Titus AndronicusShakespeare’s First Folio

The Lamentable Tragedie of
Titus Andronicus.

Actus Primus. Scoena Prima.

[Act 1, Scene 1]

Flourish. Enter the Tribunes and Senators aloft And then
enter Saturninus and his Followers at one doore,
and Bassianus and his Followers at the
other, with Drum & Colours.

Saturninus.

Noble Patricians, Patrons of my right,

Defend the iustice of my Cause with Armes.

And Countrey‑men, my louing Followers,

Pleade my Successiue Title with your Swords.

I was the first borne Sonne, that was the last

That wore the Imperiall Diadem of Rome:

Then let my Fathers Honours liue in me,

Nor wrong mine Age with this indignitie.

Bassianus.

Romaines, Friends, Followers,

Fauourers of my Right:

If euer Bassianus, Cæsars Sonne,

Were gracious in the eyes of Royall Rome,

Keepe then this passage to the Capitoll:

And suffer not Dishonour to approach

Th' Imperiall Seate to Vertue: consecrate

To Iustice, Continence, and Nobility:

But let Desert in pure Election shine;

And Romanes, fight for Freedome in your Choice.

Enter Marcus Andronicus aloft with the Crowne.

Princes, that striue by Factions, and by Friends,

Ambitiously for Rule and Empery:

Know, that the people of Rome for whom we stand

A speciall Party, haue by Common voyce

In Election for the Romane Emperie,

Chosen Andronicus, Sur‑named Pious,

For many good and great deserts to Rome.

A Nobler man, a brauer Warriour,

Liues not this day within the City Walles.

He by the Senate is accited home

From weary Warres against the barbarous Gothes,

That with his Sonnes (a terror to our Foes)

An opening excerpt from the Bodleian transcription, with original spelling retained. Continue in the reader. Text CC BY 3.0.