Luc.

Philarmonus, --
Sooth. Here, my good lord.
Luc.

Read, and declare the meaning. Sooth. [reads.] Whenas 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, [To Cym. 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. Cym.

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 stol'n,
For many years thought dead, are now reviv'd,
To the majestic cedar join'd; whose issue
Promises Britain peace and plenty.
Сут.

Well,
By 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
So vanish’d: which foreshow'd our princely eagle,
The imperial Cæsar, should again unite
His favour with the radiant Cymbeline,
Which shines here in the west.

8

Cym.

Laud we the gods;
And let our crooked smokes climb to their nostrils
From our bless'd altars. Publish we this peace
To all our subjects. Set we forward: let

A Roman and a British ensign wave

Friendly together: so through Lud's town march:
And in the temple of great Jupiter

Our peace we'll ratify; seal it with feasts.

Set on there!-Never was a war did cease,

Ere bloody hands were wash'd, with such a peace. [Exeunt.

TITUS ANDRONICUS.

2 D

VOL. V.

PERSONS REPRESENTED.

Saturninus, Son to the late Emperor of Rome, and 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

YOUNG LUCIUS, a Boy, Son to LUCIUS.

PUBLIUS, Son to MARCUS the Tribune.

EMILIUS, a noble Roman.

ALARBUS,

DEMETRIUS, Sons to TAMORA.
CHIRON,

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.

TITUS ANDRONICUS.

ACT I.

SCENE I.-ROME. Before the Capitol. The Tomb of the ANDRONICI appearing; the Tribunes and Senators aloft. Enter, below, SATURNINUS and his Followers on one side, and BASSIANUS and his Followers on the other, with drums 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 wore 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 myright,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. Marc. 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: