SATURNINUS,
           son to the late Emperor
               of Rome,
         afterwards Emperor

    BASSIANUS,
           brother to Saturninus

    TITUS ANDRONICUS,
           a noble Roman

    MARCUS ANDRONICUS,
           Tribune of the People,
         and brother to Titus

    Sons to Titus Andronicus:

   LUCIUS

   QUINTUS

   MARTIUS

   MUTIUS

    YOUNG LUCIUS,
           a boy,
         son to Lucius

    PUBLIUS,
           son to Marcus Andronicus

    Kinsmen to Titus:

   SEMPRONIUS

   CAIUS

   VALENTINE

    AEMILIUS,
           a noble Roman

    Sons to Tamora:

   ALARBUS

   DEMETRIUS

   CHIRON

    AARON,
           a Moor,
         beloved by Tamora

   A CAPTAIN

   A MESSENGER

   A CLOWN

    TAMORA,
           Queen of the Goths

    LAVINIA,
           daughter to Titus Andronicus

    A NURSE,
           and a black CHILD

    Romans and Goths,
           Senators,
         Tribunes,
           Officers,
         Soldiers,
           and Attendants

   SCENE:

    Rome and the neighbourhood
 
  ACT 1. SCENE I. Rome. Before
       the Capitol

    Flourish.

    Enter the TRIBUNES
           and SENATORS aloft;
        and then
              enter below 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 first born son
         that was the last
           That ware 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,
           with the crown

    MARCUS.

    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.

    He by the Senate
        is accited home,
           From weary
              wars against the barbarous Goths,
         That with his sons,
           a terror to our foes,
         Hath yok'd a nation strong,
           train'd up in arms.

    Ten years are spent
         since first
             he undertook This cause
                   of Rome,
           and chastised with
              arms Our enemies' pride;