PERSONS REPRESENTED. 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 brother to Titus. AARON, a Moor, beloved by Tamora. A Captain, Tribune, Messenger, and Clown; 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 Sat. NOBLE patricians, patrons of my right, Bas. Romans,-friends, followers, favourers of my If ever Bassianus, Cæsar's son, Were gracious in the eyes of royal Rome, Keep then this passage to the Capitol ; And, Romans, fight for freedom in your choice. [right Enter MARCUS ANDRONICUS, aloft, with the 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 my successive title-] i. e. My title to the succession.-MALONE. VOL. VII. Y In election for the Roman empery, Lives not this day within the city walls: From weary wars against the barbarous Goths; Hath yok'd a nation strong, train'd up in arms. And now at last, laden with honour's spoils, Let us entreat.-By honour of his name, In thy uprightness and integrity, And so I love and honour thee and thine, Thy nobler brother Titus, and his sons, And her, to whom my thoughts are humbled all, [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 [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. SCENE II. The same. Enter a Captain and others. Cap. Romans, make way; The good Andronicus, 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 set down the Coffin, and TITUS speaks. Tit. Hail, Rome, victorious in thy mourning weeds! Stand gracious to the rites that we intend ! b Hail, Rome, victorious in thy mourning weeds!] We may suppose the Romans in a grateful ceremony, meeting the dead sons of Andronicus with mournful habits.-JOHNSON. Or that they were in mourning for their emperor who was just dead.-STEEVENS. e Thou great defender of this Capitol,] Jupiter, to whom the Capitol was sacred.-JOHNSON. Romans, of five and twenty valiant sons, With burial amongst their ancestors: Here Goths have given me leave to sheath my sword. [The Tomb is opened. There greet in silence, as the dead are wont, Sweet cell of virtue and nobility, How many sons of mine hast thou in store, That thou wilt never render to me more? Luc. Give us the proudest prisoner of the Goths, Tam. Stay, Roman brethren;-Gracious conqueror, Victorious Titus, rue the tears I shed, A mother's tears in passion for her son : But must my sons be slaughter'd in the streets, To hover on the dreadful shore of Styx!] Here we have one of the numerous classical notions that are scattered with a pedantick profusion through this piece.-MALONE. • Nor we disturb'd with prodigies on earth.] It was supposed by the ancients, that the ghosts of unburied people appeared to their friends and relations, to solicit the rites of funeral.-STFEVENS. |