fter

Ha.

the

er to

Rome. Before the Capitol.

The Tomb of the Andronici appearing; the Senators aloft, as in the Senate. Enter, be Nius and his Followers, on one side; anı and his Followers, on the other; with D lours.

Sat. Noble patricians, patrons of my rig Defend the justice of my cause with arms; And, countrymen, my loving followers, Plead my successive title1 with your sword I am his first-born son, that was the last That ware the imperial diadem of Rome; Then let my father's honours live in me, Nor wrong mine age with this indignity. Bas. Romans, friends, followers, favo

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
The imperial seat, to virtue consecrate,
To justice, continence, and nobility:
But let desert in pure election shine;
And, Romans, fight for freedom in your ch
Enter MARCUS ANDRONICUS, aloft, with
Mar. Princes, that strive by factions, an
Ambitiously for rule and empery,-

1

my successive title -] i. e. my title to t

Thus also Raleigh: "The empire being electiv cessive, the emperors, in being, made profit of the

ily, you would have now succeed,

then Qu

pitol and senate's right,

retend to honour and adore,

draw you, and abate your strength;

followers, and, as suitors should,

serts in peace and humbleness.

air the tribune speaks to calm my thoughts!

as Andronicus, so I do affy

tness and integrity,

and honour thee and thine, -other Titus, and his sons,

hom my thoughts are humbled all,
nia, Rome's rich ornament,
ere dismiss my loving friends;
tunes, and the people's favour,

ause in balance to be weigh'd.

[Exeunt the followers of BAS.

Thy is a ful ceremo

1, and here dismiss you all;

ve and favour of my country

s, that have been thus forward in my right,

elf, my person, and the cause.

[Exeunt the followers of SAT.

ust and gracious unto me,

the fourth

- hi Malone. 1600 is n

ful habits.

Or that

just dead

3

ughts!

BAS. right,

SAT.

The same.

Enter a Captain, and Other

Cap. Romans, make way; The good. Patron of virtue, Rome's best champion, Successful in the battles that he fights, With honour and with fortune is return' From where he circumscribed with his s And brought to yoke, the enemies of Ro Flourish of Trumpets, &c. enter MUTIUS after them, two Men bearing a Coffin cov then QUINTUs and Lucius. After th DRONICUS; and then TAMORA, with 1 RON, DEMETRIUS, AARON, and other G Soldiers and People, following. The E the Coffin, and Titus speaks.

Tit. Hail, Rome, victorious in thy me Lo, as the bark, that hath discharg'd her Returns with precious lading to the bay, From whence at first she weigh'd her a

2 Hail, Rome, victorious in thy mourning w that the poet wrote:

in my mourning weeds! i. e. Titus would say: Thou, Rome, art victori a mourner for those sons which I have lost in c tory. Warburton.

Thy is as well as my. We may suppose the I ful ceremony, meeting the dead sons of Andro ful habits. Johnson.

Or that they were in mourning for their e just dead. Steevens.

3

-her fraught,] Old copies his fraug the fourth folio. Malone.

his fraught,] As in the other old cop Malone. It will be proper here to observe, t 1600 is not paged. Todd.

fender of this Capitol,] Jupiter, to whom the
1.
Johnson.

e dreadful shore of Styx?] Here we have one
Classical notions that are scattered with a pe-
through this piece. Malone.

prison-] Edit. 1600:-"earthy prison."

Todd

to

b'd with prodigies on earth.] It was supposed by the ghosts of unburied people appeared Lelations, to solicit the rites of funeral.

Steevens.

[Exe

Wilt tho Draw ne deos nulla do." Cicere

Mr. Whal sage: but ou atranslation quainted wi The same

66

vord.

ened.

the

one pe

dd by

to

But must my sons be slaughter'd in the s
For valiant doings in their country's caus
O! if to fight for king and common weal
Were piety in thine, it is in these.
Andronicus, stain not thy tomb with bloo
Wilt thou draw near the nature of the go
Draw near them then in being merciful:8
Sweet mercy is nobility's true badge;
Thrice-noble Titus, spare my first-born s

Tit. Patient yourself, madam, and paro
These are their brethren, whom you Got
Alive, and dead; and for their brethren sl
Religiously they ask a sacrifice:
To this your son is mark'd; and die he r
To appease their groaning shadows that a

Luc. Away with him! and make a fire
And with our swords, upon a pile of wood
Let 's hew his limbs, till they be clean co
[Exeunt Luc. QUIN. MAR. and Mu

* Wilt thou draw near the nature of the gods ? Draw near them then in being merciful :] "Η deos nulla re propius accedunt, quam salutem do." Cicero pro Ligario.

Mr. Whalley infers the learning of Shakspear sage: but our present author, whoever he was, m a translation of it in several places, provided quainted with the original. Steevens.

The same sentiment is in Edward III, 1596: kings approach the nearest unto

"By giving life and safety unto men." 9 Patient yourself, &c.] This verb is used by writers. So, in Arden of Feversham, 1592: "Patient yourself, we cannot help it now Again, in King Edward I, 1599 : "Patient your highness, 'tis but mother's