Takes from Aufidius a great part of blame.Let’s make the best of it.
AUFIDIUS.
My rage is gone;
And I am struck with sorrow.—Take him up:—
Help, three o’ the chiefest soldiers; I’ll be one.—
Beat thou the drum, that it speak mournfully;
Trail your steel pikes. Though in this city he
Hath widow’d and unchilded many a one,
Which to this hour bewail the injury,
Yet he shall have a noble memory.—
Assist.
[Exeunt, bearing the body of CORIOLANUS. A dead march sounded.]
THE END
TITUS ANDRONICUS
By William Shakespeare
PERSONS REPRESENTED.
SATURNINUS, Son to the late Emperor of Rome, 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.
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, and a black CHILD.
Kinsmen to Titus, Senators, Tribunes, Officers, Soldiers, and
Attendants.
SCENE: Rome, and the Country near it.
ACT 1.
SCENE I. Rome. Before the Capitol.
[The Tomb of Andronic appearing; the Tribunes and Senators aloft.
Enter, below, SATURNINUS and his Followers on one side, and
BASSIANUS and his Followers at the other, with drums 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 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 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
