tion printed in quarto in 1611, and therefore we may conclude, was not in the title-page of that in 1594, of which the other was undoubtedly a re-impreffion. Had this mean performance been the work of Shak fpeare, can it be fuppofed that the bookfellers would not have endeavoured to procure a fale for it by stamping his name upon it?

In fhort, the high antiquity of the piece, its entry on the Stationers' books, and being afterwards printed without the name of our author, its being performed by the fervants of Lord Pembroke, &c. the ftately march of the verfification, the whole colour of the compofition, its refemblance to several of our most ancient dramas, the diffimilitude of the style from our author's undoubted compofitions, and the tradition mentioned by Ravenscroft, when some of his contemporaries had not been long dead, (for Lowin and Taylor, two of his fellow-comedians, were alive a few years before the Restoration, and Sir William D'Avenant, who had himself written for the ftage in 1629, did not die till April 1668;) all these circumstances combined, prove with irresistible force that the play of Titus Andronicus has been erroneously ascribed to Shakspeare. MALONE.

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, Meffenger, 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.

N

Saturninus.

OBLE patricians, patrons of my right,
Defend the justice of my cause with arms;
And, countrymen, my loving followers,
Plead my fucceffive title with your fwords:
I am his first-born fon, that was the laft
That ware the imperial diadem of Rome;
Then let my father's honours live in me,
Nor wrong mine age with this indignity.

Baf. Romans,-friends, followers, favourers of my right,

If ever Baffianus, Cæfar's fon,

Were gracious in the eyes of royal Rome,

Keep then this paffage to the Capitol;

And fuffer not dishonour to approach
The imperial feat, to virtue confecrate,
To justice, continence, and nobility:
B

But

But let defert in pure election shine;

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
A fpecial party, have, by common voice,
In election for the Roman empery,
Chofen Andronicus, furnamed Pius.
For many good and great deserts to Rome;
A nobler man, a braver warrior,

Lives not this day within the city walls:
He by the senate is accited home,

From weary wars against the barbarous Goths;
That, with his fons, a terror to our foes,
Hath yok'd a nation strong, train'd up in arms.
Ten years are spent, fince first he undertook
This caufe of Rome, and chastised with arms
Our enemies' pride: Five times he hath return'd
Bleeding to Rome, bearing his valiant fons
In coffins from the field;

And now at last, laden with honour's spoils,
Returns the good Andronicus to Rome,
Renowned Titus, flourishing in arms.

Let us entreat,-By honour of his name,
Whom, worthily, you would have now fucceed,
And in the Capitol and fenate's right,

Whom you pretend to honour and adore,—
That you withdraw you, and abate your strength;
Difmifs your followers, and, as fuitors should,
Plead your deserts in peace and humbleness.

Sat. How fair the tribune speaks to calm my thoughts!

Baf.

Baf. Marcus Andronicus, fo I do affy

In thy uprightnefs and integrity,

And fo I love and honour thee and thine,

Thy noble brother Titus, and his fons,

And her, to whom my thoughts are humbled all,
Gracious Lavinia, Rome's rich ornament,
That I will here difmifs my loving friends;
And to my fortunes, and the people's favour,
Commit my cause in balance to be weigh'd.

[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
Commit myself, my person, and the cause.

[Exeunt the followers of SATURNINUS.

Rome, be as juft and gracious unto me,
As I am confident and kind to thee.-

Open the gates, and let me in.

Baf. Tribunes! and me, a poor competitor.

[SAT. and BAS. go into the Capitol, and exeunt with Senators, MARCUS, &c.

SCENE II.

The fame.

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 fword,
And brought to yoke, the enemies of Rome.