Dramatis Perfonæ. SATURNINUS, Son to the late Emperor of Rome, and afterwards declar'd Emperor himself. Baffanus, 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. Marcus, Quintus, Sons to Titus Andronicus. Lucius, Matius, Young Lucius, a Boy, Son to Lucius. Publius, Son to Marcus the Tribune, and Nepher to Titus Andronicus. Sempronius. Demetrius, } Sons to Tamora. Aaron, 4 Moor, belov'd by Tamora Captain, from Titus's Camp. Emilius, a Meflenger. Goths, and Romans. Clown. Tamora, Queen of the Goths, and afterwards married to Saturninus. Lavinia, Daughter to Titus Andronicus. Nurfe, with a Black-a-moor Child. Senators, Fudges, Officers, Soldiers, and other Attendants SCENE, Rome; and the Country near it. TITUS ANDRONICUS. (1) ACT I. SCENE, before the Capitol in ROME Enter the Tribunes and Senators aloft, as in the Senate. Enter Saturninus and his followers, at one door; and Baffianus and his followers, at the other, with Drum: and Colours, N SATURNINUS. Oble patricians, patrons of my right,. Defend the juftice of my caufe with arms: And countrymen, my loving followers, Plead my fucceffive title with your fwords. I, am (1) Titus Andronicus.] This is one of thofe plays, which I have always thought, with the better judges, ought not to be acknowledg'd in the lift of Shakespeare's genuine pieces. And, perhaps, I may give a proof to ftrengthen this opinion, that may put the matter out of question. Ben Johnson in the induction to his BartholomervFair, (which made its first appearance in the year 1614) couples: Jeronymo and Andronicus together in reputation, and speaks of them as plays then of twenty-five or thirty years standing. Confequently, Andronicus must have been on the stage, before Shakespeare left Warwickshire to come and refide in London: and I never heard it fo much as intimated, that he had turned his genius to ftage-writing, before he affociated with the players, and became one of their body.. However, that he afterwards introduced it a-new on the scene, with the I am the first-born fon of him, that laft Baf. Romans, friends, foll'wers, favourers of my right, If ever Baffianus, Cæfar's fon, Were gracious in the eyes of royal Rome, Enter Marcus Andronicus aloft, with the Crown. Mar. Princes, that ftrive by factions, and by friends, Ambitiously for rule and empery! Know, that the people of Rome, for whom we ftand Chofen Andronicus, fur-named Pius, Lives not this day within our city-walls. From weary wars against the barbarous Goths; Hath yoak'd a nation ftrong, train'd up in arms. the addition of his own mafterly touches, is inconteftable: and thence, I prefume, grew his title to it. The diction in general, where he has not taken the pains to raise it, is even beneath that of the Three Parts of Henry VI. The ftory, we are to fuppofe, merely fictitious. Andronicus is a fur-name of pure Greek derivation : Tamora is neither mentioned by Ammianus Marcellinus, nor any body elfe that I can find. Nor had Rome, in the time of her Emperors, any wars with the Goths, that I know of: not till after the tranflation of the empire, I mean, to Byzantium. And yet the scene of our play is laid at Rome, and Saturninus is elected to the empire at the Capitol. Our Our enemies pride. Five times he hath return'd In coffins from the field. And now at laft, laden with honour's spoils, Sat. How fair the tribune fpeaks, to calm my thoughts! Baf. Marcus Andronicus, fo I do affie In thy uprightnefs and integrity, And fo I love and honour thee and thine; And her, to whom our thoughts are humbled all, [Exeunt Soldiers. Open thy gates, and let me in. Baf, Tribunes, and me, a poor competitor. [They go up into the Senate-houfer Enter a Captain. Cap. Romans, make way: the good Andronicus, From |