Young LUCIUS, a Boy, Son to Lucius.

ALARBUS,

DEMETRIUS,

}

Sons to Tamora.

AARON, a Moor, belov'd by Tamora.
Captain, from Titus's Camp.

MILIUS, a Melenger.

Goths, and Romans.

Clown.

TAMORA, Queen of the Goths, and afterwards married to Saturninus.

LAVINIA, Daughter to Titus Andronicus.

PUBLIUS, Son to Marcus the Tribune, and Nephew Nurfe, with a Black-a-moor Child.

to Titus Andronicus.

Senators, Fudges, Officers, Soldiers, and other Attendants.

SCENE, Rome; and the Country near it.

SCENE I

Before the Capitol in Rome.

ACT I.

Enter the Tribunes and Senators aloft, as in the Senate. Then enter Saturninus and his followers, at one door; and Baffianus and his followers at the other; with drum and colours.

Sat.

If ever Baffianus, Cæfar's fon,
Were gracious in the eyes of royal Rome,
And fuffer not difhonour to approach
Keep then this paffage to the Capitol;
The imperial feat, to virtue confecrate,
To juftice, continence, and nobility ;
But let defert in pure election thine;

N Defend justice my in

OBLE patricians, patrons of my right, And, Romans, fight for freedom in your choice.

arms;

And, countrymen, my loving followers,

Plead my fucceffive title with your fwords :
I am his firfl-born fon, that was the last
That ware the imperial diadem of Rome;
Then let my father's honours live in me,
Nor wrong mine age with this indignity.

ftand,

A fpecial perty, have, by common voice,
In election for the Roman empery,

Baf, Romans,--friends, followers, favourers of Chofen Andronicus, furnamed Pius

my right,

For many good and great deferts to Rome;

1 Mr. Theobald fays, This is one of thofe plays which he always thought, with the better judges, ought not to be acknowledged in the lift of Shakspeare's genuine pieces. Dr. Johnfon oblerves, That all the editors and critics agree with Mr. Theobald in fuppoling this play fpurious, and that he fees "no reason for differing from them; for the colour of the itile is wholly different from that of the other plays, and there is an attempt at regular verification, and artificial clotes, not always inelegant, yet feldom pleafing. The barbarity of the fpectacles, and the general mallacre, which are here exhibited, can fcarcely be conceived tolerable to any audience; yet we are told by Jonfon, that they were not only borne, but praifed." Mr. Farmer and Mr. Steevens are alfo of the fame opinion with Dr. Johnfon.

A nobler

A nobler man, a braver warrior,
Lives not this day within the city walls :
He by the fenate is accited home,
From weary wars against the barbarous Goths;
That, with his fons, a terror to our foes,
Hath yok'd a nation strong, train'd up in arms.
Ten years are spent, fince first he undertook
This caufe 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, flourishing in arms.
Let us intreat,-By honour of his name,
Whom, worthily, you would have now fucceed,
And in the Capitol and fenate'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.

Lo, as the bark, that hath difchatg'd her fræght,
Returns with precious lading to the bay,

From whence at first the weigh'd her anchorage,
Cometh Andronicus, bound 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 1,
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: [fword.
Here Goths have given me leave to fheath my
Titus, unkind, and careless of thine own,
Why fuffer'ft thou thy fons, unbury'd yet,
To hover on the dreadful shore of Styx -
Make way to lay them by their brethren.

[They open the tomb. There greet in filence, as the dead were wont,

Sat. How fair the tribune speaks to calm my And fleep in peace, flain in your country's wars!

thoughts!

Baf. Marcus Andronicus, fo I do affy

In thy uprightness and integrity,

And fo I love and honour thee, and thine,

Thy noble brother Titus, and his fons,

O facred receptacle of my joys,

Sweet cell of virtue and nobility,

How many fons of mine haft thou in store,
That thou wilt never render to me more?

Luc. Give us the proudest prifoner of the Goths,

And her, to whom our thoughts are humbled all, That we may hew his limbs, and, on a pile,

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 myself, my perfon, 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.

Ad manes fratrum facrifice his flesh,
Before this earthly prifon of their bones;
That fo the fhadows be not unappeas'd,
Nor we difturb'd with prodigies on earth 2.

Tit. I give him you; the nobleft that furvives,
The eldeft fon of this diftreffed queen. [queror

Tam. Stay, Roman brethren,-Gracious con-
Victorious Titus, rue the tears I fhed,
A mother's tears in paflion for her fou:
And, if thy fons were ever dear to thee,
O, think my fon to be as dear to me.
Sufficeth not, that we are brought to Rome,
To beautify thy triumphs, and return,
Captive to thee, and to thy Roman yoke?
But must my sons be sflaughter'd in the streets,
For valiant doings in their country's caufe }
O! if to fight for king and common weal
Were piety in thine, it is in these;
Andronicus, ftain not thy tomb with blood;
Andro-Wilt thou draw near the nature of the gods?
[nicus, Draw near them then in being merciful:
Sweet mercy is nobility's true badge;

Baf. Tribunes! and me, a poor competitor.
[They go up into the Senate-house.

Capt. Romans, make way; The good Patron of virtue, Rome's beft champion, Successful in the battles that he fights, With honour and with fortune is return'd, From where he circumfcribed with his fword, 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 Lucius. After them, Titus Andronicus; and then Tamora, the queen of the Goths, Alarbus, Chiron, and Demetrius, with Aaron the Moor, prifoners; Soldiers, and other attendants. They fet down the coffin, and Titus fpeaks.

Tit. Hail! Rome, victorious in thy mourning weeds

Jupiter, to whom the Capitol was facred. of unburied people appeared to their friends and verb is ufed by other dramatic writers.

Thrice-noble Titus, fpare my first-born son.

Tit. Patient 3 yourself, madam, and pardon me,
Thefe are their brethren, whom you Goths behold
Alive, and dead; and for their brethren flain,
Religioufly they aik a facrifice:
To this your fon is mark'd: and die he must,
To appease their groaning fhadows that are gone.

Luc. Away with him! and make a fire straight;
And with our fwords, upon a pile of wood,
Let's hew his limbs, 'till they be clean confiun'd.
[Exeunt Mutius, Marcus, Quintus,
and Lucius, with Alay bus.

2 It was fuppofed by the ancients, that the ghofls relations, to folicit the rites of funeral. 3 This

Tar.

Tam.. O cruel, irreligious piety!
Chi. Was ever Scythia half so barbarous ?
Dem. Oppofe not Scythia to ambitious Rome.
Alarbus goes to reft; and we furvive
To tremble under Titus' threatening look.
Then, madam, ftand refolv'd; but hope withal,
The felf-fame gods, that arm'd the queen of Troy
With opportunity of sharp revenge
Upon the Thracian tyrant in his tent,
May favour Tamora, the queen of Goths,
(When Goths were Goths, and Tamora was queen)
To quit the bloody wrongs upon her foes.

Enter Mutius, Marcus, Quintus, and Lucius.
'Luc. See, lord and father, how we have per-

form'd

Our Roman rites: Alarbus' limbs are lopp'd,
And entrails feed the facrificing fire,
Whofe fmoke, like incenfe, doth perfume the fky.
Remaineth nought, but to inter our brethren,
And with loud 'larums welcome them to Rome.
Tit. Let it be fo; and let Andronicus
Make this his lateft farewel to their fouls.
[Then found trumpets, and lay the coffins in the tomb.
In peace and honour reft you here, my fons;
Rome's readieft champions, repose you here,
Secure from worldly chances and mishaps!
Here lurks no treason, here no envy fwells,
Here grow no damned grudges; here no ftorm,
No noife, but filence and eternal fleep:

Enter Lavinia.

In peace and honour reft you here, my fons !
Lav. In peace and honour live lord Titus long;
My noble lord and father, live in fame!
Lo! at this tomb my tributary tears
I render, for my brethren's obfequies ;
And at thy feet I kneel, with tears of joy
Shed on the earth, for thy return to Rome :
O, blefs me here with thy victorious hand,
Whofe fortune Rome's beft citizens applaud.

Tit. Kind Rome, that haft thus lovingly referv'd
The cordial of mine age, to glad my heart!—
Lavinia, live; out-live thy father's days,

Tit. A better head her glorious body fits,
Than his, that shakes for age and feebleness:
What! fhould I don' this robe, and trouble you?
Be chofe with proclamations to day;
To-morrow yield up rule, refign my life,
And fet abroad new bufinefs for you all?
Rome, I have been thy foldier forty years,
And led my country's ftrength fuccefsfully;
And buried one and twenty valiant fons,
Knighted in field, flain manfully in arms,
In right and fervice of their noble country:
Give me a ftaff of honour for mine age,
But not a fceptre to controll the world:
Upright he held it, lords, that held it last.
Mar. Titus, thou fhalt obtain and ask the em
[tell ?—

pery.
Sat. Proud and ambitious tribune, can't thou
Tit. Patience, prince Saturninus.→→→
Sat. Romans, do me right;

Patricians, draw your fwords, and fheath them not
Till Saturninus be Rome's emperor :---
Andronicus, 'would thou were ship'd to hell,
Rather than rob me of the people's hearts.

Luc. Proud Saturninus! interrupter of the good
That noble-minded Titus means to thee !-

Tit. Content thee, prince; I will restore to thee
The people's hearts, and wear them from them-
Baj. Andronicus, I do not flatter thee, [felves.
But honour thee, and will do 'till I die ;
My faction if thou ftrengthen with thy friends,
I will moft thankful be: and thanks, to men
Of noble minds, is honourable meed.

Tit. People of Rome, and people's tribunes here,
I afk your voices, and your fuffrages; ·
Will you beftow them friendly on Andronicus?
Mar. To gratify the good Andronicus,
And gratulate his fafe return to Rome,
The people will accept whom he admits. [make,

Tit. Tribunes, I thank you: and this fuit I
That you create your emperor's eldest fon,
Lord Saturnine; whofe virtues will, I hope,
Reflect on Rome, as Titan's rays on earth,
And ripen juftice in this common-weal:
Then if you will elect by my advice,
Crown him, and fay,-Long live our emperor!
Mar. With voices and applause of every fort,
[wars, Patricians, and plebeians, we create

And fame's eternal date, for virtue's praife!
Mar. Long live lord Titus, my beloved brother,
Gracious triumpher in the eyes of Rome!
Tit. Thanks, gentle tribune, noble brother
Marcus.

Mar. And welcome, nephews, from fuccefsful
You that furvive, and you that fleep in fame.
Fair lords, your fortunes are alike in all,
That in your country's fervice drew your swords :
But fafer triumph is this funeral pomp,
That hath afpir'd to Solon's happiness,
And triumphs over chance, in honour's bed.—
Titus Andronicus, the people of Rome,
Whose friend in justice thou haft ever been,
Send thee by me, their tribune, and their trust,
This palliament of white and spotless hue;
And name thee in election for the empire,
With these our late-deceased emperor's fons :
Be candidatus then, and put it on,
And help to set a head on headless Rome.

Lord Saturninus, Rome's great emperor;
And fay,-Long live our emperor Saturnine!

[A long flourish till they come down. Sat. Titus Andronicus, for thy favours done To us in our election this day,

I give thee thanks in part of thy deferts,
And will with deeds requite thy gentleness;
And, for an onfet, Titus, to advance
Thy name, and honourable family,
Lavinia will I make my emperess,
Rome's royal miftrefs, miftrefs of my heart,
And in the facred Pantheon her eipoate:
Tell me, Andronicus, deth this motion please thee?
Tit. It doth, my worthy lord; and, in this match,
I hold me highly honour'd of your grace :

I i, e. do on this robe, put it on.
Hhh

And

T

My fons would never fo difhonour me:
Traitor, reftore Lavinia to the emperor.

Luc. Dead, if you will; but not to be his
wife,

That is another's lawful promis'd love.

Sat. No, Titus, no; the emperor needs her not,
Nor her, nor thee, nor any of thy stock:
I'll trufl, by leifure, him that mocks me once;
Thee never, nor thy traiterous haughty fons,
Confederates all thus to dishonour me.

Was there none else in Rome to make a ftale of,
But Saturnine? Full well, Andronicus,
Agree thefe deeds with that proud brag of thine,
That faid'ft, I begg'd the empire at thy hands.
Tit. O monstrous! what reproachful words are
thefe ?

To him that flourifh'd for her with his fword: A valiant fon-in-law thou fhalt enjoy; One fit to bandy with thy lawless fons, To ruffle 2 in the commonwealth of Rome. Tit. Thefe words are razors to my wounded [Goths, Sat. And therefore, lovely Tamora, queen of That like the ftately Phabe 'mong her nymphs, Dott over-fhine the gallant'ft dames of Rome,If thou be pleas'd with this my fudden choice, Behold, I choose thee, Tamora, for my bride, let And will create thee emprefs of Rome. Speak, queen of Goths, doft thou applaud my choice?