Titus Andronicus, Act 1 Scene 1

SCENE: Rome and the neighbourhood

ACT 1. SCENE I.
Rome. Before the Capitol

Flourish. Enter the TRIBUNES and SENATORS aloft; and then enter below SATURNINUS
and his followers at one door, and BASSIANUS and his followers at the other,
with drums and trumpets

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

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

Enter MARCUS ANDRONICUS aloft, with the crown

MARCUS 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.
  He by the Senate is accited home,
  From weary wars against the barbarous Goths,
  That with his sons, a terror to our foes,
  Hath yok'd a nation strong, train'd up in arms.
  Ten years are spent since first he undertook
  This cause of Rome, and chastised with arms
  Our enemies' pride; five times he hath return'd
  Bleeding to Rome, bearing his valiant sons
  In coffins from the field; and at this day
  To the monument of that Andronici
  Done sacrifice of expiation,
  And slain the noblest prisoner of the Goths.
  And now at last, laden with honour's spoils,
  Returns the good Andronicus to Rome,
  Renowned Titus, flourishing in arms.
  Let us entreat, by honour of his name
  Whom worthily you would have now succeed,
  And in the Capitol and Senate's right,
  Whom you pretend to honour and adore,
  That you withdraw you and abate your strength,
  Dismiss your followers, and, as suitors should,
  Plead your deserts in peace and humbleness.

SATURNINUS How fair the Tribune speaks to calm my thoughts.

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

Exeunt the soldiers of BASSIANUS

SATURNINUS Friends, that have been thus forward in my right,
  I thank you all and here dismiss you all,
  And to the love and favour of my country
  Commit myself, my person, and the cause.

Exeunt the soldiers of SATURNINUS

  Rome, be as just and gracious unto me
  As I am confident and kind to thee.
  Open the gates and let me in.

BASSIANUS Tribunes, and me, a poor competitor.
                  [Flourish. They go up into the Senate House]

Enter a CAPTAIN

CAPTAIN 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.

Sound drums and trumpets, and then enter
MARTIUS and MUTIUS, two of TITUS' sons; and then two men bearing a coffin
covered with black; then LUCIUS and QUINTUS, two other sons; then TITUS
ANDRONICUS; and then TAMORA the Queen of Goths, with her three sons, ALARBUS,
DEMETRIUS, and CHIRON, with AARON the Moor, and others, as many as can
be. Then set down the coffin and TITUS speaks 

TITUS Hail, Rome, victorious in thy mourning weeds!
  Lo, as the bark that hath discharg'd her fraught
  Returns with precious lading to the bay
  From whence at first she weigh'd her anchorage,
  Cometh Andronicus, bound with laurel boughs,
  To re-salute his country with his tears,
  Tears of true joy for his return to Rome.
  Thou great defender of this Capitol,
  Stand gracious to the rites that we intend!
  Romans, of five and twenty valiant sons,
  Half of the number that King Priam had,
  Behold the poor remains, alive and dead!
  These that survive let Rome reward with love;
  These that I bring unto their latest home,
  With burial amongst their ancestors.
  Here Goths have given me leave to sheathe my sword.
  Titus, unkind, and careless of thine own,
  Why suffer'st thou thy sons, unburied yet,
  To hover on the dreadful shore of Styx?
  Make way to lay them by their brethren.
               [They open the tomb]

  There greet in silence, as the dead are wont,
  And sleep in peace, slain in your country's wars.
  O sacred receptacle of my joys,
  Sweet cell of virtue and nobility,
  How many sons hast thou of mine in store
  That thou wilt never render to me more!

LUCIUS 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 unappeas'd,
  Nor we disturb'd with prodigies on earth.

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

TAMORA Stay, Roman brethen! Gracious conqueror,
  Victorious Titus, rue the tears I shed,
  A mother's tears in passion for her son;
  And if thy sons were ever dear to thee,
  O, think my son to be as dear to me!
  Sufficeth not that we are brought to Rome
  To beautify thy triumphs, and return
  Captive to thee and to thy Roman yoke;
  But must my sons be slaughtered in the streets
  For valiant doings in their country's cause?
  O, if to fight for king and commonweal
  Were piety in thine, it is in these.
  Andronicus, stain not thy tomb with blood.
  Wilt thou draw near the nature of the gods?
  Draw near them then in being merciful.
  Sweet mercy is nobility's true badge.
  Thrice-noble Titus, spare my first-born son.

TITUS Patient yourself, madam, and pardon me.
  These are their brethren, whom your Goths beheld
  Alive and dead; and for their brethren slain
  Religiously they ask a sacrifice.
  To this your son is mark'd, and die he must
  T' appease their groaning shadows that are gone.

LUCIUS Away with him, and make a fire straight;
  And with our swords, upon a pile of wood,
  Let's hew his limbs till they be clean consum'd.

Exeunt TITUS' SONS, with ALARBUS

TAMORA O cruel, irreligious piety! 

CHIRON Was never Scythia half so barbarous!

DEMETRIUS Oppose not Scythia to ambitious Rome.
  Alarbus goes to rest, and we survive
  To tremble under Titus' threat'ning look.
  Then, madam, stand resolv'd, but hope withal
  The self-same gods that arm'd the Queen of Troy
  With opportunity of sharp revenge
  Upon the Thracian tyrant in his tent
  May favour Tamora, the Queen of Goths-
  When Goths were Goths and Tamora was queen-
  To quit the bloody wrongs upon her foes.

Re-enter LUCIUS, QUINTUS, MARTIUS, and
 MUTIUS, the sons of ANDRONICUS, with their swords bloody

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

TITUS Let it be so, and let Andronicus
  Make this his latest farewell to their souls.
               [Sound trumpets and lay the coffin in the tomb]
  In peace and honour rest you here, my sons;
  Rome's readiest champions, repose you here in rest,
  Secure from worldly chances and mishaps!
  Here lurks no treason, here no envy swells,
  Here grow no damned grudges, here are no storms,
  No noise, but silence and eternal sleep.
  In peace and honour rest you here, my sons!

Enter LAVINIA

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

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

Enter, above, MARCUS ANDRONICUS and TRIBUNES;
        re-enter SATURNINUS, BASSIANUS, and attendants

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

TITUS Thanks, gentle Tribune, noble brother Marcus.

MARCUS And welcome, nephews, from successful wars,
  You that survive and you that sleep in fame.
  Fair lords, your fortunes are alike in all
  That in your country's service drew your swords;
  But safer triumph is this funeral pomp
  That hath aspir'd to Solon's happiness
  And triumphs over chance in honour's bed.
  Titus Andronicus, the people of Rome,
  Whose friend in justice thou hast ever been,
  Send thee by me, their Tribune and their trust,
  This palliament of white and spotless hue;
  And name thee in election for the empire
  With these our late-deceased Emperor's sons:
  Be candidatus then, and put it on,
  And help to set a head on headless Rome.

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

MARCUS Titus, thou shalt obtain and ask the empery.

SATURNINUS Proud and ambitious Tribune, canst thou tell?

TITUS Patience, Prince Saturninus.

SATURNINUS Romans, do me right.
  Patricians, draw your swords, and sheathe them not
  Till Saturninus be Rome's Emperor.
  Andronicus, would thou were shipp'd to hell
  Rather than rob me of the people's hearts!

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

TITUS Content thee, Prince; I will restore to thee
  The people's hearts, and wean them from themselves.

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

TITUS People of Rome, and people's Tribunes here,
  I ask your voices and your suffrages:
  Will ye bestow them friendly on Andronicus?

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

TITUS Tribunes, I thank you; and this suit I make,
  That you create our Emperor's eldest son,
  Lord Saturnine; whose virtues will, I hope,
  Reflect on Rome as Titan's rays on earth,
  And ripen justice in this commonweal.
  Then, if you will elect by my advice,
  Crown him, and say 'Long live our Emperor!'

MARCUS With voices and applause of every sort,
  Patricians and plebeians, we create
  Lord Saturninus Rome's great Emperor;
  And say 'Long live our Emperor Saturnine!'
                         [A long flourish till they come down]

SATURNINUS Titus Andronicus, for thy favours done
  To us in our election this day
  I give thee thanks in part of thy deserts,
  And will with deeds requite thy gentleness;
  And for an onset, Titus, to advance
  Thy name and honourable family,
  Lavinia will I make my empress,
  Rome's royal mistress, mistress of my heart,
  And in the sacred Pantheon her espouse.
  Tell me, Andronicus, doth this motion please thee?

TITUS It doth, my worthy lord, and in this match
  I hold me highly honoured of your Grace,
  And here in sight of Rome, to Saturnine,
  King and commander of our commonweal,
  The wide world's Emperor, do I consecrate
  My sword, my chariot, and my prisoners,
  Presents well worthy Rome's imperious lord;
  Receive them then, the tribute that I owe,
  Mine honour's ensigns humbled at thy feet.

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

TITUS  [To TAMORA]  Now, madam, are you prisoner to an
emperor;
  To him that for your honour and your state
  Will use you nobly and your followers.

SATURNINUS  [Aside]  A goodly lady, trust me; of the hue
  That I would choose, were I to choose anew.-
  Clear up, fair Queen, that cloudy countenance;
  Though chance of war hath wrought this change of cheer,
  Thou com'st not to be made a scorn in Rome–
  Princely shall be thy usage every way.
  Rest on my word, and let not discontent
  Daunt all your hopes. Madam, he comforts you
  Can make you greater than the Queen of Goths.
  Lavinia, you are not displeas'd with this?

LAVINIA Not I, my lord, sith true nobility
  Warrants these words in princely courtesy.

SATURNINUS Thanks, sweet Lavinia. Romans, let us go.
  Ransomless here we set our prisoners free.
  Proclaim our honours, lords, with trump and drum.
                         [Flourish] 

BASSIANUS Lord Titus, by your leave, this maid is mine.
                  [Seizing LAVINIA]

TITUS How, sir! Are you in earnest then, my lord?

BASSIANUS Ay, noble Titus, and resolv'd withal
  To do myself this reason and this right.

MARCUS Suum cuique is our Roman justice:
  This prince in justice seizeth but his own.

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

TITUS Traitors, avaunt! Where is the Emperor's guard?
  Treason, my lord- Lavinia is surpris'd!

SATURNINUS Surpris'd! By whom?

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

Exeunt BASSIANUS and MARCUS with LAVINIA

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

Exeunt LUCIUS, QUINTUS, and MARTIUS

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

MUTIUS My lord, you pass not here.

TITUS What, villain boy!
  Bar'st me my way in Rome?

MUTIUS Help, Lucius, help!

TITUS kills him. During the fray, exeunt SATURNINUS,
                          TAMORA, DEMETRIUS, CHIRON, and AARON

Re-enter Lucius

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

TITUS Nor thou nor he are any sons of mine;
  My sons would never so dishonour me.

Re-enter aloft the EMPEROR
    with TAMORA and her two Sons, and AARON the Moor

TITUS Traitor, restore Lavinia to the Emperor.

LUCIUS Dead, if you will; but not to be his wife,
  That is another's lawful promis'd love.                 [Exit]

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

TITUS O monstrous! What reproachful words are these?

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

TITUS These words are razors to my wounded heart.

SATURNINUS And therefore, lovely Tamora, Queen of Goths,
  That, like the stately Phoebe 'mongst her nymphs,
  Dost overshine the gallant'st dames of Rome,
  If thou be pleas'd with this my sudden choice,
  Behold, I choose thee, Tamora, for my bride
  And will create thee Empress of Rome.
  Speak, Queen of Goths, dost thou applaud my choice?
  And here I swear by all the Roman gods-
  Sith priest and holy water are so near,
  And tapers burn so bright, and everything
  In readiness for Hymenaeus stand-
  I will not re-salute the streets of Rome,
  Or climb my palace, till from forth this place
  I lead espous'd my bride along with me.

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

SATURNINUS Ascend, fair Queen, Pantheon. Lords, accompany
  Your noble Emperor and his lovely bride,
  Sent by the heavens for Prince Saturnine,
  Whose wisdom hath her fortune conquered;
  There shall we consummate our spousal rites.

Exeunt all but TITUS

TITUS I am not bid to wait upon this bride.

TITUS, when wert thou wont to walk alone,
  Dishonoured thus, and challenged of wrongs?

Re-enter MARCUS,
      and TITUS' SONS, LUCIUS, QUINTUS, and MARTIUS

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

TITUS 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!

LUCIUS But let us give him burial, as becomes;
  Give Mutius burial with our bretheren.

TITUS 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
  Repose in fame; none basely slain in brawls.
  Bury him where you can, he comes not here.

MARCUS My lord, this is impiety in you.
  My nephew Mutius' deeds do plead for him;
  He must be buried with his bretheren.

QUINTUS and MARTIUS And shall, or him we will accompany.

TITUS ‘And shall!’ What villain was it spake that word?

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

TITUS What, would you bury him in my despite?

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

TITUS 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.

MARTIUS He is not with himself; let us withdraw.

QUINTUS Not I, till Mutius' bones be buried.
                              [The BROTHER and the SONS kneel]

MARCUS Brother, for in that name doth nature plead-

QUINTUS Father, and in that name doth nature speak-

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

MARCUS Renowned Titus, more than half my soul-

LUCIUS Dear father, soul and substance of us all- 

MARCUS 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,
  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.

TITUS Rise, Marcus, rise;
  The dismal'st day is this that e'er I saw,
  To be dishonoured by my sons in Rome!
  Well, bury him, and bury me the next.
                                 [They put MUTIUS in the tomb]

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

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

MARCUS My lord- to step out of these dreary dumps-
  How comes it that the subtle Queen of Goths
  Is of a sudden thus advanc'd in Rome?

TITUS I know not, Marcus, but I know it is-
  Whether by device or no, the heavens can tell.
  Is she not, then, beholding to the man
  That brought her for this high good turn so far?

MARCUS Yes, and will nobly him remunerate.

Flourish. Re-enter the EMPEROR, TAMORA
      and her two SONS, with the MOOR, at one door;
  at the other door, BASSIANUS and LAVINIA, with others

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

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

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

BASSIANUS 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;
  Meanwhile am I possess'd of that is mine. 

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

BASSIANUS My lord, what I have done, as best I may,
  Answer I must, and shall do with my life.
  Only thus much I give your 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,
  In zeal to you, and highly mov'd to wrath
  To be controll'd in that he frankly gave.
  Receive him then to favour, Saturnine,
  That hath express'd himself in all his deeds
  A father and a friend to thee and Rome.

TITUS Prince Bassianus, leave to plead my deeds.
  'Tis thou and those that have dishonoured me.
  Rome and the righteous heavens be my judge
  How I have lov'd and honoured Saturnine!

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

SATURNINUS What, madam! be dishonoured openly,
  And basely put it up without revenge?

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

SATURNINUS Rise, Titus, rise; my Empress hath prevail'd.
TITUS. I thank your Majesty and her, my lord;
  These words, these looks, infuse new life in me.

TAMORA Titus, I am incorporate in Rome,
  A Roman now adopted happily,
  And must advise the Emperor for his good.
  This day all quarrels die, Andronicus;
  And let it be mine honour, good my lord,
  That I have reconcil'd your friends and you.
  For you, Prince Bassianus, I have pass'd
  My word and promise to the Emperor
  That you will be more mild and tractable.
  And fear not, lords- and you, Lavinia.
  By my advice, all humbled on your knees,
  You shall ask pardon of his Majesty.

LUCIUS We do, and vow to heaven and to his Highness
  That what we did was mildly as we might,
  Tend'ring our sister's honour and our own.

MARCUS That on mine honour here do I protest.

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

TAMORA Nay, nay, sweet Emperor, we must all be friends.
  The Tribune and his nephews kneel for grace.
  I will not be denied. Sweet heart, look back.

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

TITUS To-morrow, and it please your Majesty
  To hunt the panther and the hart with me,
  With horn and hound we'll give your Grace bonjour.

SATURNINUS Be it so, Titus, and gramercy too.

Exeunt. Sound trumpets