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,
Keep then this paffage to the Capitol ;
And fuffer not difhonour to approach
Th' imperial Seat, 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 strive by factions, and by friends, Ambitioufly 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,

A

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 firft he undertook

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
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 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,
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 Cause 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 my felf, my perfon and the Caufe:
Rome, be as juft and gracious unto me,
As I am confident and kind to thee.

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,
And brought to yoke the enemies of Rome.

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