ON closing the Notes to the generally received plays of Shakspere, the Editor hopes he may be allowed to say that he has endeavoured to make them, whether selected or original, as useful and amusing as his allotted space permitted. In revising the Text, he has given due advertence to later reasonings and suggestions, but has very rarely deemed it advisable, on full consideration, to deviate from the readings of Malone. -The punctuation throughout has been diligently corrected; and much, it is hoped, has in this particular alone been done to facilitate the comprehension of difficult passages. Those who are best acquainted with the perplexities attending periodical publication, will be the readiest to excuse the comparatively few typographical errors that have crept into the present edition. Infrequent as these lapses are, they occur chiefly in some earlier copies that were of necessity issued before receiving the Editor's final perusal. On looking into the notes and prefaces of the most diligent commentators, it will be seen that they have ever found it impossible, with all their care, and with the advantage of taking their own time, to avoid occasional mischances from this source. As some Subscribers may possibly wish to know who have been the writers of the "Introductory Remarks" prefixed to each play, an explanation on that point is now given : "THE TEMPEST" and "MEASURE FOR MEASURE," Mr. R. H. Horne (who also furnished the Notes to those plays). "TWELFTH NIGHT," Mr. T. Wade (Notes also to the first edition of that play). In now taking a respectful leave of the Subscribers, the Editor (whose duties terminate with the present play) can only hope for a candid consideration of what little he has done; and regret, with his predecessors of greater estimation and desert, that he has not been able, in his department, to realise that absolute perfection which of right should characterise every attempt to increase the public knowledge and appreciation of the greatest of our Poets and literary Benefactors. July, 1843. J. O 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 side; and BASSIANUS and his Followers, on the other; with drum and colours. 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, If ever Bassianus, Cæsar's son, Ambitiously for rule and empery,— A special party, have, by common voice, For many good and great deserts to Rome; And now at last, laden with honour's spoils, ceed, suc And in the Capitol and senate's right, Bas. Marcus Andronicus, so I do affy And so 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 dismiss you all, [Exeunt the Followers of SATURNINUS. Bas. Tribunes! and me, a poor competitor. [SATURNINUS and BASSIANUS go into the Capitol, and exeunt with Senators, MARCUS, &c. 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 returned, From where he circumscribéd with his sword, And brought to yoke the enemies of Rome. 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, prisoners; Soldiers and People following. The bearers set down the coffin, and TITUS speaks. Tit. Hail, Rome, victorious in thy mourning Lo, as the bark that hath discharged her fraught, Titus, unkind and careless of thine own, [The tomb is opened. 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 earthly prison of their bones; That so the shadows be not unappeased, Nor we disturbed with prodigies on earth. Tit. I give him you, the noblest that survives, The eldest son of this distresséd queen. Tam. Stay, Roman brethren, gracious con queror, |