T IT US

ANDRONICUS.

资

Dramatis Perfonæ.

SATURNINUS, Son to the late Emperor of Rome, and afterwards declar'd Emperor himself.

Baffanus, Brother to Saturninus, in love with Lavinia. Titus Andronicus, a noble Roman, General against the Goths.

Marcus Andronicus, Tribune of the people, and brother to Titus.

Marcus,

Quintus,

Sons to Titus Andronicus.

Lucius,

Matius,

Young Lucius, a Boy, Son to Lucius.

Publius, Son to Marcus the Tribune, and Nepher to Titus Andronicus.

Sempronius.
Alarbus,
Chiron,

Demetrius,

}

Sons to Tamora.

Aaron, 4 Moor, belov'd by Tamora

Captain, from Titus's Camp.

Emilius, a Meflenger.

Goths, and Romans.

Clown.

Tamora, Queen of the Goths, and afterwards married to

Saturninus.

Lavinia, Daughter to Titus Andronicus.

Nurfe, with a Black-a-moor Child.

Senators, Fudges, Officers, Soldiers, and other Attendants

SCENE, Rome; and the Country near it.

TITUS ANDRONICUS. (1)

ACT

I.

SCENE, before the Capitol in ROME

Enter the Tribunes and Senators aloft, as in the Senate. Enter Saturninus and his followers, at one door; and Baffianus and his followers, at the other, with Drum: and Colours,

N

SATURNINUS.

Oble patricians, patrons of my right,.

Defend the juftice of my caufe with arms: And countrymen, my loving followers, Plead my fucceffive title with your fwords.

I, am

(1) Titus Andronicus.] This is one of thofe plays, which I have always thought, with the better judges, ought not to be acknowledg'd in the lift of Shakespeare's genuine pieces. And, perhaps, I may give a proof to ftrengthen this opinion, that may put the matter out of question. Ben Johnson in the induction to his BartholomervFair, (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. Confequently, Andronicus must have been on the stage, before Shakespeare left Warwickshire to come and refide in London: and I never heard it fo much as intimated, that he had turned his genius to ftage-writing, before he affociated with the players, and became one of their body.. However, that he afterwards introduced it a-new on the scene, with

the

I am the first-born fon of him, that laft
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, foll'wers, favourers of my right, If ever Baffianus, Cæfar's fon,

Were gracious in the eyes of royal Rome,
Keep then this paffage to the capitol;
And fuffer not difhonour to approach
Th' imperial feat, to virtue confecrate,
To juftice, continence, and nobility:
But let defert in pure election fhine;
And, Romans, fight for freedom in your choice.

Enter Marcus Andronicus aloft, with the Crown.

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

Know, that the people of Rome, for whom we ftand
A fpecial party, have by common voice,
In election for the Roman empery,

Chofen Andronicus, fur-named Pius,
For many good and great deferts 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 yoak'd a nation ftrong, train'd up in arms.
Ten years are spent, fince first he undertook
This cause of Rome, and chastised with arms

the addition of his own mafterly touches, is inconteftable: and thence, I prefume, grew his title to it. The diction in general, where he has not taken the pains to raise it, is even beneath that of the Three Parts of Henry VI. The ftory, we are to fuppofe, merely fictitious. Andronicus is a fur-name of pure Greek derivation : Tamora is neither mentioned by Ammianus Marcellinus, nor any body elfe 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 the tranflation of the empire, I mean, to Byzantium. And yet the scene of our play is laid at Rome, and Saturninus is elected to the empire at the Capitol.

Our

Our enemies pride. Five times he hath return'd
Bleeding to Rome, bearing his valiant fons

In coffins from the field.

And now at laft, 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 fucceed,
And in the capitol and Senate's right,
Whom you pretend to honour and adore,
That you withdraw you, and abate your ftrength;
Difmifs your followers, and, as fuitors fhould,
Plead your deferts in peace and humbleness.

Sat. How fair the tribune fpeaks, to calm my thoughts! Baf. Marcus Andronicus, fo I do affie

In thy uprightnefs and integrity,

And fo 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 difmifs my loving friends;
And to my fortunes, and the people's favour,
Commit my caufe in ballance to be weigh'd.

[Exeunt Soldiers.
Sat. Friends, that have been thus forward in my right,
I thank you all, and here difmifs you all;
And to the love and favour of my country
Commit myself, my perfon and the cause:
Rome, be as juft and gracious unto me,
As I am confident and kind to thee.

Open thy gates, and let me in.

Baf, Tribunes, and me, a poor competitor.

[They go up into the Senate-houfer

Enter a Captain.

Cap. Romans, make way: the good Andronicus,
Patron of virtue, Rome's beft champion,
Successful in the battles that he fights,
With honour and with fortune is return'd,

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