THE TRAGEDY OF TITUS ANDRONICUS by William Shakespeare Contents ACT I Scene I. Rome. Before the Capitol ACT II Scene I. Rome. Before the palace Scene II. A Forest near Rome; a Lodge seen at a distance. Horns and cry of hounds heard Scene III. A lonely part of the Forest Scene IV. Another part of the Forest ACT III Scene I. Rome. A street Scene II. Rome. A Room in Titus’s House. A banquet set out ACT IV Scene I. Rome. Before Titus’s House Scene II. Rome. A Room in the Palace Scene III. Rome. A public Place Scene IV. Rome. Before the Palace ACT V Scene I. Plains near Rome Scene II. Rome. Before Titus’s House Scene III. Rome. A Pavilion in Titus’s Gardens, with tables, &c. Dramatis Personæ SATURNINUS, elder son to the late Emperor of Rome, afterwards Emperor BASSIANUS, brother to Saturninus TITUS ANDRONICUS, a noble Roman, General against the Goths MARCUS ANDRONICUS, Tribune of the People, and brother to Titus LAVINIA, daughter to Titus Andronicus 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 TAMORA, Queen of the Goths AARON, a Moor, beloved by Tamora ALARBUS, son to Tamora DEMETRIUS, son to Tamora CHIRON, son to Tamora A CAPTAIN MESSENGER A NURSE, and a black child CLOWN Goths and Romans Tribunes, Senators, Officers, Soldiers, and Attendants SCENE: Rome, and the Country near it ACT I SCENE I. Rome. Before the Capitol Enter the Tribunes and Senators aloft. And then enter 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 firstborn 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, holding the crown.