARCUS ANDRONICUS, brother to TITUS. LUCIUS, QUINTUS, sons to TITUS ANDRONICUS. MARTIUS, MUTIUS, Young LUCIUS, a boy, son to LUCIUS. PUBLIUS, son to MARCUS, the tribune. A Captain, Tribune, Messenger, and Clown. TAMORA, Queen of the Goths. LAVINIA, daughter to TITUS ANDRONICUS. A Nurse, and a black Child. Kinsmen of Tirus, Senators, Tribunes, Officers, Sol diers, and Attendants. ACT I. Flourish. Enter the Tribunes and Senators, aloft, and then enter SATURNINUS and his Followers at one door, and BASSIANUS and his Followers at the other, with drum and colours. Sat. Noble patricians, patrons of my right, Bass. Romans, friends, followers, favourers of my right, If ever Bassianus, Cæsar's son, Were gracious in the eyes of royal Rome, And suffer not dishonour to approach And, Romans, fight for freedom in your choice. Enter MARCUS ANDRONICUS, aloft, with the crown. Marc. Princes, that strive by factions and by friends, Ambitiously for rule and empery, 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. From weary wars against the barbarous Goths, And now at last, laden with honour's spoils, Let us entreat,-by honour of his name, Whom you pretend to honour and adore,- Sat. How fair the tribune speaks to calm my thoughts. Bass. Marcus Andronicus, so I do affy In thy uprightness and integrity, And so I love and honour thee and thine, And her to whom my thoughts are humbled all, [Exeunt Followers of BASSIANUS. |