Then let my father's honors live in me, Nor wrong mine age with this indignity. Bas. Romans, friends, followers, favorers of my right, If ever Bassianus, Cæsar's son, Were gracious in the eyes of royal Rome, 10 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 A special party, have by common voice, Chosen Andronicus, surnamed Pius For many good and great deserts to Rome: Lives not this day within the city walls: 20 From weary wars against the barbarous Goths; Bleeding to Rome, bearing his valiant sons And now at last, laden with honor's spoils, Whom you pretend to honor and adore, That you withdraw you and abate your strength, Dismiss your followers and, as suitors should, Plead your deserts in peace and humbleness. Sat. How fair the tribune speaks to calm my thoughts! Bas. Marcus Andronicus, so I do affy In thy uprightness and integrity, And so I love and honor thee and thine, 50 And her to whom my thoughts are humbled all, I thank you all, and here dismiss you all, [Exeunt the Followers of Saturninus. Rome, be as just and gracious unto me, 60 Open the gates, and let me in. Bas. Tribunes, and me, a poor competitor. [Flourish. Saturninus and Bassianus go up into the Capitol. Enter a Captain. Cap. Romans, make way: the good Andronicus, Patron of virtue, Rome's best champion, Successful in the battles that he fights, With honor and with fortune is return'd From where he circumscribed with his sword, And brought to yoke, the enemies of Rome. Drums and trumpets sounded. Enter Martius and Mutius; after them, two Men bearing a coffin covered with black; then Lucius and Quintus. After them, Titus Andronicus; and then Tamora Queen of Goths, with Alarbus, Demetrius, Chiron, 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 weeds! 70 Lo, as the bark that hath discharged her fraught age, 62. "gates"; Capell reads "gates, tribunes"; Collier MS., "brazen gates."-I. G. 65. “patron”; advocate.-C. H. H. 1 Cometh Andronicus, bound with laurel boughs, Tears of true joy for his return to Rome. 80 Here Goths have given me leave to sheathe my Titus, unkind, and careless of thine own, [They open the tomb. 90 There greet in silence, as the dead are wont, Sweet cell of virtue and nobility, How many sons hast thou of mine in store, That thou wilt never render to me more! Luc. Give us the proudest prisoner of the Goths, That we may hew his limbs and on a pile 'Ad manes fratrum' sacrifice his flesh, Before this earthy prison of their bones, That so the shadows be not unappeased, 100 77. "thou great defender of this Capitol"; i. e. Jupiter, to whom the Capitol was sacred.-H. N. H. 99. "earthy"; so the quartos; the folio, earthly.-H. N. H. Nor we disturb'd with prodigies on earth. Tit. I give him you, the noblest that survives, The eldest son of this distressed queen. Tam. Stay, Roman brethren! queror, Gracious con 110 Victorious Titus, rue the tears I shed, Andronicus, stain not thy tomb with blood. Thrice-noble Titus, spare my first-born son. 120 Tit. Patient yourself, madam, and pardon me. These are their brethren, whom you Goths beheld Alive and dead; and for their brethren slain To this your son is mark'd, and die he must, gone. 101. "prodigies on earth"; it was supposed that the ghosts of unburied people appeared, to solicit the rites of funeral.-H. N. H. |