PERSONS REPRESENTED. Saturninus, Son to the late Emperor of Rome, and afterwards declared Emperor himself. Baffianus, Brother to Saturninus; in love with La vinia. Titus Andronicus, a noble Roman, General against the Goths. Marcus Andronicus, Tribune of the People; and Brother to Titus. Lucius, Quintus, Sons to Titus Andronicus. Martius, Mutius, Young Lucius, a Boy, Son to Lucius. Alarbus, Chiron, Demetrius, Sons to Tamora. Aaron, a Moor, beloved by Tamora. A Captain, Tribune, Messenger, and Clown; Romans. Goths and Romans. Tamora, Queen of the Goths. Lavinia, Daughter to Titus Andronicus. A Nurfe, and a black Child. Kinfmen 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 fide; and BASSIANUS and his Followers, on the other; with Drum and Colours. SAT. Noble patricians, patrons of my right, Nor wrong mine age with this indignity. BAS. Romans,-friends, followers, favourers of my right, If ever Baffianus, Cæfar's fon, Were gracious in the eyes of royal Rome, I my fucceffive title-] i. e. my title to the fucceffion. MALONE. Thus alfo Raleigh: "The empire being elective, and not fucceffive, the emperors, in being, made profit of their own times." STEEVENS. Keep then this paffage to the Capitol ; Enter MARCUS ANDRONICUS, aloft, with the Crown. MAR. Princes that ftrive by factions, and by friends, Ambitioufly for rule and empery, Know, that the people of Rome, for whom we ftand A fpecial party, have, by common voice, For many good and great deferts to Rome; From weary wars against the barbarous Goths; And now at laft, laden with honour's spoils, And in the Capitol and fenate's right, withdraw you, and abate your strength; Difmifs your followers, and, as fuitors fhould, SAT. How fair the tribune fpeaks to calm my thoughts! BAS. Marcus Andronicus, fo I do affy And fo 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 difmifs you all; [Exeunt the Followers of SATURNINUS. BAS. Tribunes! and me, a poor competitor. SCENE II. The fame. Enter a Captain, and Others. CAP. Romans, make way; The good Androni cus, Patron of virtue, Rome's beft champion, 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, prifoners; Soldiers and People, following. The Bearers fet down the Coffin, and TITUS Speaks. TIT. Hail, Rome, victorious in thy mourning weeds !2 2 Hail, Rome, victorious in thy mourning weeds !] I fufpect that the poet wrote : in my mourning weeds! i. e. Titus would fay: Thou, Rome, art victorious, though I am a mourner for thofe fons which I have loft in obtaining that victory. WARBURTON. Thy is as well as my. We may suppose the Romans in a grateful ceremony, meeting the dead fons of Andronicus with mournful habits. JOHNSON. |