Bassianus, and his, 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 note-born son, that was the last
That ware note 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;
-- 4 --
And, Romans, fight for freedom in your choice.
Enter, among the Senators, aloft, Marcus Andronicus.
Mar.
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 fair election for the empery note,
Chosen Andronicus, surnamed Pius note
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 note the barbarous Goths;
That, with his sons, a terror to our foes,
Hath yoak'd a nation strong, train'd up in arms.
Ten years are spent, since first he undertook
This cause of Rome, and chástised 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 intreat,—By honour of his name,
Whom worthily you would have now succeeded;
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 suiters should,
Plead your deserts in peace and humbleness.
Sat.
How fair the tribune speaks to calm my thoughts!
-- 5 --
Bas.
Marcus Andronicus, so I do affy
In thy upríghtness 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 humbl'd 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 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 Followers of Saturninus.
Rome, be as just and gracious unto me,
As I am confident and kind to thee.—
Open the gates, tribunes, and let me in.
Bas.
Tribunes, and me, a poor competitor.
[Sat. and Bas. with a few, ascend the Capitol;
and Exeunt, with Senators, and Marcus.
Edward Capell [1767], Mr William Shakespeare his comedies, histories, and tragedies, set out by himself in quarto, or by the Players his Fellows in folio, and now faithfully republish'd from those Editions in ten Volumes octavo; with an introduction: Whereunto will be added, in some other Volumes, notes, critical and explanatory, and a Body of Various Readings entire (Printed by Dryden Leach, for J. and R. Tonson [etc.], London) [word count] [S10601].
