SATURNINUS, Son to the late Emperor of Rome, and

afterwards declared Emperor himself. BASSIANUS, Brother to Saturninus, in love with Lavinia. Titus ANDRONICUS, a Noble Roman, General against

the Goths. MARCUS ANDRONICUS, Tribune of the People, and

Bootber to Titus.
MARCUS,
QUINTUS,

Sons to Titus Andronicus,
LUCIUS,
MUTIUS,
Young LUCIUS, a Boy, Son to Lucius.
PUBLIUS, Son to Marcus Andronicus the Tribune.
ALAR BUS,
CHIRON,

Sons to Tamora.
DEMETRIUS,
Aaron, a Moor, belov'd by Tamora.
ÆMILIUS, a Roman.

}

TAMOR Ä, Queen of the Goths, and afterwards married

to Saturninus. LAVINIA, Daughter to Titus Andronicus,

Nurse with a black-a-moor Cbild.

Senators, Judges, Officers, Soldiers, and other Attendants,

SCENE, Rome, and the Country near is.

N

Enter the Tribunes and Senators aloft, as in the Senate.

Enter Saturninus and bis followers at one door, and Bas

fianus and his followers at the other, with drum and colours.. Sat.

OBLE Patricians, patrons of my right,

Defend the justice of my cause with arms

**And countrymen my loving followers,
Plead my successive title with your swords.
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.

Baf. Romans, friends, foll'wers, favourers of my right;
If ever Baffianus, Cæsar's son,
Were gracious in the eyes of royal Rome,
Keep then this passage to the Capitol ;
And suffer not dishonour to approach

} Th' imperial seat, to virtue consecrate, To justice, continence, and nobility: 795."!

• This is one of the Plays which ought not to be look!d upon to be of Shakespear's composition. By giving it the credit of a few of his lines inserted here and there he got the discrediс of writing

But

ehe whole

But let defert in pure election shine
And, Romans, fight for freedom in your choice.

Enter Marcus Andronicus aloft with tbe crown,
Mar. Princes, that strive by factions and by friends,
Ambitiously for rule and empery!
Know that the people of Rome, for whom we stand
A fpecial party, have by common voice,
In free election for the Roman empery,
Chosen Andronicus, sur-named Pius,
For many good and great deferts to Rome,
A nobler man, a braver warrior,
Lives aot this day within our city walls,
He by the Senate is accited dhome,
From weary wars against the barb'rous Gorbs,
That with his sons (a terror to our foes)
Hath yoak'd a nation strong, train'd up in arms.
Ten years are spent fince first he undertook

This cause of Rome, and chastised 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 last, laden with honour's spoils,
Returns the good Andronicus to Rome,
Renowned Titus, Aourishing 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 should,
Plead your deserts in peace and humbleness.

Sot How fair the Tribune Ipeaks, to calm my thoughke!

Baf. Marcus Andronicus, so I do affic
In thy uprightness and integrity,
And so I love and honour thee and thine,
Thy noble brother Titus and his sons,
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 people's favour,

Commit my cause in balance to be weigh’d. [Exe, 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 my self, my person and the cause : Rome, be as just 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.

[Tbey go up into the Senate-boufie SCENE II. Enter a Captain. Cap. Románs, 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 circumscribed with his sword, And brought to yoak the enemies of Rome. Sound drums and trumpets, and eben enter Mutius and Mar

cus: after tbem, two men bearing a coffin cover'd with black tben Quintus and Lucius. After tbem Titus Andronicus

i

and then Tamora, the Queen of Goths, Alarbus, Chiron and Demetrius, with Aaron the Moor, prisoners; Soldiers, and other Attendants. They set down ibe coffin, and Titus fpeaks.

Tit. Hail, Rome, victorious in thy mourning weeds ! Lo, as the bark that hath discharg'd her freight, Returns with precious lading to the bay, From whence at firft she weigh'd her anchorage, Cometh Andronicus with laurel boughs, To re-salute his country with his tears; Tears of true joy, for his return to Rome, The 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 ! These that Tarvive, let Rome reward with love; These that I bring unto their latest home, With burial among their ancefors,