The whole world shall not save him.
Bel.
Not too hot;
First pay me for the nursing of thy sons;
And let it be confiscate all, so soon
As I have receiv'd it.
Cym.
Nursing of my sons!
Bel. I am too blunt and saucy: Here's my
Ere I arise, I will prefer my sons; (knee;
Then, spare not the old father. Mighty sir,
These two young gentlemen, that call me father,
And think they are my sons, are none of mine;
They are the issue of your loins, my liege,
And blood of your begetting.
Cym.
How! my issue?
Bel. So sure as you your father's. I, old
Morgan,
No, my lord; I have got two worlds by't.-O my gentle bro thers,
Have we thus met? O never say hereafter
But I am truest speaker: you call'd me brother,
When I was but your sister; I you brothers,
When you were so indeed.
Cym.
Arv. Ay, my good lord.
Gui.
And at first meeting lov'd;
Continued so, until we thought he died.
Cor. By the queen's dram she swallow'd.
Cym.
O rare instinct!
When shall I hear all through? This fierce
abridgment
Hath to it circumstantial branches, which Distinction should be rich in.-Where, how liv'd you?
And when came you to serve our Roman captive?
How parted with your brothers? how first met
them?
[These,
Why fled you from the court? and whither?
And your three motives to the battle, with
I know not how much more, should be de-
And all the other by dependencies, [manded;
From chance to chance; but nor the time, nor
Will serve our long intergatories. See, [place,
Posthumus anchors upon Imogen;
Am that Belarius whom you sometime banish'd: And she, like harmless lightning,throws her eye Your pleasure was my mere offence, my punish-On him, her brothers, me, her master; hitting
Itself, and all my treason; that I suffer'd,
Was all the harm I did. These gentle princes
(For such and so they are) these twenty years
Have I train'd up: those arts they have, as I
Could put into them; my breeding was, sir, as
Your highness knows. Their nurse, Euriphile,
Whom for the theft Iwedded, stole these children
Upon my banishment: I mov'd her to 't;
Having receiv'd the punishment before,
For that which I did then: Beaten for loyalty,
Excited me to treason; Their dear loss,
The more of you 'twas felt, the more it shap'd
Unto my end of stealing them. But, gracious sir,
Here are your sons again; and I must lose
Two of the sweet'st companions in the world:-
The benediction of these covering heavens
Fall on their heads like dew! for they are worthy
To inlay heaven with stars.
Cym
Thou weep'st and speak'st.
The service, that you three have done, is more
Unlike than this thou tell'st: I lost my children;
If these be they, I know not how to wish
A pair of worthier sons.
Bel.
Be pleas'd awhile.
This gentleman, whom I call Polydore,
Most worthy prince, as yours, is true Guiderius;
This gentleman, my Cadwal, Arviragus,
Your younger princely son: he, sir, was lapp'd
In a most curious mantle, wrought by the hand
Of his queen mother, which for more probation,
I can with ease produce.
Cym.
Guiderius had
Upon his neck a mole, a sanguine star:
It was a mark of wonder.
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Each object with a joy; the counterchange
Is severally in all. Let's quit this ground,
And smoke the temple with our sacrifices.-
Thou art my brother; So we'll hold thee ever.
[To BELARIUS.
Imo. You are my father too; and did relieve
To see this gracious season.
[me,
Cym.
All o'erjoy'd,
Save these in bonds: let them be joyful too,
For they shall taste our comfort.
Imo.
I will yet do you service.
My good master Luc. Happy be you! Cym. The forlorn soldier, that so noblyfought, He would have well becom'd this place, and The thankings of a king. [grac'd
Post. I am, sir, The soldier that did accompany these three In poor beseeming: 'twas a fitment for The purpose I then follow'd;-That I was he, Speak, lachimo; I had you down, and might Have made you finish.
Iach.
I am down again: [Kneeling.
But now my heavy conscience sinks my knee,
As then your force did. Take that life, 'beseech
you,
Which I so often owe: but, your ring first;
And here the bracelet of the truest princess,
That ever swore her faith.
Appear'd to me, with other sprightly shows
Of mine own kindred; when I wak'd, I found
This label on my bosom; whose containing
Is so from sense in hardness, that I can
Make no collection of it; let him show
His skill in the construction.
Sooth. Here, my good lord. Luc.
Read, and declare the meaning. Sooth. [Reads.] When as a lion's whelp shall, to himself unknown, without seeking find, and be embraced by a piece of tender air; and when from a stately cedar shall be lopped branches, which, being dead many years shall after revive, be jointed to the old stock, and freshly grow; then shall Posthumus end his miseries, Britain be fortunate, and flourish in peace and plenty.
Thou, Leonatus, art the lion's whelp;
The fit and apt construction of thy name,
Being Leo-natus, doth import so much:
The piece of tender air, thy virtuous daughter, SUNG BY GUIDERIUS AND ARVIRAGUS OVER
Which we call mollis aer: and mollis aer
We term it mulier: which mulier I divine,
Is this most constant wife: who, even now,
Answering the letter of the oracle,
Unknown to you, unsought, were clipp'd about
With this most tender air.
This hath some seeming. Sooth. The lofty cedar, royal Cymbeline, Personates thee: and thy lopp'd branches point Thy two sons forth: who, by Belarius stolen, For many years thought dead, are now reviv'd, To the majestic cedar join'd; whose issue Promises Britain peace and plenty.
Cym. Well, My peace we will begin :-And, Caius Lucius, Although the victor, we submit to Cæsar, And to the Roman empire: promising To pay our wonted tribute, from the which We were dissuaded by our wicked queen; Whom heavens, in justice (both on her and hers), Have laid most heavy hand.
Sooth. The fingers of the powers above do tune The harmony of this peace. The vision Which I made known to Lucius, ere the stroke Of this yet scarce cold battle, at this instant Is full accomplish'd: for the Roman eagle, From south to west on wing soaring aloft, Lessen'd herself, and in the beams o' the sun
FIDELE, SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD. BY MR. WILLIAM COLLINS. To fair Fidele's grassy tomb,
Soft maids and village hinds shall bring Each opening sweet, of earliest bloom, And rifle all the breathing spring. No wailing ghost shall dare appear To vex with shrieks this quiet grove: But shepherd lads assemble here,
And melting virgins own their love. No wither'd witch shall here be seen,
No goblins lead their nightly crew: The female fays shall haunt the green,
And dress thy grave with pearly dew.
The redbreast oft at evening hours
Shall kindly lend his little aid,
With hoary moss, and gather'd flowers
To deck the ground where thou art laid.
When howling winds, and beating rain,
In tempests shake the silvan cell;
Or midst the chase on every plain,
The tender thought on thee shall dwell. Each lonely scene shall thee restore; For thee the tear be duly shed; Belov'd till life could charm no more: And mourn'd till pity's self be dead.
SATURNINUS, Son to the late Emperor of Rome, and afterwards declared Emperor himself. 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.
Sons to Titus Andronicus.
Young LUCIUS, a Boy, Son to Lucius. PUBLIUS, Son to Marcus, the Tribune.
EMILIUS, a noble Roman.
ALARBUS,
CHIRON,
DEMETRIUS,
-Sons 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 of Titus, Senators, Tribunes, Officers,
Soldiers, and Attendants.
SCENE-Rome; and the Country near it.
SCENE I. Rome. Before the Capitol.
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,
The Tomb of the Andronici appearing; the Tri-Hath yok'd a nation strong, train'd up in arms. bunes and Senators aloft, as in the Senate. Enter, below, SATURNINUS and his Followers, on one Side; and BASSIANUS and his Followers on the other; with Drum and Colours.
Sat. 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 ware the Imperial diadem of Rome;
Then let my father's honours live in me,
Nor wrong mine age with this indignity.
Bas. Romans,-friends, followers, favourers
of my right,-
If ever Bassianus, Cæsar'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.
Mar. 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,
In election for the Roman empery,
Chosen Andronicus, surnamed Pius,
For many good and great deserts to Rome;
A nobler man, a braver warrior,
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 honours' 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.
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 honour thee and thine,
Thy noble brother Titus, and his sons,
Gracious Lavinia, Rome's rich ornament,
And her to whom my thoughts are humbled all.
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,
Sat, 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.
Bas. Tribunes! and me, a poor competitor.
[SAT. and BAS. go into the Capitol, and exeunt
with Senators, MARCUS, &c.
SCENE II. The same.
Enter a Captain, and Others.
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.
Tit. Patient yourself, madam, and pardon me, These are their brethren, whom you Goths beheld
Alive, and dead; and for their brethren slain,
Religiously they ask a sacrifice:
Cap. Romans, make way; The good Andro-To this your son is mark'd; and die he must,
nicus, Patron of virtue, Rome's best champion, Successful in the battles that he fights, With honour and with fortune is return'd, From whence he circumscribed with his sword, And brought to yoke, the enemies of Rome. Enter MUTIUS and Flourish of Trumpets, &c. MARTIUS; after them Two Men, bearing a Coffin covered with black; then QUINTUS and LUCIUS. After them, TITUS ANDRONICUS; and then TAMORA, with ALARBUS, CHIRON, DEMETRIUS, 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!
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 resalute his country with his tears:
Tears of true joy for his return to Rome.-
'Thou great defender of this Capitol,
Stand gracious to the rights 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: [sword.
Here Goths have given me leave to sheath my
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.
[The Tomb is opened.
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 of mine hast thou 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 earthly prison of their bones;
That so the shadows be not unappeas'd,
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;-Gracious con-
Victorious Titus, rue the tears I shed, [queror,
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 slaughter'd 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:
To appease their groaning shadows that are
[straight,
Luc. Away with him! and make a fire
And with our swords, upon a pile of wood,
Let's hew his limbs, till they be clean consum'd.
[Exeunt LUCIUS, QUINTUS, MARTIUS, and
MUTIUS, with ALARBUS.
Tam. O cruel, irreligious piety!
Chi. Was ever Sycthia half so barbarous ?
Dem. Oppose not Scythia to ambitious Rome.
Alarbus goes to rest; and we survive
To tremble under Titus' threatening look.
Then, madam, stand resolv'd; but hope withal,
The selfsame 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 Gothis, and Tamora was
queen),
To quit the bloody wrongs upon her foes.
Re-enter LUCIUS, QUINTUS, MARTIUS, and MUTIUS,
with their swords bloody.
Luc. See, lord and father, how we have per-
form'd
Our Roman rites: Alarbus' limbs are lopp'd,
And entrails feed the sacrificing fire,
Whose smoke, like incense, doth perfume the
Remaineth nought, but to inter our brethren,
And with loud 'larums welcome them to Rome.
Tit. Let it be so, and let Andronicus
Make this his latest farewell to their souls.
[Trumpets sounded, and the Coffins laid in
the Tomb.
In and honour rest you here, my sons
peace
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
No noise, but silence and eternal sleep.
Enter LAVINIA.
In peace and honour rest you here, my sons!
Lav. 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 the earth, for thy return to Rome:
Q, bless me here with thy victorious hand,
Whose fortunes Rome's best citizens applaud.
Tit. Kind Rome, thou 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 MARCUS ANDRONICUS, SATURNINUS, BAS-
SIANUS, and Others.
Mar. Long live Lord Titus, my beloved bro-
Gracious triumpher in the eyes of Rome![ther,
Tit. Thanks, gentle tribune, noble brother
Marcus.
[ful wars,
Mar. And welcome, nephews, from success-
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.
Tit. A better head her glorions body tits,
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 abroad new business for you all?
Rome, I have been thy soldier forty years,
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.
Mar. Titus, thou shalt obtain and ask the
[tell,
Sat. Proud and ambitions tribune, canst thou Tit. Patience, Prince Saturnine. Sat. Romans, do me right;Patricians, draw your swords, and sheath them Till Saturninus be Rome's emperor:- [not Andronicus, 'would thou wert shipp'd to hell, Rather than rob me of the people's hearts. Luc. Proud Saturnine, interrupter of the good That noble-minded Titus means to thee! Tit. Content thee, prince; I will restore to thee [selves. The people's hearts, and wean them from themBus. 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.
Tit. People of Rome, and people's tribunes I ask your voices and your suffrages; Will you bestow them friendly on Andronicus? Trib. To gratify the good Andronicus, And gratulate his safe return to Rome, The people will accept whom he admits.
Tit. Tribunes, I thank you; and this suit I make,
That you create your 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,-Lony live our emperor !
Mar. 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.
Sat. 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 emperess,
Rome's royal mistress, mistress of my heart,
And in the sacred Pantheon her espouse:
Tell me, Andronicus, doth this motion please
thee?
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Tit. It doth, my worthy lord; and, in this
I hold me highly honour'd 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 imperial lord: Receive them then, the tribute that I owe, Mine honour's ensigns humbled at thy feet.
Sat. 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. Tit. Now, madam, are you prisoner to an [TO TAMORA. To him, that for your honour and your state, Will use you nobly, and your followers.
Sat. 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
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 [you,
Daunt all your hopes: Madam, he comforts
Can make you greater than the queen of Goths.-
Lavinia, you are not displeas'd with this?
Lav. Not I, my lord; sith true nobility
Warrants these words in princely courtesy. [go:
Sat. Thanks, sweet Lavinia.-Romans, let us
Ransomeless here we set our prisoners free:
Proclaim our honours, lords, with trump and
drum.
Bas. Lord Titus, by your leave, this maid is
mine.
[Seizing LAVINIA.
Tit. How, sir? Are you in earnest then, my
lord?
Bas. Ay, noble Titus; and resolv'd withal, To do myself this reason and this right.
[The Emperor courts TAMORA in dumb show. Mar. Suum cuique is our Roman justice: This prince in justice seizeth but his own. Luc. And that he will, and shall, if Lucius live. Tit. Traitors, avaunt! Where is the emperor's Treason, my lord; Lavinia is surpris'd. [guard? Sat. Surpris'd, by whom?
Bas. By him that justly may Bear his betroth'd from all the world away. [Exeunt MARCUS and BASSIANUS, with LAVINIA. Mut. Brothers, help to convey her hence away, And with my sword I'll keep this door safe.
[Exeunt LUCIUS, QUINTUS, and MARTIUS. Tit. Follow, my lord, and I'll soon bring her Mut. My lord, you pass not here. [back. Tit. What, villain boy!
Barr'st me my way in Rome?
[TITUS kills MUTIUS. Help, Lucius, help.
In wrongful quarrel you have slain your son. Tit. Nor thou, nor he, are any sons of mine: My sons would never so dishonour me; Traitor, restore Lavinia to the emperor.
Luc. Dead, if you will: but not to be his wife, That is another's lawful promis'd love. [Exit. Sat. No, Titus, no; the emperor needs her not, Not 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.
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