Titus Andronicus,
OR THE
Rape of Lavinia.
Acted at the
Theatre Royall,
A TRAGEDY,
Alter'd from
Mr SHAKESPEARS
Works,
By
Mr. Edw. Ravenscroft
Licensed,
Dec.
21, 1685.
R. L. S.
London
,
Printed by
J. B.
for
J. Hindmarsh
, at the
Golden-Ball
in
Cornhill
, over against the
Royal-Exchange
,
1687
The Persons Names
Romans
Saturninus
,
Bassianus
,
Sons of the Deceased
Emperor
Titus Andronicus
,
An Old
Roman
General
Marcus Andronicus
,
A
Tribune,
Brother to
Titus
Emillius
,
A
Tribune
Lucius
,
Mutius
,
Martius
,
Quintus
,
The Sons of
Titus
Junius
,
Son of
Lucius,
a Child
Lavinia
,
Daughter of
Titus
A
Roman Captain,
Other
Captains, Senators, Tribunes,
Plebeans,
and Guards. A Dead Son of
Titus
Goths
Tamora
,
Queen of
Goths
Alarbus
,
A Mute
Chiron
,
Demetrius
,
The Queens Sons
Aron
,
A
Moor
in favour with
Tamora,
and her General
A Goth
,
A Common Souldier.
His Wife
.
A Blackamoor Infant
.
All brought Captives to Rome by Titus.
The Scene
ROME.
TO THE READER.
READER,
I think it a greater theft to Rob the dead of their Praise then
the Living of their Money: That I may not appear Guilty of such
a Crime, 'tis necessary I should acquaint you, that there is a Play in
Mr.
Shakespears
Volume under the name of
Titus Andronicus
,
from whence I drew part of this. I have been told by some anciently
conversant with the Stage, that it was not Originally his, but brought
by a private Author to be Acted, and he only gave some Master-
touches to one or two of the Principal Parts or Characters; this I
am apt to believe, because 'tis the most incorrect and indigested piece
in all his Works; It seems rather a heap of Rubbish then a Structure. —
However as if some great Building had been design'd, in the removal
to the Fabrick, as now Modell'd: Compare the Old Play with this,
we found many Large and Square Stones both usefull and Ornamental
you'l finde that none in all that Authors Works ever receiv'd greater
Alterations or Additions, the Language not only refin'd, but
many Scenes entirely New: Besides most of the principal Cha-
racters heighten'd, and the Plot much encreas'd. The Success an-
swer'd the Labour, tho' it first appear'd upon the Stage, at the
beginning of the pretended Popish Plot, when neither Wit nor
Honesty had Encouragement: Nor cou'd this expect favour since
it shew'd the Treachery of Villains, and the Mischiefs carry'd on
by Perjury and False Evidence; and how Rogues may frame a
Plot that shall deceive and destroy both the Honest and the Wise;
which were the reasons why I did forward it at so unlucky a con-
juncture, being content rather tho lose the Profit, then not expose to
the World the Pircure of such Knaves and Rascals as then Reign'd
in the opinion of the Foolish and Malicious part of the Nation:
but it bore up against the Faction, and is confirm'd a Stock-Play.
In the Hurry of those distracted times the
Prologue
and
Epilogue
were lost: But to let the Buyer have his penny-worths, I furnish
you with others which were Written by me to other Persons La-
bours, two of 'em were proportion'd to that Mad Season; For
when Ill Manners and Ill Principles Reign in a State, it is the
business of the Stage, as well as Pulpits to declaim and Instruct:
That was my design when I Writ, and now Print 'em that the
Purchaser may not Repine at the Author or Bookseller for a hard
Bargain.
Adieu.
PROLOGUE, Spoken in
Lent
.
Gallants, in this Godly Time of Lent,
I am come forth to bid you all repent.
You Sparks I see have got a Pious Notion,
You put on Black to shew your great Devotion:
But lest you shou'd mistake what I intend,
Let me tell you your Faults, and how to mend.
First, leave to shew your Valour in the Pit,
Leave Railing at Great Men to shew your Wit.
With Vizard-Masques, leave your Lewd Raillery,
Leave your disturbance in the Middle-Gallery.
Leave all your Jests of Bant'ring and Dum-sounding,
Leave always Dueling and never Wounding.
Leave coming here when you do not intend
To see the Play, but pick up a she-friend.
Leave sharping for your selves, and pay your Guinny
For Procuration there to honest Jenny.
Next for the men of Bus'ness in the Nation,
Let them begin a Thorough-Reformation
Let 'em leave Faction, Jelousies and Fears,
Leave setting us together by the Ears.
Let Corporations leave Petitioning,
And learn all due Allegeance to the King.
Let Politicians too not be so hot,
To Swear, that a Spring-Tide's a Popish Plot,
Do not too Eagerly that Scent pursue,
Lest Hunting an Old Plot you Start a New.
Leave your provoking Cæsar and his Frowns;
Leave Crossing Birth-Rights and disposing Crowns.
Leave Englands Antient Glory so to wrong,
As naming Princes with irreverent Tongue,
Tho' Forreigners and Enemies they be,
Forget not what is due to Majesty.
Whil'st Brutishly Those Titles we prophane
The World does think we are turn'd Picts again.
Consider well, and then you'l be I hope
So Civilis'd as scarce to Burn the Pope:
But if you will go on, make this Addition,
Burn too the Rump and Westminster-Petition.
EPILOGUE.
Swell'd Big with Expectation you did come
To see us Act our great Affairs at home,
Papists accus'd and Satyrs against Rome:
That might have pleas'd, but still the modest Stage
Forbears to represent the Present Age.
Let Forreign Stories matter here supply,
Old Tales and known, are fit for Tragedy.
Besides, I think the Bus'ness of our Nation,
Too sad a Theam to pass for Recreation.
Let us be Mute 'till the whole Truth comes out,
Not like the Rabble at Executions, shout.
Heathens that knew but just Morality,
Pitty'd the Guilty when they came to dy.
Barbarians at such sights do show Regret,
How far are we then from Religion yet?
Religion teaches mildness in her Laws,
Triumph, Suspicion upon Justice draws.
Go then contented hence with what you've seen;
Fancy you have two hours in Turky been,
This was no Popish-Plot, yet English too,
For to say truth, it was our Plot on you.
A PROLOGUE, Spoken before the Long Vacation.
Now comes Vacation, that dead time of th'Year,
When nothing but New Plays will bring you here;
Now for the Countrey all you little Citts,
Prepare to gallop down on Smithfield Titts,
Having run out, you go to make us Cash,
To Parents dear—
Equip'd with the Heel-Spur and Spatter-dash.
But you the Graver sort of City-Blades,
Profit does keep in town to mind your Trades,
Whil'st in Crape-Mantoes deckt, and trolly-Pinners
Your Wives at Epsom slily play the Sinners.
You go on Saturdays to see your Honeys,
Are Waggish with 'em, leave 'em Spending-Moneys,
But come on Mundays up to Town like Tonys.
England is blest the Wells are so in fashion,
There, Heirs are got for one third pare of th' Nation.
You Town Gallants who wallow in Debauches,
New Liveries prepare and fine Gilt Coaches.
And all in Order too to leave the Town,
Each to his Mansion-House does rattle down;
Which many hundred years in th' Name has been,
Where Miss appears as Glorious as a Queen.
The Country at you does but Laugh and Jeer,
Tho' Tenants flatter you for their good Cheer:
But Heark ye, who'l keep House there the next Year?
Scriv'ners and Bankers will have restitution,
E're that time, comes Judgment and Execution.
Punk trusts in Settlement the Misses Joynter,
But by some quirk in Law they disappoint her.
The COuntry Lawyers too Jog down apace
Each with his NOVERING UNIVERSI Face;
Rides Jabbering along some damn'd Law-Case.
Young Ladies too attend their Parents down,
Quit their Intrigues and sigh to leave the Town.
How innocently there you sit and Chat,
And Walk the Fields in Bongrace or Straw-Hat,
Eat Syllybubs, see Reapers mow, such Sport
Did please you well before you saw the Court.
But fare ye well.—
When you are gone, we'll shut the Play-house door,
The Bully-Gamster, Bawd and Unkept Whore,
Who here remain, will be so very poor,
They'l Venter their Half-Crowns but the first day,
And then—To pick up Cullys, no to see the Play.
All will be Sharpers here, what shall we do,
To Live? Faith let us be oblig'd by you.
Come all and pay your Foyes before you go,
Else we must troop to Scotland after Job—
We by the last advice for Certain hear
That Haynes does head the Rebell-Players there.
PROLOGUE after the Vacation. Spoken by Mr. Haines.
Friends how have ye done this many a day?
You long'd I warrant you for a New Play:
And we have wish'd as much to see you here;
Well, long Vacation's a damn'd time o'th'year.
When to your Country-Houses you were gone
Some few Pill'd-Garlicks Straggl'd up and down,
Who for meer want of Mony staid in Town.
As for Example, I my self was one.
Shop-Keepers, wanting trade, were off o'th'hooks,
And all day long sat casting up their books;
Drew out their Debts, resolving all to Dun,
As soon as e're you Gallants came to Town.
Or else to Fox and Geese with Neighbour go,
A game resembling much themselves and you.
And Gamesters, who the rest o'th'year went fine,
Now look'd out sharp, and Cry'd come where shall's dine?
Go to the Tavern, no attendance there,
Except a Drawer snoring in the Bar.
No Raring-Gallant, nor no Punk that Sings,
The litte Bell but very seldom Rings.
No Hurry nor no Noise as heretofore,
No Crying, Speak i'th'Star, i'th'half-Moon Score.
The streets are quiet too: All the Debauchees,
Were Bullys pawning Whores, and bilking Coaches.
The best on't was, things were not very dear;
For Whores, 'twas the Cheap'st time of all the year.
But some whom sad Experience taught to know,
Their Misery here, left us to follow you.
Pawn'd Rings and Pettycoats, hard shift they made,
In hopes, at Windsor they might force a Trade.
There Leiger Lay, I see some half a score
That ply'd like Watermen at D'epee's door,
Bawl'd out to Passingers, Next Whore,—next Whore.
But Travelling of Late was much in Fashion,
Some Pilgrim Saints there were of our Vocation.
Only they did it a far different way,
Your Ladies went to sin, but ours, to pray.
Some of the
Actresses went
that year to
Holywell
.