PERSONS REPRESENTED.

Saturninus, Son to the late Emperor of Rome, and afterwards declared Emperor himself.

Baffianus, Brother to Saturninus; in love with La

Young Lucius, a Boy, Son to Lucius.

Publius, Son to Marcus the Tribune.

Æmilius, a noble Roman.

Aaron, a Moor, beloved by Tamora.

A Captain, Tribune, Messenger, and Clown; Romans. Goths and Romans.

Tamora, Queen of the Goths.

Lavinia, Daughter to Titus Andronicus.

A Nurse, and a black Child.

Kinsmen of Titus, Senators, Tribunes, Officers, Soldiers, and Attendants.

SCENE, Rome, and the Country near it.

TITUS ANDRONICUS.

ACT I. SCENE I.

Rome. Before the Capitol.

The Tomb of the Andronici appearing; the Tribunes and Senators aloft, as in the Senate. Enter, below, SATURNINUS and his Followers, on one fide; and BASSIANUS and his Followers, on the other; with Drum and Colours.

SAT. Noble 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 his first-born son, 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. Bas. Romans, friends, followers, favourers of

my right,

If ever Baffianus, Cæfar's son,

Were gracious in the eyes of royal Rome,

I

- my fucceffive title -] i. e. my title to the fucceffion. MALONE.

Thus also Raleigh : "The empire being elective, and not fucseffive, the emperors, in being, made profit of their own times." STEEVENS.

Keep then this passage to the Capitol;
And fuffer not dishonour to approach
The imperial feat, to virtue confecrate,
To justice, continence, and nobility :
But let defert in pure election shine;
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 special party, have, by common voice,
In election for the Roman empery,
Chofen Andronicus, furnamed Pius
For many good and great deserts to Rome;
A nobler man, a braver warrior,
Lives not this day within the 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 yok'd a nation strong, train'd up in arms.
Ten years are spent, since 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 fpoils,
Returns the good Andronicus to Rome,
Renowned Titus, flourishing in arms.
Let us entreat,-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 strength;
Dismiss your followers, and, as fuitors should,
Plead your deferts in peace and humbleness.

SAT. How fair the tribune speaks to calm my

thoughts!

Bas. Marcus Andronicus, so I do affy In thy uprightness and integrity, And fo I love and honour thee and thine, Thy nobler brother Titus, and his fons, And her, to whom my 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.

1

[Exeunt the Followers of BASSIANUS. 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 myself, my person, and the cause.

[Exeunt the Followers of SATURNINUS.

Rome, be as just and gracious unto me,
As I am confident and kind to thee.-
Open the gates, and let me in.

Bas. Tribunes! and me, a poor competitor.

[SAT. and Bas. go into the Capitol, and exeunt with Senators, MARCUS, &c.

Enter a Captain, and Others.

CAP. Romans, make way; The good Androni

cus,

Patron of virtue, Rome's best champion,
Successful in the battles that he fights,
With honour and with fortune is return'd,
From where he circumscribed with his sword,
And brought to yoke, the enemies of Rome.

:

Flourish of Trumpets, &c. enter MUTIUS and MARTIUS: after them, two Men bearing a Coffin covered with black; then QUINTUS and LUCIUS. After them, TITUS ANDRONICUS; and then TAMORA, with ALARBUS, CHIRON, DEMETRIUS, AARON, and other Goths, prisoners; Soldiers and People, following. The Bearers fet down the Coffin, and TITUS Speaks.

:

TIT. Hail, Rome, victorious in thy mourning

weeds !2

A

* Hail, Rome, victorious in thy mourning weeds!] I suspect that the poet wrote:

in my mourning weeds !

i. e. Titus would fay: Thou, Rome, art victorious, though I am a mourner for those sons which I have loftin obtaining that victory. WARBURTON.

Thy is as well as my. We may suppose the Romans in a grateful ceremony, meeting the dead fons of Andronicus with mournful habits. JOHNSON.