Dramatis Per fonae.

SATURNINUS, Son to the late Emperor of Rome, and after

wards declared Emperor himself. Bassianus, Brother to Saturninus, in love with Lavinia. Titus Andronicus, a noble Roman, General against the Goths. Marcus Andronicus, Trilune of the people, and Brother to Titus. Marcus, Quintus,

Sons to Titus Andronicus.
Lucius,
Mutius,
Yourg Lucius, a Boy, Son to Lucius.
Publius, Son to Marcus the Tribune, and Nephew to Titus

Andronicus.
Sempronius.
Alarbas,
Chiron, Sons to Tamora.
Demetrius,
Aaron, a Moor, beloved by Tamora.
Captain, from Titus's Camp.
Æmilius, a Medinger.
Goths, and Romans.
Clown.

}

Tamora. Queen of the Goths, and afterwards married to Sature

ninus. Lavinia, Daughter 10 Titus Andronicus. Nurfe, with a Black-a-moor Child.

Serators, Judges, Officers, Soldiers, and other Attendants.

SCENE, Rome; and the Country near it.

TITUS ANDRONICUS. (1)

А. С

TI

SCENI, before the Capitol in Rome.

Enter the Tribunes and Senators aloft, as in the Sea

nute. Enter SATURNINUS and his Followers, at one Door; BASSANIUS and his Followers, ab the other, with Druin and Colours.

SATURNINUS.
OBLE patricians, patrons of my right,
Defend the justice of my cause with arms:

And countrymen, my loving followers,
Plead my succeffive title with your Iwords.
I am the first-born son of him that last

N

(1) Titus Andronicus.] This is one of those plays which I have always thought, with the better judges, ought not to be acknowledged in the list of Shakespeare's genuine pieces. And, perhaps, I may give a proof to strengthen this opi nion, that may put the matter out of question. Ben Johnfon, in the induction to his Bartholomew-fair, (which made its first appearance in the year 1614) couples Jeronymo and Andronicus together in reputation, and speaks of them as plays then of twenty five or thirty years standing. Consequently, Andronicus must have been on the itage before Shakespeare left Warwickshire to come and refide in London : and I never heard it so much as intimated, that he had turned his genius to stage-writing before he associated with the players, and became one of their body. However, that he afterwards introduced it anew on the scene, with the addition of his own masterly touches, is incontestable : and thence, I presume, grew his title to it. The diction, in general, where he has not taken the pains to raise it, is

Wore the imperial diadem of Rome :
Then let my father's honours live in me,
Nor wrong mine age with this indignity.

Baf. Romans, friends, followers, favourers of my If ever Baslianus, Cæsar's son,

[right, Were. gracious in the eyes of Royal Rome, Keep then this paffage to the Capitol, And suffer not dishonour to approach Th'imperial feat, to virtue confecrate, To juitice, 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.

Mar. Princes, that lirive by factions, and by Ambitiously for rule and empery!

[friends, Know, that the people of Rome, for whom we stand A special party, have by common voice In election for the Roman empery, Chofen Andronicus, firnamed Pius, For many good and great deserts to Rome. A nobler man, a braver warrior, Lives not this day within our city-walls. He by the Senate is accited 'home, From weary wars against the barbarous Goths; That with his fons (a terror to our foes) Hath yoked a nation strong, trained up in arms. Ten years are spent since first he undertook

even beneath that of the Three Parts of Henry VI. The story, we are to suppose, 'is merely fictitious. Andronicus is a furname of pure Greck derivation : Tamora is neither mentioned by Ammianus Marcellinus, nor any body else that I can find. Nor had Rome, in the time of her Emperors, any wars with the Goths that I know of: not till after ihe translation of the empire, I mean, to Byzantium. And yet the scene of our play is laid at Rome, ard Saturniaus' is elected to the empire at the Capitol.

The cause of Rome, and chastised with arms
Our enemies pride. Five times he hath returned
Bleeding to Rome, bearing his valiant fons
In coffins from the field.--
And now at last, laden with Honour's spoils,
Returns the good Andronicus to Rome,
Renowned Titus, flourishing in arms.
Let us intreat, by honour of his name,
Whom (worthily) you would have now succeed,
And in the Capitol and Senate's right,
Whom you pretend to honour and adore,
That you withdraw you, and abate your strength;
Dismiss your followers, and, as suitors fhould,
Plead your deserts in peace and humbleness.
Sat. How fair the Tribune speaks to calm my

thoughts !
Baf. Marcus Andronicus, so I do affie
In thy uprightness and integrity,
And so I love and honour thee and thine;
Thy noble brother Titus, and his fons,
And her to whom our thoughts are humbled all,
Gracious Lavinia, Rome's rich ornament ;
That I will here dismiss my loving friends,
And to my fortunes, and the peoples favour,
Commit my cause in balance to be weighed.

[Exeunt Soldiers Sat. Friends, that have been thus forward in my

right,
I thank you all, and here dismiss you all;
And to the love and favour of my country
Commit myself, my person, and the cause:
Rome, be as just and gracious unto me
As I am confident and kind to thee.
Open thy gates, and let me in.
Bas. Tribunes, and me a poor competitor.

[They go up into the Senate-house

CIUS.

Enter a Captain. Cap. Romans, make way: the good Andronicus, Patron of virtue, Rome's best champion, Successful in the battles that he fights, With honour and with fortune is returned, From whence he circumscribed with his sword, And brought to yoke the enemies of Rome. Sound Drums and Trumpets, and then enter MUTIUS

and MARCUS: after them, two Men bearing a Coffin covered with black; then QUINTUS and Lu.

After them, TITUS ANDRONICUS; and then TAMORA, the Queen of Goths, ALARBUS, CHIRON and DEMETRIUS, with AARON the Moor, Prisoners; Soldiers and other Attendants. They set down the Coffin, and Titus speaks. Tit. (2) Hail, Rome, victorious in thy mourning

weeds! Lo, as the bark, that hath discharged her freight, Returns with precious lading to the bay From whence at firit the weighed her anchorage; Cometh Andronicus with laurel boughs, To re-falute his country with his tears; Tears of true joy for his return to Rome. Thou great defender of this Capitol,

(2) Hail, Rome, villorious in thy mourning weeds !] Me Warburton and I concurred to suspect that the Poet wrote;

-in my mourning weeds. i. e. Titus would say; Thou, Rome, art victorious, “ though I am a mourner for those fons which I have “ lost in obtaining that victory.” But I have not ventured to disturb the text; because, on a second reflection, mourning weeds may relate to Rome for this reason; the scene opens with Saturninus and Ballianus canvafling to be elected to the Empire: and consequently the state might be in grief for their last Emperor just deceased.