79

Scene II. ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA.
Dol. Cesar, thy thoughts

As she would catch another Antony
Touch their etfects in this : Thyself art coming In her strong toil of grace.
To see perform'd the dreaded act, which thou Dol. Here, on her breast,
80 sougbt'st to hinder.

There is a venit of blood, and something blown,
Within. A way there, way for Cesar!

The like is on her arm.
Enter CESAR, and Attendants.

I Guurd. This is an aspic's trail : and these

tig-leaves
Dol. O Sir, you are too sure an augurer; Have slime upon them, such as the aspic leaves
That you did fear, is done.

Upon the caves of Nile.
C'es. Bravest at the last :

Ces. Most probable,
Sh: levell’d at our purposes, and, being royal, That so sbe died; for her physician tells me,
Took ber own way.—The manner of their deaths ? She had pursu'd conclusions i intimite
I do not see them bleed.

of easy ways to die.-Take up her bed ;
Dol. Who was last with them?

And bear her women from the monument :
1 Guard. A simple countryman, that brought she shall be buried by her Antony :
her figs :

No grave upon the earth shall clip 1 in it
This was his basket.

A pair so famous. High events as these
Ces. Poison'd then.

Strike those that make them, and their story is
I Guard. 0 Cesar,

No less in pity, than his glory, which
This Charmian lived but now; she stood, and Brought thein to be lamented. Our army shall,
spake :

In solemn show, attend the funeral ;
I found her trimming up the diadem

And then to Rome.-Come, Dolabella, see
On her dead mistress ; tremblingly she stood, High order in this great solemnity.
And on the sudden dropp'd.

(Exeunt.
Ces. O noble weakness ! -
If they had swallow'd poison, 'twould appear

Some part of the flesh puffed.
By external swelling; but she Inoks like sleep,

+ Tried experiments.

Enfold.

TITUS ANDRONICUS.

.

LITERARY AND HISTORICAL NOTICE.
As it is intended, in the present collection of Shakspeare's Dramatic Works, to present in regular succession all

such as have the scenery, characters, or manners, drawn from the same country, the sanguinary and disgusting
Tragedy of Titus Audronicus is placed in immediate sequence to those that are essentially of Roman origia.
The events, however, are not of historical occurrence, but were probably borrowed from an old ballad en.
tered on the books of the Stationers' Compauy in the year 1393, about which period it may also have been
written. Its identity, however, as one of Shakspeare's productions, rests on a very doubtful foundation. Dr.
Percy supposes it only to have been corrected and re-touched by aim ; but, says Dr. Johnson, “ I do not find
his touches very discernible.” It is devoid of any striking sentiment--- it has uone of the philosophic state-
liness which generally distinguishes his plays---the anaclironisms are gross---the language throughout is as
tumid and laboured as the plot is horrid and unuatural ;---and the only approach to energy discernible in the
play, occurs in the scene between Aaron, the nurse, and Demetrius. Indeed, there is internal evidence
cnough (in the versitication, the character of the composition, the total difference of conduct, language, and
sentiment, and also in its resemblance to several dramas of much more ancient date) to prore, with irresist-
ible force, that it has been erroneously ascribed to Shakspeare. Dr. Johnson says, “ All the editors and cri.
ties agree with Mr. Theobald in supposing this play spurious. I see no reason for differing from thein ; for
the colour of the style is wholly different from that of the other play, and there is an attempt at regular ver.
sification and artificial closes, not always inelegant, yet seldom pleasing. The barbarity of the spectacle, and
the general massacre which are here exhibited, can scarcely be conceived tolerable to any audience ; yet we
are told by Jonson, that they were not only borne but applauded. That Shakspeare wrote any part, though
Theobald declares it incontestible, I see no reason for believing."

DRAMATIS PERSONE.
SATURNINUS, Son to the late Emperor of Rome, Æmilius, a noble Roma:i.

and afterwards declared Emperor ALARBUS,
himself.

CHIRON, Sons to Tamora.
BASSIANUS, Brother to Saturninus : in love DEMETRIUS,
with Lavinia.

AARON, a Moor, beloved by Tamora. Titus ANDRONICUS, ( noble Roman, General A CAPTAIN,TRIBUNE, MESSENGER, and CLOWN; against the Goths.

Romans. MARCUS ANDRONICUS, Tribune of the People ;| Goths and Romans.

and Brother to Titus. LUCIUS,

TAMORA, Queen of the Coths.
QUINTUS,
Sons to Titus Andronicus.

LAVINIA, Daughter to Tities Andronicus.
Martius,

A NURSE, and A BLACK CHILD.
MUTIUS,
YOUNG LUCIUS, a Boy, Son to Lucius. Kinsmen of Titus, Senators, Tribunes, Ojji-
PUBLIUS, Son to Marcus the Tribune.

cers, Soldiers, and Attendants.
SCENE : Rome, and the Country near it.

ACT I.

Keep then this passage to the Capitol :

And sutler noi dishonour to approach SCENE 1.-Rome.-Before the Capitol. The imperial seat, to virtue consecrate, The tomb of the ANDRONICI appearing; the But let desert in pure election shine ;

To justice, continence, and nobility: TRIBUNES and SENATORS alojt, as in the Aud, Romans, tight for freedom in your choice. Senate. Enter, below', SATURNINUS and his Follouers, on one side ; and BASSIANUS Enter Marcus ANDRONICUS, aloft, with the and his Followers on the other ; with Drum

Croun. and Colours.

Mar. Princes, that strive by factions and by Sat. Noble patricians, patrons of my right,

friends, Defend the justice of my cause with arms; Ambitiously for rule and empery, And, countryinen, my loving followers,

Know, that the people of Rome, for whom we Plead my successive title • with your swords:

stand I am bis first-born son, that was the last A special party, bave, by their common voice, That wore the imperial diademi of Rome,

In election for the Roman empery, Then let my father's honours live in me, Chosen Andronicus, surnamed Pius Nor wrong mine age with this indignity.

For many good and great deserts to Rome; Bas. Romans, --1ri nds, followers, lavourers of A nobler man, a braver warrior, of my right,

Lives not this day within the city walls :
If ever Bassianus, Cesar's son,

He by the senate is accited * hoine,
Were gracious in the eyes of royal Rome, From weary wars against the barbarous Gotne,

. My title to the succession.

• Summoned.

That, with his sons, a terror to our foes, To hover on the dreadful shore of Styx ?
Hath yok'd a nation strong, train'd up in arms. Make way to lay them by thrir brethren.
Ten years are spent, since first he undertook

(The Tomb is opered.
This cause of Rome, and chastised with arms There greet in silence, as the dead are wont,
Our enemies' pride : Five times be hath reluru'd And sleep in peace, slain in your country's wars!
Bleeding to Rome, bearing bis valiant sous O sacred receptacle of my joys,
In coffins from the field ;

Sweet cell of virtue and nobility, And now, at last, laden with honour's spoils, How many sons of mine bast thou in store, Returns the good Andronicus to Rome,

That thou wilt never render to me more ! Renowned Titus, flourishing in arms.

Luc. Give us the proudest prisoner of the Let as entreat,-By honour of his name,

Goths,
Whom, worthily, you would have now succeed, That we may hew his linibs, and, on a pile
And in the Capitol aud senate's right.

Ad manes fratrum sacrifice his flesh,
Whom you pretend to honour and adore,-

Before this earthly prison of their bones: That you withdraw you, and abate your strength : That so the shadows be not onappeas d, Dismiss your followers, and, as suitors should, Nor we disturbid with prodigies on earth.* Plead your deserts in peace and humbleness. Til. I give him you; the noblest that survives, Sat. How fair the tribune speaks to calm my The eldest son of this distressed queen. thoughts !

Tam. Stay, Roman brethren --Gracious conBas. Marcus Andronicus, so I do affy •

queror, In thy aprightness and integrity,

Victorious Titus, rue the tears I shed, And so i love and bonour thee and thine, A inother's tears in passion for ber son: Thy nobler brother Titus, and his sons,

And, if thy sons were ever dear to thee, And her, to whom my thoughts are bumbled all, Oh! think my son to be as dear to me. Gracious Lavinia, Rome's rich ornament, Sufficerb not, that we are brought to Rome That I will bere dismiss my luving friends, To beautify thy triumphs, and return, Aud to my fortunes, and the people's favour, Captive to thee, and to thy Romanı yoke ; Cormit my cause in balalice to be weigh'd. But must my sons be slaughter'd in the streets,

(Ereunt the Followers of BASSIANUS. For valiant doings in their country's canse? Sat. Friends, that have been thus forward in oh! it to fight for king and common weal my right,

Were piety in thine, it is in these. I thank you ali, and here dismiss you all ; Andronicus, stain not thy tomb with blood : And to the love and favour of my country Wilt thou draw near the nature of the gods, Cominit myself, my person, and my cause. Draw near them then in being merciful:

(Exeunt the Followers of SATURNINUS. Sweet mercy is nobility's true badge Rome, be as just and gracious unto me,

Turice-noble Titus, spare my first-born son. As I am contident and kind to thee.

Tit. Patient yourself, madam, and pardon me. Open the gates, and let me in.

These are their brethren, whom you Goths be. Bas. Tribunes ! and me, a poor competitor.

held (Sar. and Bas. go into the Capitol, and er- Alive and dead ; and, for their brethreu slain, eunt with SENATORS, MARCUS, &c. Religiously they ask a sacritice :

To this your son is mark'd ; and die he must, SCENE II.-The same.

To appease their groauing shadows that are goue.

Luc. Away with bim! and make a tue Enter a CAPTAIN, and others.

straight : Cap. Romans, make way-The good Andro. And with your swords, upon a pile of wood, nicus,

Let's hew his limbs, till they be clean consum'd Patron of virtue, Rome's best champion,

Ereunt LUCIOS, QUINTUS, MARTIUS, and Successful in the battles that he tights,

MUTIUS, with ALARBUS. With honour and with fortune is return'd,

Tam. O cruel, irreligious piety! From where he circumscribed with his sword, Chi. Was ever Scythia hali so barbarous ? And brought to yoke, the enemies of Rome. Dem. Oppose not Scythia to ambitious Rone.

Alarbus goes to rest ; and we survive Flourish of Trumpets, &c. Enter Mutius and To tremble under Titus threatening look. MARTIUS : after them, tuo Men bearing a Then, madam, stand resolv’d: but hope withal, Coffin covered with black; then QUINTUS

The self-same gods, that arm'd the queen of Troy and Lucius. After them, Titus ANDRONI. With opportunity of sharp revenge cus; and then TAUORA, with A LARBUS, CHIUpon the Thracian tyrant in his tent, ROR, DEMETRIUS, Aarox, and other Goths, May favour Tamora, the queen of Goth, prisoner s; Soldiers and People following: (when Goths were Goths, and Tamora The Bearers set down the Cojin, and TITUS

queen,) speaks.

To quit the bloody wrongs upon her foes. Tit. Hail, Rome, victorious in thy mourning Re-enter Lucius, QUINTUS, Martius, and

weeds! Lo, as the bark that hath discharged her fraught, +

MUTIUS, with their Suords bloody, Retorns with precious lading to the bay,

Luc. See, lord and father, how we have perFrom whence at first she weigu'd ber anchorage,

fori'd Cometh Andronicus, bound with laurel boughs, Our Roman rites : Alarbus' limbs are lopp'd To re-salute his country with his tears;

And entrails feed the sacrificing fire, Tears of true joy for his return to Rome.- Whose smoke, like incense, doth perfume the sky. Thou great defender of this Capitol, 1

Remaineth nought, but to inter our brethren, Stand gracious to the rights that we intend ! And with loud 'larums welcome them to Rome. Romans, of five and twenty valiant sons,

Tit. Let it be so, and let Audronicus Half of the number that king Priam had,

Make this his latest farewell to their souls. Behold the poor remaius, alive, and dead!

[Trumpets sounded, and the Coffins lail These, that survive, let Rome reward with love :

in the Tomb. Thes, that I bring unto their latest home, In peace and honour rest you here, my sons. With burial amongst their ancestors :

Roine's readiest champions, repose you here, Here Goths have given me leave to sheath my secure froin worldly chances and mishaps ! sword.

Here lurks no treason, here no envy swells, Titus, unking, and careless of thine own, Here grow no damned grudges, here are no Wby suffer'st thou thy sons, unburied yet,

storms. • Confide. + Freight.

• It was supposed that the ghosts of unburied people Japiter, to wbom the Capitol was sacred. appeared to solicit the rights of funeral.

M

was