Titus Andronicus-Bassianus

Front 1

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 first-born son, that was the lastThat wore the imperial diadem of Rome;Then let my father's honours live in me,Nor wrong mine age with this indignity.

Back 1

Romans, friends, followers, favorers 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 approachThe 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.

Hint 1

"Romans, friends, followers, favorers of my right..." Caesar's son, campaign speech

Front 2

SATURNINUS: How fair the tribune speaks to calm my thoughts!

Back 2

Marcus Andronicus, so I do ally In thy uprightness 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 humbled all,Gracious Lavinia, Rome's rich ornament,That I will here dismiss my loving friends,And to my fortunes and the people's favor Commit my cause in balance to be weigh'd.

Hint 2

"Marcus Andronicus, so I do ally In thy uprightness and integrity,And so I love and honour thee and thine..." Peaceful stuff

Front 3

SATURNINUS: Friends, that have been thus forward in my right,I thank you all and here dismiss you all,And to the love and favor of my countryCommit myself, my person and the cause.

Exeunt the followers of SATURNINUS

Rome, be as just and gracious unto meAs I am confident and kind to thee.Open the gates, and let me in.

Back 3

Tribunes, and me, a poor competitor.Flourish.

SATURNINUS and BASSIANUS go up into the Capitol

Hint 3

Dismiss people

Front 4

TITUS ANDRONICUS: Content thee, prince; I will restore to theeThe people's hearts, and wean them from themselves.

Back 4

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.

Hint 4

"Andronicus, I do not flatter thee,But honour thee, and will do till I die..."

Front 5

SATURNINUS: Thanks, sweet Lavinia. Romans, let us go;Ransomless here we set our prisoners free:Proclaim our honours, lords, with trump and drum.

Back 5

Lord Titus, by your leave, this maid is mine.

Seizing LAVINIA

Hint 5

"Lord Titus, by your leave" Lavinia

Front 6

TITUS ANDRONICUS: How, sir! are you in earnest then, my lord?

Back 6

Ay, noble Titus; and resolved withal To do myself this reason and this right.

Hint 6

"Ay, noble Titus; and resolved withal..."

Front 7

TITUS ANDRONICUS: Traitors, avaunt! Where is the emperor's guard?Treason, my lord! Lavinia is surprised!

SATURNINUS: Surprised! by whom?

Back 7

By him that justly may Bear his betroth'd from all the world away.

Exeunt BASSIANUS and MARCUS with LAVINIA

Hint 7

"By him that justly may.." Marry her anyway...

Front 8

SATURNINUS: So, Bassianus, you have play'd your prize:God give you joy, sir, of your gallant bride!

Back 8

And you of yours, my lord! I say no more,Nor wish no less; and so, I take my leave.

Hint 8

"And you of yours, my lord..."

Front 9

SATURNINUS: Traitor, if Rome have law or we have power,Thou and thy faction shall repent this rape.

Back 9

Rape, call you it, my lord, to seize my own,My truth-betrothed love and now my wife?But let the laws of Rome determine all;Meanwhile I am possess'd of that is mine.

Hint 9

"Rape, call you it, my lord, to seize my own..." Got mine.

Front 10

SATURNINUS: 'Tis good, sir: you are very short with us;But, if we live, we'll be as sharp with you.

Back 10

My lord, what I have done, as best I may,Answer I must and shall do with my life.Only thus much I give your grace to know:By all the duties that I owe to Rome,This noble gentleman, Lord Titus here,Is in opinion and in honour wrong'd;That in the rescue of Lavinia With his own hand did slay his youngest son,In zeal to you and highly moved to wrath To be controll'd in that he frankly gave:Receive him, then, to favor, Saturnine,That hath express'd himself in all his deeds A father and a friend to thee and Rome.

Hint 10

"My lord, what I have done, as best I may.."

Front 11

SATURNINUS: And you have rung it lustily, my lord;Somewhat too early for new-married ladies.

Back 11

Lavinia, how say you?

Hint 11

Lavinia

Front 12

AARON: No more, great empress; Bassianus comes:Be cross with him; and I'll go fetch thy sonsTo back thy quarrels, whatsoe'er they be.Exit. Enter BASSIANUS and LAVINIA

Back 12

Who have we here? Rome's royal empress,Unfurnish'd of her well-beseeming troop?Or is it Dian, habited like her,Who hath abandoned her holy groves To see the general hunting in this forest?

Hint 12

"Who have we here? Rome's royal empress.."

Front 13

LAVINIA: Under your patience, gentle empress,'Tis thought you have a goodly gift in horning;And to be doubted that your Moor and youAre singled forth to try experiments:Jove shield your husband from his hounds to-day!'Tis pity they should take him for a stag.

Back 13

Believe me, queen, your swarth Cimmerian Doth make your honour of his body's hue,Spotted, detested, and abominable.Why are you sequester'd from all your train,Dismounted from your snow-white goodly steed.And wander'd hither to an obscure plot,Accompanied but with a barbarous Moor,If foul desire had not conducted you?

Hint 13

"Believe me, queen, your swarth Cimmerian Doth make your honour of his body's hue..." Racist stuff

Front 14

LAVINIA: And, being intercepted in your sport,Great reason that my noble lord be ratedFor sauciness. I pray you, let us hence,And let her joy her raven-colour'd love;This valley fits the purpose passing well.

Back 14

The king my brother shall have note of this.

Hint 14

"The king my brother..." Tattletale