Saturninus, Son to the late Emperor of Rome, and afterwards declar'd Emperor bimfelf. Baffianus, 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. Mutius, Young Lucius, a Boy, Son to Lucius. Publius, Son to Marcus the Tribune, and Nephew to Titus Andronicus. Tamora, Queen of the Goths, and afterwards married to Saturninus. Lavinia, Daughter to Titus Andronicus. Nurfe, with a Black-a-moor Child. Senators, Judges, 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 the first-born Son 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. U 2 Baf. (1) Titus Andronicus.] This is one of thofe Plays, which I have al ways 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 strengthen this Opinion, that may put the Matter out of Question. Ben Fonfon Baf. Romans, friends, foll'wers, favourers of my Right, If ever Baffianus, Cæfar's fon, Were gracious in the eyes of royal Rome, And, Romans, fight for freedom in your choice. Enter Marcus Andronicus aloft, with the Crown. Mar. Princes, that strive by factions, and by friends, Ambitioufly for Rule and Empery! Know, that the people of Rome, for whom we ftand Chofen Andronicus, fur-named Pius, A For many good and great deferts to Rome. From weary wars against the barbarous Goths Hath yoak'd a nation ftrong, train'd up in arms. fonfon in the Induction to his Bartlemew-Fair, (which made its first Appearance in the Year 1614) couples Feronymo and Andronicus together in Reputation, and fpeaks of them as Plays then of 25 or 30 Years ftanding. 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 turn'd his Genius to Stage-Writing, before he affociated with the Players, and became one of their Body. However, that he afterwards introduc'd it a-new on the Scene, with the Addition of his own mafterly Touches, is incontestable: 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 Story, we are to fuppofe, merely fictitious. Andronicus isa Sur-name of pure Greek Derivation: Tamora is neither mention'd by Ammianus Marcellinus, nor any body else that I can find. Nor had Rome, in the Time of her Emperours, 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, t This Caufe of Rome, and chaftifed with arms And now at laft, laden with Honour's Spoils, 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 uprightness 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, [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 Open the gates, and let me in. Baf. Tribunes, and Me, a poor Competitor. [They go up into the Senate-boufe. Enter a Captain. Cap. Romans, make way: the good Andronicus, Patron of virtue, Rome's beft champion, Successful in the battels that he fights, With honour and with fortune is return'd, From whence he circumfcribed with his sword, Sound drums and trumpets, and then enter Mutius and Mar coffin cover'd with After them, Titus Queen of Goths, cus: after them, two men bearing a black; then Quintus and Lucius. Andronicus; and then Tamora, the Alarbus, Chiron, and Demetrius, with Aaron the Moor, prifoners; foldiers, and other attendants. They fet down the coffin, and Titus fpeaks. Tit. Hail, Rome, victorious in thy mourning weeds! (2) Loe, as the Bark, that hath discharg'd her freight, Returns with precious lading to the bay, From whence at firft fhe weigh'd 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, Stand gracious to the Rites that we intend ! Romans, of five and twenty valiant fons, Half of the number that King Priam had, Behold the poor Remains, alive and dead! Thefe, that furvive, let Rome reward with love; Thefe, that I bring unto their latest home, With burial among their Ancestors. Here Goths have given me leave to fheath my Titus, unkind, and careless of thine own, Why fuffer'ft thou thy Sons, unburied yet, To hover on the dreadful fhore of Styx? fword: (2) Hail, Rome, victorious in thy mourning Weeds!] Mr. Warburton and I concurr'd to fufpect that the Poet wrote; 26 in my mourning Weeds. i. e. Titus would fay; "Thou, Rome, art victorious, tho I am a Mourner for those Sons which I have loft in obtaining that Victory." But I have not ventur'd to disturb the Text; because, on a fecond Reflexion, mourning Weeds may relate to Rome for this Reason; The Scene opens with Saturninus and Baffianus canvaffing to be elected to the Empire: and confequently the State might be in Grief for their laft Emperour juft deceas'd. Make |