Titus Andronicus

Titus Andronicus

By William Shakespeare.

Table of Contents

1. Titlepage
2. Imprint
3. Dramatis Personae
4. Titus Andronicus
   1. Act I
      1. Scene I
   2. Act II
      1. Scene I
      2. Scene II
      3. Scene III
      4. Scene IV
   3. Act III
      1. Scene I
      2. Scene II
   4. Act IV
      1. Scene I
      2. Scene II
      3. Scene III
      4. Scene IV
   5. Act V
      1. Scene I
      2. Scene II
      3. Scene III
5. Colophon
6. Uncopyright

Imprint

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Dramatis Personae

• Saturninus, son to the late Emperor of Rome, and afterwards declared Emperor

• Bassianus, brother to Saturninus; in love with Lavinia

• Titus Andronicus, a noble Roman, general against the Goths

• Marcus Andronicus, tribune of the people, and brother to Titus

• Lucius, son to Titus Andronicus

• Quintus, son to Titus Andronicus

• Martius, son to Titus Andronicus

• Mutius, son to Titus Andronicus

• Young Lucius, a boy, son to Lucius

• Publius, son to Marcus the Tribune

• Sempronius, kinsman to Titus

• Caius, kinsman to Titus

• Valentine, kinsman to Titus

• Aemilius, a noble Roman

• Alarbus, son to Tamora

• Demetrius, son to Tamora

• Chiron, son to Tamora

• Aaron, a Moor, beloved by Tamora

• A captain, tribune, messenger, and clown; Romans

• Goths and Romans

• Tamora, Queen of the Goths

• Lavinia, daughter to Titus Andronicus

• A nurse

• Senators, tribunes, officers, soldiers, and attendants

Scene: Rome, and the country near it.

Titus Andronicus

Act I

Scene I

Rome. Before the Capitol.

	The Tomb of the Andronici appearing; the Tribunes and Senators aloft. Enter, below, from one side, Saturninus and his Followers; and, from the other side, Bassianus and his Followers; with drum and colours.
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 yoked 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 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 Followers 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 Followers 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. Saturninus and Bassianus go up into the Capitol.
	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.
	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, with Alarbus, Demetrius, Chiron, Aaron, and other Goths, prisoners; Soldiers and People