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 Plead SATURNINUS. Oble patricians, patrons of my right, I am (1) Titus Andronicus.] This is one of those 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 queftion. Ben Johnson in the induction to his BartholomewFair, (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 ftanding. Confequently, Andronicus must have been on the ftage, 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 fcene, with the I am the firft-born fon of him, that laft Baf. Romans, friends, foll'wers, favourers of my right, If ever Bafianus, Cafar's fon, Were gracious in the eyes of royal Rome, 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 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 masterly touches, is incontestable: 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 Reme, 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 last, laden with honour's spoils, In thy uprightness and integrity, And fo I love and honour thee and thine; And her, to whom our thoughts are humbled all, [Exeunt Soldiers. Baf. Tribunes, and me, a poor competitor. [They go up into the Senate-houfe Enter a Captain. Cap. Romans, make way: the good Andronicus, From From whence he circumfcribed with his fword, And brought to yoke the enemies of Rome. Sound drums and trumpets, and then enter Mutius and Marcus: after them, two men bearing a coffin cover'd with black; then Quintus and Lucius. After them, Titus Andronicus; and then Tamora, the Queen of Goths, Alarbus, Chiron, and Demetrius, with Aaron the Moor, prifoners; Soldiers, and other Attendants. They fet down the coffin, and Titus Speaks. Tit. Hail, Rome, victorious in thy mourning weeds! (2) Here Goths have given me leave to sheath my fword: [They open the tomb. (2) Hail, Rome, victorious in thy mourning weeds!] Mr. Warburton and I concurred to fufpect that the Poet wrote; in my mourning weeds. i. e. Titus would fay; " Thou, Rome, art victorious, though I am "a mourner for those fons which I have lost in obtaining that "victory.' But I have not ventured to disturb the text; because, on a fecond reflection, mourning weeds may relate to Rome for this reafon; the fcene opens with Saturninus and Baffianus canvafling to be elected to the Empire: and confequently the ftate might be in grief for their laft Emperor juft deceased. There There greet in filence, as the dead are wont, Sweet cell of virtue and nobility, How many fons of mine haft thou in ftore, Before this earthly prison of their bones: Tam. Stay, Roman brethren, gracious conqueror Wilt thou draw near the nature of the gods? Draw near them then in being merciful; (3) Sufficeth not, that we are brought to Rome, 等 Captive to thee and to thy Roman yoke?] It is evident, as this Paffage has hitherto been pointed, none of the editors understood the true Meaning. If Tamora and her Family return captive to Rome, they must have been before prifoners of war to the Romans and that is more than what is hinted, or fuppos'd, any where in the play. But the truth is, return is not a Verb but a Subftantive; and relates to Titus and not to Tamora: The regulation I have given the text, I dare warrant, reftores the Author's intention. To beautify thy triumphs and return. |