Imo. It poison'd me.

| If it could roar so to me: I eut off's head; Cor. () gods !

And am right glad, he is not standing here I left out one thing which the queen confess'd, To tell this tale of mine. Which must approve thee honest: If Pisanio Cym. I am sorry for thee: Have, said she, given his mistress that confec By thine own tongue thou art condemn'd, and tion

Endure our law: Thou art dead. (must Which I gave him for a cordial, she is serv'd Imo. That beadless man As I would serve a rat.

I thought had been my lord. Cym. What's this, Cornelius?

Cum. Bind the offender. Cor. The queen, Sir, very oft importun'd me And take him from our presence. To temper* poisons for her; still pretending Bel. Stay, Sir king: The satisfaction of her knowledge, only This man is better than the man he stew, In killing creatures vile, as cats and dogs | As well descended as thyself; and hath Of no esteem: I, dreading that her purpose More of thee merited, than a band of Clotens Was of more danger, did compound for her Had ever scar for.--Let his arms alone; A certain stuff, which, being ta'en, would

To the Guard. cease

They were not born for bondage.
The present power of life; but, in short time, Cym. Why, old soldier,
All offices of nature should again

Wilt thou undo the worth thou art unpaid for, Do their due functions.-Have you ta'en of it? By tasting of our wrath? How of descent Imo. Most like I did, for I was dead.

As good as we? Bel. My boys,

Arv. In that he spake too far. There was our error

Cym. And thou shalt die for't. Gui. This is sure, Fidele.

Bel. We will die all three: Imo. Why did you throw your wedded lady But I will prove, that two of us are as good from you?

As I have given out him.-My sons, I must, Think, that you are upon a rock; and now For mine own part, unfold a dangerous speech, Throw me again.

[Embracing him. Though, haply, well for you. Post. Hang there like fruit, my soul,

Arv. Your danger is Till the tree die!

Ours. Cym. How now, my flesh, my child?

Gui. And our good his. What, mak'st thou me a dallard in this act ? Bel. Have at it then. Wilt thou not speak to me?

| By leave;- Thou hadst, great king, a subject, Imo. Your blessing, Sir. [Kneeling. Was call'd Belarius.

who Bel, Though you did love this youth, I blame Cym. What of him? he is ye not ;

A banish'd traitor. You had a motive for't.

Bel. He it is, that hath [TO GUIDERIUS and ARVIRAGUS. Assum'd this age: indeed, a banish'd man; Cym. My tears that fall,

I know not how, a traitor. Prove holy water on thee! Imogen,

Cym. Take him hence; Thy mother's dead.

The whole world shall not save him. Imo. I am sorry for't, my lord.

Bel. Not too hot: Cym. O, she was naught; and 'long of her First pay me for the nursing of thy sons; it was,

And let it be confiscate all, so soon
That we meet here so strangely: But her son As I have receiv'd it.
Is gone, we know not how, nor where.

Cym. Nursing of my sons ?
Pis. My lord,

Cloten, Bel. I am too blunt, and saucy: Here's my Now fear is from me, I'll speak troth. Lord Ere I arise, I will prefer my sons; [knee; Upon my lady's missing, came to me

Then, spare not the old father. Mighty Sir, With his sword drawn; foam'd at the mouth, These two young gentlemen, that call me faand swore,

ther, If I discover'd not which way she was gone, And think they are my sons, are none of mine; It was my instant death: By accident,

They are the issue of your loins, my liege, I had a feigned letter of my master's

And blood of your begetting. Then in my pocket; which directed him

Cym. How ! my issue? To seek her on the mountains near to Milford: Bel. So gure as you your father's. I, old Where, in a frenzy, in my master's garments,

Morgan, Which he inforc'd from me, away he posts Amthat Belarius whom you sometime bapish'd: With unchaste purpose, and with oath to vio- Your pleasure was my mere offence, my punlate

ishment My lady's honour : what became of him, Itself, and all my treason; that I suffer'd, I further know not.

Was all the harm I did. These gentle princes Gui. Let me end the story:

(For such, and so they are,) these twenty I slew him there.

years Cym. Marry, the gods forfend-!+ [lips Have I train'd up: those arts they have, as I I would not thy good deeds should from my | Could put into them; my breeding was, Sir, Pluck a hard sentence: pr’ythee, valiant youth, Deny't again.

Your highness knows. Their nurse, Euripbile, Gúi. I have spoke it, and I did it.

Whom for the theft I wedded, stole these cbilCym, He was a prince.

dren Gui. A most uncivil one: The wrongs he did Upon my banishment: I mov'd her to't; me

(me Having receiv'd the punishment before, Where nothing prince-like; for he did provoke For that which I did then : Beaten for loyalty With language that would make me spurn the Excited me to treason: Their dear loss, sea,

The more of you 'twas felt, the more it shap'd

| Unto my end of stealing them. But, gracious, * Mix, compaund.

+ Forbid.

as

Here are your sons again; and I must lose ! Luc. Happy be you!
Two of the sweet'st companions in the world:-1 Cym. The forlorn soldier, that so nobly
The benediction of these covering heavens

fought, Fall on their heads like dew! for they are He would have well becom'd this place, and To inlay heaven with stars.

[worthy

m . grac'd
Cym. Thou weep'st, and speak'st.. The thankings of a king.
The service, that you three have done, is more Post. I am, Sir,
Unlike than this thou tell'st: I lost my children; The soldier that did company these three
If these be they, I know not how to wish In poor beseeming; 'twas a fitment for
A pair of worthier sons.

The purpose I then follow'd; That I was be, Bel. Be pleas'd a while. .

Speak, lachimo; I had you down, and might This gentleman, whom I call Polydore, Have made you finish. Most worthy prince, as yours, is true, Gui. lach. I am down again :

(Kneeling. derius;

But now my heavy conscience sinks my knee, This gentleman, my Cadwal, Arviragus, As then your force did. Take that life, 'beYour younger princely son ; he, Sir, was lapp'd

seech you, . In a most curious mantle, wrought by the hand Which I so often owe: but, your ring first; Of his queen mother, which, for more proba- | And here the bracelet of the truest princess, I can with ease produce.

[tion, | That ever swore her faith. Cym. Guiderius had

Post. Kneel pot to me; Upon his neck a mole, a sanguine star; The power that I have on you, is to spare you; It was a mark of wonder.

The malice towards you, to forgive you: Live, Bel. This is he;

And deal with others better.
Who hath upon him still that natural stamp; Cym. Nobly doom'd:
It was wise nature's end in the donation, We'll learn our freeness of a son-in-law;
To be his evidence now.. ,

Pardon's the word to all.
Cym. 0, what am I

Art. You holp us, Sir, A mother to the birth of three? Ne'er mother As you did mean indeed to be our brother; Rejoic'd deliverance more:-Bless'd may you Joy'd are we, that you are. be,

(orbs, | Post. Your servant, princes.-Good my lord That after this strange starting from your

of Rome, You may reign in them now!-OoImogen, Call forth your soothsayer: As I slept, meThou hast lost by this a kingdom.

thought, . Imo. No, my lord;

(brothers, Great Jupiter, upon his eagle back, I have got two worlds by't.-0 my gentle Appear'd to me, with other spritely shows* Have we thus met? O never say hereafter, Of mine own kindred: when I wak'd, I found But I am truest speaker: you call'd me brother, | This label on my bosom; whose containing When I was but your sister; I you brothers, Is so from sense in hardness, that I can When you were so indeed.

Make no collection of it; let him show Cym. Did you e'er meet?

His skill in the construction.' Arv. Ay, my good lord.

Luc. Pbilarmonus, Gui. And at first meeting lov'd;

Sooth. Here, my good lord. Continued so, until we thought he died.

Luc. Read; and declare the meaning. Cor. By the queen's dram she swallow'd. Sooth. [Reads. When as a lion's whelp shall, Cym. O rare instinct!

to himself unknown, without seeking find, and be When shall I hear all through? This fierce* embraced by a piece of tender air; and then abridgment

from a stately cedar shall be lopped branches, Hath to it circumstantial branches, which which, being dead many yeurs, shall after retire, Distinction should be rich in.t-Where? how be jointed to the old stock, und freshly grow; th3 liv'd you ?

[tive ? shall Posthumus end his miseries, Britain be forAnd when came you to serve our Roman cap- tunate, and flourish in peace and plenty... How parted with your brothers ? how first met Thou, Leonatus, art the lion's whelp; them?

[These, The fit and apt construction of thy name, Why fled you from the court? and whither? | Being Leo-natus, doth import so much: And your three motives to the battle, with The piece of tender air, thy virtuous daughter, I know not how much more, should be de- |

[To CYMBELINE manded;

Which we call mollis aer; and mollis aer And all the other by-dependancies, (place, We term it mulier: which mulier, I divine, From chance to chance; but nor the time, nor Is this most constant wife: who, even now, Will serve our long intergatories. See, Answering the letter of the oracle, Posthumus anchors upon Imogen; [eye Unknown to you, unsought, were clipp'd about And she, like harmless lightning, throws her With this most tender air. On him, her brothers, me, her master; hitting Cym. This hath some seeming. Each object with a joy; the counterchange Sooth. The lofty cedar, royal Cymbeline, Is severally in all. . Let's quit this ground, Personates thee: and thy lopp'd branches point And smoke the temple with our sacrifices. Thy two sons forth: who, by Belarius stolen, Thou art my brother; So we'll hold thee ever. For many years thought dead, are now reviv'd,

[To BELARIUS. To the majestic cedar join'd; whose issue Imo. You are my father too: and did relieve Promises Britain peace and plenty. To see this gracious season.

[me, Cym. Well, Cym. All overjoy'd,

My peace we'will begin :-And, Caius Lucius, Save these in bonds; let them be joyful too, | Although the victor, we submit to Cesar, For they shall taste our comfort.

And to the Roman empire; promising Ime. My good master,

To pay our wonted tribute, from the which I will yet do you service.

We were dissuaded by our wicked queen; + Vebement, rapid.

1. c. Which ought to be rendered distinct by an ample narrative.

Ghostly appearances.

Whom heavens, in justice, (both on her and

• A SONG, hers,) Have laid most heavy hand.

Sung by Guiderius and Arviragus over Fidele, supposed

to be dead Sooth. The fingers of the powers above do

BY WILLIAM COLLINS. tune The harmony of this peace. The vision

To fair Fidele's grassy tomb, Which I made known to Lucius. ere the stroke

Soft maids and village hinds shall bring Of this yet scarce-cold battle, at this instant Each opening sweet, of earliest bloom, Is full accomplish'd': For the Roman eagle,

And rifle all the breathing spring. From south to west on wing soaring aloft,

No wailing ghost shall dare appear Lessen'd herself, and in the beams o'the sun

To vex with shrieks his quiet grore; So vanish'd: which foreshow'd our princely eagle,

But shepherd lads assemble here, The imperial Cesar, should again unite

And melting virgins own their love. His favour with the radiant Cymbeline,

No wither'd witch shall here be seen, Which shines here in the west.

No goblins lead their nightly crew: Cym. Laud we the gods;

The female fays shall haunt the green, And let our crooked smokes climb* to their And dress thy grave with pearly dew. nostrils

The red-breast oft at evening hours From our bless'd altars! Publish we this peace Shall kindly lend his little aid, To all our subjects. Set we forward: Let

With hoary moss, and gather'd flowers, A Roman and a British ensign wave

To deck the ground where thou art laid. Friendly together: so through Lud's town

When horling winds and beating rain, march: And in the temple of great Jupiter

In tempests shake the sylvan cell;

Or midst the chase on every plain,
Our peace we'll ratify; seal it with feasts.-
Set on there :-Never was a war did cease,

The tender thought on thee shall dwell. Ere bloody hands were wash'd, with such a

Each lonely scene shall thee restore; peace.

[Exeunt. For thee the tear be duly shed:

Belov'd, till life could charm no more ; * Rise

.Ind mourn'd, till pity's self be dead.

TITUS ANDRONICUS.

PERSONS REPRESENTED.

SATURNINUS, Son to the late Emperor of Rome, ALARBUS, >

and afterwards declared Emperor him CHIRON, Sons to Tamora.
self.

DEMETRIUS, )
BASSIANUS, Brother to Saturninus; in love AARON, a Moor, beloved by Tamora.
with Lavinia.

A CAPTAIN, TRIBUNE, MESSENGER, and CLowx; Titus ANDRONICUS, a noble Roman, General Romans. against the Goths.

Goths and Romans. MARCUS ANDRONICUS, Tribune of the People; and Brother to Titus.

TAMORA, Queen of the Goths. Lucius,

LAVINIA, Daughter to Titus Andronicus. QUINTUS, (Sons to Titus Andronicus.

A Nurse, and a Black Child.
MARTIUS,
Mutius,

Kinsmen of Titus, Senators, Tribunes, Officers, Young Lucius, a Boy, Son to Lucius.

Soldiers, and Attendants.
PUBLIUS, Son to Marcus the Tribune.
Æmilius, a noble Roman.

Scene; Rome, and the Country near it.

ACT I.

| A special party, have, by their common voice,

In election for the Roman empery, SCENE 1.-Rome. Before the Capitol.

Chosen Andronicus, surnamed Pius The tomb of the ANDRONICI appearing ; the For many good and great deserts to Rome;

TRIBUNES and SENATORS aloft, as in the Sen- A nobler man, a braver warrior, ate. Enter, below, SATURNINUS and his Fol- Lives not this day within the city walls: lowers, on one side; and BASSIANUS and his He by the senate is accited* home, Followers on the other ; with Drum and Col | From weary wars against the barbarous Goths, ours.

That, with his sons, a terror to our foes, Sat. Noble patricians, patrons of my right,

Hath yok'd a nation strong, train'd up in arms. Defend the justice of my cause with arms;

Ten years are spent, since first he undertook And, countrymen, my loving followers,

This cause of Rome, and chastised with arms

Our enemies' pride: Five times he hath rePlead my successive title with your swords: I am his first-born son, that was the last

turn'd That wore the imperial diadem of Rome;

Bleeding to Rome, bearing his valiant sons Then let my father's honours live in me,

In coffins from the field; Nor wrong mine age with this indignity.

And now at last, laden with honour's spoils, Bas. Romans,-friends, followers, favourers

Returns the good Andronicus to Rome, of my right,

Renowned Titus, flourishing in arms. If ever Bassianus, Cesar's son,

Let us entreat, -By honour of his pame, Were gracious in the eyes of royal Rome,

Whom, worthily, you would have now succeed, Keep then this passage to the Capitol; And in the Capitol and senate's right, And suffer not dishonour to approach'

Whom you pretend to honour and adore The imperial seat, to virtue consecrate,

That you withdraw you, and abate your To justice, continence, and nobility:

strength; But let desert in pure election shine ;

Dismiss your followers, and, as suitors should, And, Romans, fight for freedom in your choice.

Plead your deserts in peace and humbleness,

Sat. How fair the tribune speaks to calm my Enter MARCUS ANDRONICUS, aloft, with the

thoughts! Crown.

Bas. Marcus Andronicus, so I do affy

In thy uprightness and integrity, Mar. Princes that strive by factions, and

And so I love and bonour thee and thine, by friends,

Thy nobler brother Titus, and his sons, Lally Ambitiously for rule and empery,

And her, to whom my thoughts are humble Know, that the people of Rome, for whom we

Gracious Lavinia, Rome's rich ornament, stand

That I will here dismiss my loving friends; * 1. e. My title to the succession.

Summoned

And to my fortunes, and the people's favour, 1 Tit. I give him you; the noblest that surCommit my cause in balance to be weigh’d. The eldest son of this distressed queen. [vives,

Exeunt the Followers of BASSIANUS. Tam. Stay, Roman brethren; - Gracious Sat. Friends, that have been thus forward in

conqueror, my right,

| Victorious Tītus, rue the tears I shed, [ thank you all, and here dismiss you all; A mother's tears in passion for her son: And d to the love and favour of my country And, if thy sons were ever dear to thee, Commit myself, my person, and the cause. O, think my son to be as dear to me.

[Exeunt the Followers of SATURNINUS. Sufficeth not, that we are brought to Rome, Rome, be as just and gracious unto me, To beautify thy triumphs, and return, As I am confident and kind to thee.

Captive to thee, and to thy Roman yoke; Open the gates, and let me in.

But must my sons be slaughter'd in the streets, Bas. Tribunes! and me, a poor competitor. For valiant doings in their country's cause? SAT. and Bas. go into the Capitol, and exeunt|0! if to fight for king and common weal with SENATORS, MARCUS, &c.

Were piety in thine, it is in these.

Andronicus, stain not thy tomb with blood : SCENE II.-The same.

Wilt thou draw near the nature of the gods? Enter a CAPTAIN, and Others.

Draw near them then in being merciful;

Sweet mercy is nobility's true badge; Cap, Romans, make way; The good Andro- Thrice-noble Titus, spare my first-born son. nicus,

Tit. Patient yourself, madam, and pardon Patron of virtue, Rome's best champion,

me.

{beheld Successful in the battles that he fights,

These are their brethren, whom you Goths With honour and with fortune is return'd, Alive, and dead; and for their brethren slain, From where he circumscribed with his sword, Religiously they ask a sacrifice: And brought to yoke, the enemies of Rome. To this your son is mark'd ; and die he must,

To appease their groaning shadows that are Flourish of Trumpets, fc. Enter Mutius and

gone. MARTIUS : after them, two Men bearing a Coffin Luc. Away with him! and make a fire covered with black; then Quintus and Lucius.

straight; TAMORA, with ALARBUS, CHIRON, DEME- Let's hew bis limbs, till they be clean conTRIUS, AARON, and other Goths, prisoners;

sum'd. Soldiers und People following. The Bearers [Exeunt Lucius, QUINTUS, Martius, and set down the Coffin, and Titus speaks.

MUTius, with ALARBUS. Tit. Hail, Rome, victorious in thy mourning

Tam. () cruel, irreligious piety!

Chi. Was ever Scythia half so barbarous?

[fraught,* weeds! Lo, as the bark that hath discharged her

Dem. Oppose not Scythia to ambitious Rome.

Alarbus goes to rest; and we survive
Returns with precious lading to the bay,
From whence at first she weigh'd her anchor-

To tremble under Titus' threatening look. [al,

Then, madam, stand resolv'd; but hope withage, Cometh Andronicus, bound with laurel boughs,

The salf-same gods, that arm'd the queen of

With opportunity of sharp revenge [Troy To re-salute his country with his tears;

Upon the Thracian tyrant in his tent, Tears of true joy for bis return to Rome.

May favour Tamora, the queen of Goths, Thou great defender of this Capitol,

(When Goths were Goths, and Tamora was Stand gracious to the rights that we intend! Romans, of five and twenty valiant sons,

queen,) Half of the number that king Priam had,

To quit the bloody wrongs upon her foes. Behold the poor remains, alive, and dead!

Re-enter Lucius, QUINTUS, MARTius, und MuThese, that survive, let Rome reward with |

Tius, with their Sucords bloody. love; These, that I'bring unto their latest home, Luc. See, lord and father, how we have perWith burial amongst their ancestors :

form'd Here Goths have given me leave to sheath Our Roman rites: Alarbus' limbs are lopp'd, my sword.

And entrails feed the sacrificing fire, [sky. Titus, unkind, and careless of thine own, Whose smoke, like incense, doth perfume the Why suffer'st thou thy sops, unburied yet, Remaineth nought, but to inter our brethren, To hover on the dreadful shore of Styx ? And with loud 'larums welcome them to Rome. Make way to lay them by their brethren.

Tit. Let it be so, and let Andronicus

The Tomb is opened. Make this his latest farewell to their souls. There greet in silence, as the dead are wont, [Trumpets sounded, and the Coffins luid in And sleep in peace, slain in your country's

the Tomb. O sacred receptacle of my joys, [wars! | In peace and honour rest you here, my sons; Sweet cell of virtue and nobility,

Rome's readiest champions, repose you here, How many sons of mine hast thou in store, Secure from worldly chances and mishaps ! That thou wilt never render to me more? Here lurks po treason, here no envy swells, Luc. Give us the proudest prisoner of the Here grow no damned grudges; here, are no Goths,

storms,
That we may hew his limbs, and, on a pile, No noise, but silence and eternal sleep:
Ad manes fratrum sacrifice his flesh,
Before this earthly prison of their bones;

Enter Lavinia.
That so the shadows be not unappeas’d,

In peace and honour rest you here, my sons ! Nor we disturb'd with prodigies on earth.

Lav. In peace and honour live lord Titus * Freight. + Jupiter, to whom the Capitol was sacred.

I It was supposed that the ghosts of unburied people appeared to solicit the rites of funeral.

* Suffering.