PERSONS REPRESENTED.

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SATURNINUS, Son to the late Emperor of Rome, SEMPRONIUS.

and afterwards declared Emperor himself. ALARBUS, BASSIANUS, Brother to Saturninus, in love with CHIRON,

Sons to Tamora. Lavinia.

DEMETRIUS, Titus ANDRONICus, a noble Roman, General Aaron, a Moor, belov'd by Tamora. against the Goths.

aptain, from Titus's Camp. Marcus ANDRONICUS, Tribune of the People, Æmilius, a Messenger. and Brother to Titus.

Goths, and Romans.
MARCUS,

Clown.
QUINTUS,
Lucius,
Sons to Titus Andronicus.

Tamora, Queen of the Goths, and afteruards MUTIUS,

married to Saturninus. Young Lucius, a Boy, Son to Lucius.

LAVINIA, Daughter to Titus Andronicus. PUBLIUS, Son 10 Marcus the Tribune, and Ne- Nurse, with a Black-a-moor Child.

phew to Titus Andronicus.

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

SCENE, Rome; and the Country near it.

А ст І.

your swords:

SCENE I.

If ever Bassianus, Cæsar's son,
Before the Capitol, in Rome.

Were gracious in the eyes of royal Rome,

Keep then this passage to the Capitol ;
Enter the Tribunes and Senators aloft, as in the Se- And suffer not dishonour to approach

nute. Then enter Saturninus and his follouers, 5 The imperial scat, to virtue consecrate,
at one door; and Bassianus and his followers, To justice, continence, and nobility;
at the other; with drum and colours.

But let desert in pure election shine ;
Sut. NOBLE patricians, patrons of my right, And, Romans, fight for freedom in your choice.

Enter Marcus Andronicus aloft, with the crown. arms ;

10 Marc. Princes, that strive by factions, and by And, countrynien, my loving followers,

friends, Plead my successive title with

Ambitiously for rule and empery! I am his first-born son, that was the last

Know, that the people of Rome, for whom we That ware the imperial diadem of Rome:

stand, Then let my father's honours live in me, 15 A special party, have, by common voice, Nor wrong inine age with this indignity. In election for the Roman empery, Bas. Romans,-friends, followers, favourers of Chosen Andronicus, surnamed Pius my right,

(For inany good and great deserts to Rome; * Mr. Theobald says, This is one of those plays which he always thought, with the better judges, ought not to be acknowledged in the list of Shakspeare's genuine pieces. Dr. Johnson observes, That all the editors and critics agree with Mr. Theobald in supposing this play spurious, and that he sees “no reason for differing from them: for the colour of the style is wholly different from that of the other plays, and there is an attempt at regular versification, and artificial closes, not always inelegant, yet seldom pleasing. The barbarity of the spectacles, 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 praised.” Mr. Farmer and Mr. Steevens are also of the same opinion with Dr. Johnson.

A noble

A nobler man, a braver warrior,

Lo, as the bark, that hath discharg'd her fraught, Lives not this day within the city walls : Returns with precious lading to the bay, He by the senate is accited home,

From whence at first she weigh'd her anchorage, From weary wars against the barbarous Goths ; Cometh Andronicus, bound with laurel boughs, That, with his sons, a terror to our foes, 5 To re-salute his country with his tears; Hath yok'd a nation strong, train’d up in arms. Tears of true joy for his return to Rome. Ten years are spent, since first he undertook Thou great defender of this Capitol', This cause of Rome, and chastised with arms Stand gracious to the rites that we intend ! Our enemies' pride: Five times he hath return'd Romans, of five-aid-twenty valiant sons, Bleeding to Rome, bearing his valiant sons 10 Half of the number that king Priam had, In coffins from the field ;

Behold the poor remains, alive, and dead ! And now at last, laden with honour's spoils, These, that survive, let Rome reward with love; Returns the good Andronicus to Rome, These, that I bring unto their latest home, Renowned Titus, flourishing in arms.

With burial among their ancestors :

[sword. Let us intreat,By honour of his name, 15 Here Goths have given me leave to sheath my Whom, worthily, you would have now succeed, Titus, unkind, and careless of thine own, And in the Capitol and senate's right,

Why suffer'st thou thy sons, unbury'd yet, Whom you pretend to honour and adore,- To hover on the dreadful shore of StyxThat you withdraw you, and abate your strength; Make way to lay them by their brethren. Dismiss your followers, and, as suitors should,

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[They open the tomb. Plead your deserts in peace and humbleness. There greet in silence, as the dead were wont, Sat. How fair the tribune speaks to calm my And sleep in peace, slain in your country's wars! thoughts !

O sacred receptacle of my joys, Bus. Marcus Andronicus, so I do affy sweet cell of virtue and nobility, In thy uprightness and integrity,

25 How many sons of mine hast thou in store, And so I love and honour ther, and thine, That thou wilt never render to me more? Thy noble brother Titus, and his sons,

Luc. Give us the proudest prisoner of the Goths, And her, to whom oor thoughts are humbled all, That we may hew his limbs, and, on a pile, Gracious Lavinia, Rome's rich ornament, Ad manes fratrum sacrifice his flesh, That I will here dismiss my loving friends; 30 Before this earthly prison of their bones; And to my fortunes, and the people's favour, That so their shadows be not unappeas'd, Commit my cause in balance to be weigh'd. Nor we disturb’d with prodigies on earth?.

[Exeunt Soldiers. Tit. I give him you; the noblest that survives, Sat. Friends, that have been thus forward in The eldest son of this distressed queen. [queror,

35 Tam. Stay, Roman brethren,-Gracious conI thank you all, and here dismiss you all; Victorious Titus, rue the tears I shed, And to the love and favour of my country A mother's tears in passion for her son: Commit myself, my person, and the cause : And, if thy sons were ever dear to thee, Rome, be as just and gracious unto me, O, think my son to be as dear to me. As I am confident and kind to thee.

40 Sufficeth not, that we are brought to Rome, Open the gates, and let me in.

To beautify thy triumphs, and return, Bas. Tribunes! and me, a poor competitor. Captive to thee, and to thy Roman yoke? [They go up into the senute-louse. But must my sons be slaughter'd in the streets,

For valiant doings in their country's cause! SCENE II,

450! if to fight for king and common weal Enter a Captain.

Were piety in thine, it is in these; Capt. Romans, make way; The good Andro

Andronicus, stain not thy tomb with blood; Patron of virtue, Rome's best champion, [nicus,

Wilt thou draw near the nature of the gods? Successful in the battles that he fights,

Draw near them then in being merciful: With honour and with fortune is return'd,

50 sweet mercy is nobility's true badge; From where he circumscribed with his sword,

Thrice-noble Titus, spare my first-born son. And brought to yoke, the enemies of Rome.

Tit. Patient' yourself, madam, and pardon me.

These are their brethren, whom you Goths behold Sound drums and trumpets, and then enter Mutius Alive, and dead; and for their brethren slain,

and Marcus; after them, two men bearing a 53 Religiously they ask a sacrifice; coffin covered with black; then Quintus and Lu

To this, your son is mark'd: and die he must, cius. After them, Titus Andronicus; and then

To appease their groaning shadows that are gone. Tamora, the queen of the Goths, Alarbus, Chi

Luc. Away with him! and make a fire straight; ron, and Demetrius, with Aaron the Moor, pri- And with our swords, upon a pile of wood, soners; Soldiers, and other Attendants. They 60 Let's hew his limbs, 'till they be clean consum’d, set dorun the coffin, and Titus speaks.

[Exeurit Mutius, Marcus, Quintus, and Tit.Hail! Rome,victoriousinthymourningweeds.

Lucius, with Alarbus. Jupiter, to whom the Capitol was sacred. It was supposed by the ancients, that the ghoşts of unburied people appeared to their friends and relations, to solicit the rites of funeral.

This verb is used by other dramatic writers,

Tam

my right,

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Țam. O cruel, irreligious piety!

Tit. A better head her glorious body fits, Chi. Was ever Scythia half so barbarous ? Than his, that shakes for age and feebleness :

Dem. Oppose not 'Scythia to ambitious Rome. What! should I don' this robe, and trouble you? Alarbus goes to rest; and we survive

Be chose with proclamations to- ay;
To tremble under Titus' threatening look. 5 Tomorrow yield up rule, resign my life,
Then, madam, stand resolv’d; but hope withal, And set abroad new business for you all ?
The self-same gods, that arm’d the queen of Troy Rome, I have been thy soldier forty years,
With opportunity of sharp revenge

And led my country's strength successfully; Upon the Thracian tyrant in his tent,

And buried one-and-twenty valiant sons,
May favour Tamora, the queen of Goths, 10 Knighted in field, slain manfully in arms,
When Goths were Goths,and Tamora was queen) In right and service of their noble country:
To quit the bloody wrongs upon her foes. Give me a staff of honour for mine age,
Enter Alutius, Marcus, Quintus, and Lucius. But not a sceptre to controll the world!
Luc. See, lord and father, how we have per- Upright be held it, lords, that held it last.
form'd

15 Marc. Titus, thou shalt obtain and ask the. Our Roman rites: Alarbus' limbs are lopp’d,

empery,

[tell? And entrails feed the sacrificing fire,

Sat. Proud and ambitious tribune, canst thou Whose smoke, like incense, doth perfume the sky. Tit. Patience, prince Saturninus. Remaineth nought; but to inter our brethren, Sat. Rom do me right; And with loud ’larums welcome them to Rome. 20 Patricians, draw your swords, and sheath them not Tit. Let it be so; and let Andronicus

'Till Saturninus be Rome's emperor :-
Make this his latest farewell to their souls. Andronicus, 'would thou were shipp'd to hell,
[Then sound trumpets,and lay the coffins in the tomb. Rather than rob me of the people's hearts.
In peace and honour rest you here, my sons; Luc. Proud Saturninus! interrupter of the good
Rome's readiest champions, repose you here, 25 That noble-minded Titus means to thee!-
Şecure from worldly chances and mishaps ! Tit. Content thee, prince; I will restore to thee
Here lurks no treason, here no envy swells, The people's hearts, and wean them from theme
Here grow no damned grudges; here no storm, Bas. Andronicus, I do not flatter thee, (selves,
No noise, but silence and eternal sleep:

But honour ther, and will do 'till I die;
Enter Larinia.

30 My faction if thou strengthen with thy friends, In

peace and honour rest you here, my sons ! I will most thankful be: and thanks, to men Lav. In peace and honour live lord 'l'itus long; Of noble minds, is honourable meed. My-noble lord and father, live in fame!

Tit. People of Rome, and people's tribunes here, Lo! at this tomb my tributary tears

I ask your voices, and your suitrages; I render, for my brethren's obsequies; 33 Will you bestow them friendly on Andronicus ? And at thy feet I kneel, with tears of joy

Márc. To gratify the good Andronicus, Shed on the earth, for thy return to Rome: And gratulate his safe return to Rome, 0, bless me here with thy victorious hand, The people will accept whom he admits. (inake, Whose fortune Rome's best citizens applaud. Tit. Tribunes, I thank you : and this suit I Tit

. Kind Rome; that hast thus lovingly reserv'd 40 That you create your emperor's eldest son, The cordial of mine age, to glad my heart !- Lord Saturnine; whose vírtues will, I hope, Lavinia, live; out-live thy father's days, Reflect on Rome, as Titan's rays on earth, And fame's eternal date, for virtue's praise ! And ripen justice in this common-wcal:

Marc. Longlive lord Titus,my beloved brother,.. Then if you will elect by my advice, Gracious triumpher in the eyes of Rome! 45 Crown him, and say,—Log live our emperor ! Tit. Thanks, gentle tribune, noble brother Marc. With voices and applause of every sort, Marcus

[wars, Patricians, and plebeians, we create Marc. And welcome, nephews, from successful Lord Saturninus, Rome's great emperor; You that survive, and you that sleep in fame. And say, -Long live our emperor Suturnine! Fair lords, your fortunes are alike in all, 50

(A long flourish till they come down. That in your country's service drew your swords: Sat. Titus Andronicus, for thy favours done But safer triumph is this funeral pomp,

To us in our election this day, That hath aspir'd to Solon's happiness,

I give thee thanks in part of thy deserts, And triumphs over chance, in honour's bed.- And will with deeds requite thy gentleness ; Titus Andronicus, the people of Rome, 55 And, for an onset, Titus, to advance Whose friend in justice thou hast ever been, Thy name and honourable family, Send thee by me, their tribune, and their trust, Lavinia will I make my emperess, This palliament of white and spotless hue ; Rome's royal mistress, mistress of my heart, And name thee in election for the empire, And in the sacred Pantheon her espouse: With these our late deceased emperor's sons : 60 rellme,Andronicus, doth this motion plcase thee? Be candidatus then, and put it on,

Tit. It doth, my worthy lord; and, in this match, And help to set a head on headless Rome. I hold me highly honour'd of your grace :

: i.e. do on this robe, put it on.
3 H

And us go :

And here, in sight of Rome, to Saturniné,- My sons would never só dishonour me:
King and commander of the common-weal, Traitor, restore Lavinia to the emperor.
The wide world's emperor,--do I consecrate Luc. Dead, if you will; but not to be his
My sword, my chariot, and my prisoners ;

wife,
Presents well worthy Rome's imperial lord : 5 That is another's lawful promis'd love.
Receive them then, the tribute that lowe, Sut. No, Titus, no; the emperor needs her not,
Mine honour's ensigns humbled at thy feet. Nor her, nor thee, not any of thy stock:

Sat. Thanks, noble Titus, father of my life! L'll trust, by leisure, him that mocks me once ;
How proud I am of thee, and of thy gifts, Thee neveř, nor thy traitorous haughty sons,
Rome shall record ; and when I do forget 10 Confederates all thus to dishonour me.
The least of these unspeakable deserts, Was there none else in Rome to make a stale of,
Romans, forget your fealty to me.

But Saturnine? Full well, Andronicus, Tit. Now, madam, are you prisoner to an em- Agree these deeds with that proud brag of thine, peror;

[To Tamora. That said'st, I begg'd the empire at thy hands. To him, that for your honour and your state,

15 Tit. O monstrous! what reproachful words are Will use you nobly, and your followers.

these? Sat. A goodly lady, trust me; of the hue Sat. But go thy ways; go, give that changing That I would choose, were I to choose anew.

piece Clear up, fair queen, that cloudy countenance: To him that flourish'd for her with his sword : Though chance of war hath wrought this change 20 A valiant son-in-law thou shalt enjoy ; of cheer,

Onc fit to bandy with thy lawless sons, Thou coni'st not to be made a scorn in Roine: To rufile? in the comnionwealth of Rome. Princely shall be thy usage every way.

Tit. These words are razors to my wounded Rest on my word, and let not discontent

heart.

(Goths,Daunt all your hopes: Madam, he comforts you,25 Sat. And therefore, lovely Tamora, queen of Can make you greaterthan the queen of Goths. That like the stately Phæbe mong her nymphs, Lavinia, you are not displeas'd with this ? Dost over-shine the gallant'st dames of Rome,

Lar. Not I, my lord; sith true nobility If thou be pleas'd with this my sadden choice, Warrants these words in princely courtesy. Behold, I choose thee, Tamora, for my bride, Sat. Thanks, sweet Lavinia. — Románs, let 30 And will create thee emperess of Rome,

Speak, queen of Goths, dost thou applaud my Ransomless here we set our prisoners free:

choice? Proclaim our honours,lords, with trump and drum. And here I swear by all the Romans gods,Bas. Lord Titus, by your leave, this maid is Sith priest and holy water are so near, mine.

(Seizing Lavinia. 3; And tapers burn so bright, and every thing Tit. How, sir? Are you in earnest then, my in readiness for Hymencus stands, lord ?

I will not re-salute the streets of Rome, Bas. 'Ay, noble Titus ; and resolv'd withal, Or climb my palace, 'till from forth this place To do myself this reason and this right. Ilead espous'd my bride along with me.

[The emperor courts Tamorain dumb sher:. 10 Tam. And here, in sight of heaven to Rome Marc. Suum cuique is our Roman justice:

I swear,
This prince in justice seizeth but his own. if Saturnine advance the queen of Goths,

Lac. And that he will, and shall, if Lucius live. She will a handmaid be to his desires,
Tit. Traitors, avaunt! Where is the emperor's A loving nurse, a mother to his youth.
guard ?

Sat. Ascend, fair queen, Pantheon : Lords, Treason, my lord ; Lavinia is surpriz'd.

acrompany Sat. Surpriz'd! by whom?

Your noble emperor, and his lovely bride, Bas. By' him that justly may

sent by the heavens for prince Saturnine, Bear his betroth'd from all the world away.

Whose wisdom hath her fortune conquered: [Exit Bassiunus with Lavinia. 50 There shall we consummate our spousal rites. Mut. Brothers, help to convey her hence away,

[Exeunt. And with my sword I'll keep this door safe.

Manet Titus Andronicus. Tit. Follow, my lord, and I'll soon bring her Tit. I'am not bid to wait upon this bride; back.

Titus, when wert thou wont to walk alone, Mut. My lord, you pass not here.

55 Dishonour'd thus, and challenged of wrongs? Tit. Whát! villain boy,

Enter Marcus Andronicus, Lucius, Quintus, Barr’st me my way in Rome? [Titus kills Asutius.

and Marcus. Mut. Help, Lucius, help!

Marc. O, Titus, see, O see, what thou hast Luc. My lord, you are unjust, and more than so;

done! In wrongful quarrel you have slain your son. 60in a bad quarrel, slain a virtuous son. Tit. Nor thou, nor he, are any sons of mine; Tit. No, foolish tribune, no; no son of mine,

Spoken of Lavinia.---Piece was then, as it is now, used personally as a word of contempt. · A Rufer was a kind of cheating bully; and is so called in a statute made for the punishment of vagabonds in the 27th year of K. Henry VIII. Hence, probably, this sense of the verb, to ruffle.

Nor

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