temporaries had not been long dead, (for Lowin and Tay. lor, two of his fellow-comedians, were alive a few years before the Restoration, and Sir William D'Avenant, who had himself written for the stage in 1629, did not die till April 1668;) all these circumstances combined, prove with irsesistible force that the play of Titus Andronicus has been erroneously ascribed to Shakespeare. MALONE. 66 Kyd-probably original author of Andronicus, Locrine, and play in Hamlet.-Marloe, of H. 6. "Ben Jonson, Barthol. Fair-ranks together Hieronymo and Andronicus, [time and stile]-first exposed him to the criticks-shelter'd afterwards under another's name. "Sporting Kyd [perhaps wrote comedy] and Marloe's mighty line-Jonson. [might assist Lily.] Perhaps Shakespeare's additions outshone. "Tamburlaine mention'd with praise by Heywood, as Marloe's might be different from the bombast one-and that written by Kyd." From a loose scrap of paper, in the hand writing of Dr. Farmer. STEEVENS. In the library of the Duke of Bridgewater, at Ashbridge, is a volume of old quarto plays, numbered R. 1. 7; in which the first is Titus Andronicus. 30* TODD. PERSONS REPRESENTED. SATURNINUS, Son to the late emperor of Rome, and after. wards 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 Senators aloft, as in the Senate. Enter, below, SATURNINUS and his Followers, on one side; and BASSIANUS and his Followers, on the other; with drum and colours. Saturninus. NOBLE patricians, patrons of my right, Bas. Romans,-friends, followers, favourers of my right, Were gracious in the eyes of royal Rome, And, Romans, fight for freedom in your choice. 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 Chosen Andronicus, surnamed Pius, Lives not this day within the city walls: From weary wars against the barbarous Goths And now at last, laden with honour's spoils, Whom you pretend to honour and adore,— Plead your deserts 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 so I love and honour thee and thine, [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, 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, MAR. &c SCENE II.-The same. Enter a Captain, and others. Cap. Romans, make way; The good Andronicus, 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 set down the coffin, and TITUS speaks. Tit. Hail, Rome, victorious in thy mourning weeds! Lo, as the bark, that hath discharg'd her fraught, Returns with precious lading to the bay, From whence at first she weigh'd her anchorage, These, that survive, let Rome reward with love; Here Goths have given me leave to sheathe my Why suffer'st thou thy sons, unburied yet, sword Make way to lay them by their brethren. [The tomb is opened. There greet in silence, as the dead are wont, And sleep in peace, slain in your country's wars ! O sacred receptacle of my joys, 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, That we may hew his limbs, and, on a pile, Ad manes fratrum sacrifice his flesh, Jupiter, to whom the Capitol was sacred. JOHNSON. It was supposed by the ancients, that the ghosts of unburied people appeare to their friends, to solicit the rites of funeral. STEEVENS. |