The works of William Shakspere; from the text of the editions by C. Knight. With glossarial notes and facts connected with his life, illustr. by W. Harvey

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INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.

THE earliest edition, of which any copy is at present | with discredit in the Induction to Ben Jonson's Barknown, of Titus Andronicus,' appeared in quarto, in tholomew Fair, in 1614, as one that had been then ex1600, under the following title: The most lament-hibited five-and-twenty or thirty years; which, if we able Romaine Tragedie of Titus Andronicus. As it take the lowest number, throws it back to the year 1589, hath sundry times been playde by the Right Honour- at which time Shakespeare was but 25: an earlier date able the Earle of Pembroke, the Earle of Darbie, the than can be found for any other of his pieces." It is Earle of Sussex, and the Lord Chamberlaine they re scarcely necessary to point out, that with the views we Servants. At London, printed by J. R. for Edward have uniformly entertained as to the commencement of White, 1600.' Shakspere's career as a dramatic author, the proof against his authorship of Titus Andronicus' thus brought forward by Percy is to us amongst the most convincing reasons for not hastily adopting the opinion that he was not its author. The external evidence of the authorship, and the external evidence of the date of the

In the folio collection of 1623 it appears under the title of The lamentable Tragedy of Titus Andronicus.' It follows 'Coriolanus,' and precedes 'Romeo and Juliet.' The external evidence that bears upon the authorship of Titus Andronicus is of two kinds :

1. The testimony which assigns the play to Shak-authorship, entirely coincide: each supports the other. spere, wholly or in part.

The continuation of the argument derived from the

2. The testimony which fixes the period of its original early date of the play naturally runs into the internal production.

evidence of its authenticity. The fact of its early date is indisputable. Accepting that fact, we are reconciled to the inferiority of this play, compared with Shakspere's undoubted performances. Its revolting story, in the same way, appears such as a very young poet would not have rejected. It is easy to understand how Shak

The direct testimony of the first kind is unimpeachable: Francis Meres, a contemporary, and probably a friend of Shakspere-a man intimately acquainted with the literary history of his day-not writing even in the later period of Shakspere's life, but as early as 1598,-compares, for tragedy, the excellence of Shak-spere, at the period when he first entered upon those

spere among the English, with Seneca among the Latins, and says, witness, "for tragedy, his 'Richard II.,' 'Richard III.,' 'Henry IV.,'' King John,' Titus Andronicus,' and his Romeo and Juliet.'"

The indirect testimony is nearly as important. The play is printed in the first folio edition of the poet's collected works-an edition published within seven years after his death by his intimate friends and "fellows;" and that edition contains an entire scene not found in either of the previous quarto editions which have come down to us. That edition does not contain a single other play upon which a doubt of the authorship has been raised; for even those who deny the entire authorship of Henry VI.' to Shakspere, have no doubt as to the partial authorship.

We now come to the second point-the testimony which fixes the date of the original production of Titus Andronicus.'

labours which were to build up a glorious fabric out of materials that had been previously used for the basest purposes,-without models,-at first, perhaps, not voluntarily choosing his task, but taking the business that lay before him so as to command popular success,-ignorant, to a great degree, of the height and depth of his own intellectual resources,—not seeing, or dimly seeing, how poetry and philosophy were to elevate and purify the common staple of the course drama about him,-it is easy to conceive how a story of fearful bloodshed should force itself upon him as a thing that he could work into something better than the dumb show and fiery words of his predecessors and contemporaries. It was in after-years that he had to create the tragedy of passion. Lamb has beautifully described Webster, as almost alone having the power "to move a horror skilfully, to touch a soul to the quick, to lay upon fear as much as it can bear, to wean and weary a life till it is ready to drop, and then step in with mortal instruments to take its last forfeit." Lamb adds, "writers of inferior genius mistake quantity for quality." The remark is quite true; when examples of the higher tragedy are accessible, and when the people have learnt better than to require the grosser stimulant. Before Webster had written' The Duchess of Malfi' and 'Vittoria Corombona,' Shakspere had produced Lear' and 'Othello.' But there were writers, not of inferior genius, who had committed the same mistake as the author of Titus Andronicus-who use blood as they would the paint of the property-man in the theatre." Need we mention other names than Marlowe

Ben Jonson, in the Induction to his 'Bartholomew Fair,' first acted in 1614, says " He that will swear Jeronimo, or Andronicus,' are the best plays yet, shall pass unexcepted at here, as a man whose judgment shows it is constant, and hath stood still these five-andtwenty or thirty years. Though it be an ignorance, it is a virtuous and staid ignorance; and, next to truth, a confirmed error does well." Percy offers the following comment upon this passage, in his Reliques of Ancient Poetry :-"There is reason to conclude that this play was rather improved by Shakespeare with a few fine touches of his pen, than originally written by him; for, not to mention that the style is less figurative than his others generally are, this tragedy is mentioned and Kyd?

TITUS ANDRONICUS.

PERSONS REPRESENTED.

SATURNINUS, Son to the late Emperor of Rome. Appears, Act I. sc. 1; sc. 2. Act II. sc. 2; sc. 4. Act IV. sc. 4.

Act V. sc. 3.

BASSIANUS, brother to Saturninus.
Appears, Act I. sc. 1; sc. 2. Act II. sc. 2; sc. 3.

TITUS ANDRONICUS, a noble Roman.
Appears, Act I. sc. 2. Act II. sc. 2; sc. 4. Act III. sc. 1; sc. 2.
Act IV. sc. 1; sc. 3. Act V. sc. 2; sc. 3.

MARCUS ANDRONICUS, brother to Titus.

Appears, Act I. sc. 1; sc. 2. Act II. sc. 2; sc. 5. Act III. sc. 1; sc. 2. Act IV. sc. 1; sc. 3. Act V. sc. 2; sc. 3.

LUCIUS, son to Titus Andronicus.

Appears, Act I. sc. 2. Act II. sc. 2; sc. 4. Act III. sc. 1. Act V. sc. 1; sc. 3.

QUINTUS, Son to Titus Andronicus.

Appears, Act I. sc. 2. Act II. sc. 2; sc. 4. Act III. sc. 1.
MARTIUS, Son to Titus Andronicus.

Appears, Act I. sc. 2. Act II. sc. 2; sc. 4. Act III. sc. 1.
MUTIUS, son to Titus Andronicus.
Appears, Act I. sc. 2.

Young LUCIUS, a boy, son to Lucius.

Appears, Act III. sc. 2. Act IV. sc. 1; sc. 2; sc. 3.

Act V. sc. 3.

PUBLIUS, son to Marcus the tribune.
Appears, Act V. sc. 2.

EMILIUS, a noble Roman.

Appears, Act IV. sc. 4. Act V. sc. 1; sc. 3.

ALARBUS, son to Tamora.

Appears, Act I. sc. 2.

CHIRON, Son to Tamora.

Appears, Act I. sc. 2. Act II. sc. 1; sc. 2; sc. 3; sc. 5.

Act IV. sc. 2; sc. 4. Act V. sc. 2.

SCENE, ROME, AND THE COUNTRY NEAR IT.

SCENE I.-Rome.

ACT I.

Flourish. Enter the Tribunes and Senators, aloft; one door, and BASSIANUS and his Followers at the other, with drum and colours.

and then enter SATURNINUS and his Followers at

Sat. Noble patricians, patrons of my right,
Defend the justice of my cause with arms;
And, countrymen, my loving followers,
Plead my successive title with your swords:
I am his first-born son, that was the last
That wore the imperial diadem of Rome :
Then let my father's honours live in me,
Nor wrong mine age with this indignity.

Bass. Romans, friends, followers, favourers of my right,

If ever Bassianus, Cæsar's son,

Were gracious in the eyes of royal Rome,
Keep then this passage to the Capitol;
And suffer not dishonour to approach
Th' imperial seat; to virtue consecrate,
To justice, continence, and nobility:
But let desert in pure election shine;

And, Romans, fight for freedom in your choice.

Enter MARCUS ANDRONICUS, aloft, with the crown. Marc. Princes, that strive by factions and by friends

Ambitiously for rule and empery,

Know that the people of Rome, for whom we stand
A special party, have by common voice,
In election for the Roman empery,
Chosen Andronicus, surnamed 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 sons, a terror to our foes,
Hath yok'd a nation strong, train'd up in arms.
Ten years are spent, since first he undertook
This cause of Rome, and chastised with arms
Our enemies' pride: five times he hath return'd
Bleeding to Rome, bearing his valiant sons
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 succeed,

And in the Capitol and senate's right,
Whom you pretend to honour and adore,-
That you withdraw you, and abate your strength;
Dismiss your followers, and, as suitors should,
Plead your deserts in peace and humbleness.

Sat. How fair the tribune speaks to calm thoughts!

Bass. Marcus Andronicus, so I do affy
In thy uprightness and integrity,
And so I love and honour thee and thine,
Thy noble brother Titus and his sons,

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

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,
Before this earthy prison of their bones;
That so the shadows be not unappeas'd,

my Nor we disturb'd with prodigies on earth.
Tit. I give him you, the noblest that survives,
The eldest son of this distressed queen.

[Exeunt Followers of BASSIANUS. Sat. Friends, that have been thus forward in my right,

you

I thank you all, and here dismiss
all;
And to the love and favour of my country
Commit myself, my person, and the cause.

[Exeunt Followers of SATURNINUS.
Rome, be as just and gracious unto me,
As I am confident and kind to thee.
Open the gates and let me in.

Bass. Tribunes, and me, a poor competitor. [Flourish. They go up into the Senate-house.

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. [Sound drums and trumpets, and then enter two of TITUS' Sons. After them two Men bearing a coffin covered with black: then two other Sons. After them TITUS ANDRONICUS; and then TAMORA, the

Queen of Goths, and her two Sons, CHIRON and
DEMETRIUS, with AARON the Moor, and others, as
many as can be.
They 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,
Cometh Andronicus, bound with laurel boughs,
To re-salute his country with his tears,
Tears of true joy for his return to Rome.
Thou great defender of this Capitol,
Stand gracious to the rites that we intend!
Romans, of five-and-twenty valiant sons,
Half of the number that king Priam had,
Behold the poor remains, alive, and dead!
These that survive, let Rome reward with love:
These that I bring unto their latest home,
With burial amongst their ancestors.
Here Goths have given me leave to sheath
Titus, unkind, and careless of thine own,
Why suffer'st thou thy sons, unburied yet,
To hover on the dreadful shore of Styx?
Make way to lay them by their brethren.

sword.

[They open the tomb. 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!

Tam. Stay, Roman brethren, gracious conquero”. Victorious Titus, rue the tears I shed, A mother's tears in passion for her son : And if thy sons were ever dear to thee, O think my son to be as dear to me. Sufficeth not, that we are brought to Rome To beautify thy triumphs, and return Captive to thee, and to thy Roman yoke; But must my sons be slaughter'd in the streets. For valiant doings in their country's cause? O, if to fight for king and commonweal Were piety in thine, it is in these. Andronicus, stain not thy tomb with blood. Wilt thou draw near the nature of the gods? Draw near them then in being merciful: Sweet mercy is nobility's true badge. Thrice-noble Titus, spare my first-born son.

Tit. Patient yourself, madam, and pardon me.
These are the brethren, whom you Goths beheld
Alive and dead, and for their brethren slain
Religiously they ask a sacrifice:

To this your son is mark'd, and die he must,
T'appease their groaning shadows that are gone.

Luc. Away with him, and make a fire straight;
And with our swords, upon a pile of wood,
Let's hew his limbs, till they be clean consum'd.
[Exeunt TITUS' Sons with ALARBUS.
Tam. O cruel, irreligious piety!
Chi. Was ever Scythia half so barbarous?
Demet. Oppose not Scythia to ambitious Rome.
To tremble under Titus' threatening look.
Alarbus goes to rest, and we survive
Then, madam, stand resolv'd; but hope withal,
The self-same gods that arm'd the queen of Troy
Upon the Thracian tyrant in his tent,
With opportunity of sharp revenge
May favour Tamora, the queen of Goths,
(When Goths were Goths, and Tamora was queen,)
To quit the bloody wrongs upon her foes.

Enter the Sons of ANDRONICUS again. Luc. See, lord and father, how we have perform'd Our Roman rites: Alarbus' limbs are lopp'd, And entrails feed the sacrificing fire, Whose smoke, like incense, doth perfume the sky. Remaineth nought, but to inter our brethren, And with loud 'larums welcome them to Rome. Tit. Let it be so, and let Andronicus Make this his latest farewell to their souls.

[Flourish. Sound trumpets, and they lay th
coffin in the tomb.

In peace and honour rest you here, my sons;
Rome's readiest champions, repose you here in rest,
Secure from worldly chances and mishaps:
Here lurks no treason, here no envy swells,
Here grow no damned grudges; here are no storms,
No noise, but silence and eternal sleep.

In peace and honour rest you here, my sons.

Enter LAVINIA.

Lav. In peace and honour live lord Titus long; My noble lord and father, live in fame! Lo, at this tomb my tributary tears

I render for my brethren's obsequies:

And at thy feet I kneel, with tears of joy

a Patient-as a verb.

Shed on the earth for thy return to Rome.
O bless me here with thy victorious hand,
Whose fortunes Rome's best citizens applaud.

Tit. Kind Rome, thou hast thus lovingly reserv'd
The cordial of mine age to glad my heart!
Lavinia, live; outlive thy father's days,
And fame's eternal date, for virtue's praise.

Enter MARCUS ANDRONICUS, SATURNINUS,
BASSIANUS, and others.

Marc. Long live lord Titus, my beloved brother,
Gracious triumpher in the eyes of Rome!

Tit. Thanks, gentle tribune, noble brother Marcus.
Marc. And welcome, nephews, from successful wars,
You that survive, and you that sleep in fame :
Fair lords, your fortunes are alike in all,

That in your country's service drew your swords.
But safer triumph is this funeral pomp,
That hath aspir'd to Solon's happiness,
And triumphs over chance in honour's bed.
Titus Andronicus, the people of Rome,
Whose friend in justice thou hast ever been,
Send thee by me, their tribute and their trust,
This palliament of white and spotless hue,
And name thee in election for the empire,
With these our late deceased emperor's sons:
Be candidatus then, and put it on,
And help to set a head on headless Rome.

Tit. A better head her glorious body fits,
Than his that shakes for age and feebleness.
What! should I don this robe, and trouble you?
Be chosen with proclamations to-day,
To-morrow yield up rule, resign my life,
And set abroad new business for you all?
Rome, I have been thy soldier forty years,
And led my country's strength successfully,
And buried one-and-twenty valiant sons,
Knighted in field, slain manfully in arms,
In right and service of their noble country;
Give me a staff of honour for mine age,
But not a sceptre to control the world!
Upright he held it, lords, that held it last.

Marc. Titus, thou shalt obtain and ask the em-
pery.

Sat. Proud and ambitious tribune, canst thou tell? Tit. Patience, prince Saturninus. Sat. Romans, do me right. Patricians, draw your swords, and sheath them not Till Saturninus be Rome's emperor: Andronicus, would thou wert shipp'd to hell, Rather than rob me of the people's hearts.

Luc. Proud Saturnine, interrupter of the good

That noble-minded Titus means to thee!

Tit. Content thee, prince, I will restore to thee The people's hearts, and wean them from themselves. Bass. Andronicus, I do not flatter thee,

But honour thee, and will do till I die:
My faction if thou strengthen with thy friends,

I will most thankful be, and thanks to men

Of noble minds is honourable meed.

Tit. People of Rome, and people's tribunes here,

I ask your voices and your suffrages;
Will you bestow them friendly on Andronicus?
Tribunes. To gratify the good Andronicus,
And gratulate his safe return to Rome,
The people will accept whom he admits.

Tit. Tribunes, I thank you: and this suit I make,
That you create your emperor's eldest son,
Lord Saturnine, whose virtues will, I hope,
Reflect on Rome as Titan's rays on earth,
And ripen justice in this commonweal:
Then, if you will elect by my advice,
Crown him, and say, "Long live our emperor !"
a Palliament-robe.

Marc. With voices and applause of every sort, Patricians, and plebeians, we create Lord Saturninus Rome's great emperor; And say, 66

Long live our emperor, Saturnine!"
[A long flourish, till they come down
Sat. Titus Andronicus, for thy favours done
To us in our election this day,

I give thee thanks in part of thy deserts,
And will with deeds requite thy gentleness:
And for an onset, Titus, to advance
Thy name, and honourable family,
Lavinia will I make my empress,

Rome's royal mistress, mistress of my heart,
And in the sacred Pantheon her espouse:
Tell me, Andronicus, doth this motion please thee?
Tit. It doth, my worthy lord; and in this match
I hold me highly honour'd of your grace.
And here, in sight of Rome, to Saturnine,
King and commander of our commonweal,
The wide world's emperor, do I consecrate
My sword, my chariot, and my prisoners,—
Presents well worthy Rome's imperial lord:
Receive them then, the tribute that I owe,
Mine honour's ensigns humbled at thy feet.
Sat. Thanks, noble Titus, father of my life!
How proud I am of thee, and of thy gifts,
Rome shall record; and when I do forget
The least of these unspeakable deserts,
Romans, forget your fealty to me.

Tit. Now, madam, are you prisoner to an emperor;
[To TAMORA
To him that, for your honour and your state,
Will use you nobly, and your followers.

Sat. A goodly lady, trust me, of the hue That I would choose, were I to choose anew: Clear up, fair queen, that cloudy countenance: Though chance of war hath wrought this change of

cheer,

Thou com'st not to be made a scorn in Rome :
Princely shall be thy usage every way.
Rest on my word, and let not discontent
Daunt all your hopes: madam, he comforts you
Can make you greater than the queen of Goths;
Lavinia, you are not displeas'd with this?

Lav. Not I, my lord, sith true nobility
Warrants these words in princely courtesy.

Sat. Thanks, sweet Lavinia. Romans, let us go: Ransomless here we set our prisoners free. Proclaim our honours, lords, with trump and drum. Bass. Lord Titus, by your leave, this maid is mine, [Seizing LAVINIA. Tit. How, sir? are you in earnest then, my lord? Bass. Ay, noble Titus, and resolv'd withal

To do myself this reason and this right.

Marc. Suum cuique is our Roman justice :

This prince in justice seizeth but his own.

Luc. And that he will and shall, if Lucius live. Tit. Traitors, avaunt! where is the emperor's guard Treason, my lord! Lavinia is surpris'd.

Sat. Surpris'd! by whom?

Bass.

By him that justly may Bear his betroth'd from all the world away.

[Exeunt MARCUS and BASSIANUS with LAVINIA Mut. Brothers, help to convey her hence away, And with my sword I'll keep this door safe.

[Exeunt LUCIUS, QUINTUS, and MARTIUS. Tit. Follow, my lord, and I'll soon bring her back. Mut. My lord, you pass not here.

Tit. What! villain boy, barr'st me my way in Rome! Mut. Help, Lucius, help! [TITUS kills him.

Re-enter LUCIUS.

Luc. My lord, you are unjust, and more than so; In wrongful quarrel you have slain your sou.

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The works of William Shakspere; from the text of the editions by C. Knight ...