Original Text |
Translated Text |
| Source: Folger Shakespeare Library |
|
Flourish. Enter the Tribunes (including Marcus
Andronicus) and Senators aloft. And then enter, below,
Saturninus and his followers at one door, and
Bassianus and his followers at another door, with
other Romans, Drums, and Trumpets. | In front of the crowded Senate in Rome (which is conveniently located next to the Andronicus family tomb), two brothers, Saturninus and Bassianus, and their respective armies are ready to throw down over who should be named emperor. |
SATURNINUS
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 firstborn son that was the last
That wore the imperial diadem of Rome.
Then let my father’s honors live in me,
Nor wrong mine age with this indignity. | Saturninus states his case first: since he's the elder son of the late emperor, the senators should name him emperor of Rome. |
BASSIANUS
Romans, friends, followers, favorers of my right,
If ever Bassianus, Caesar’s son, 10
Were gracious in the eyes of royal Rome,
Keep, then, this passage to the Capitol,
And suffer not dishonor to approach
The imperial seat, to virtue consecrate,
To justice, continence, and nobility; 15
But let desert in pure election shine,
And, Romans, fight for freedom in your choice. | Bassianus chimes in that the title should go to the guy who deserves it the most (him, naturally). |
MARCUS, (aloft, stepping forward and holding up the crown)
Princes that strive by factions and by friends
Ambitiously for rule and empery,
Know that the people of Rome, for whom we stand 20
A special party, have by common voice,
In election for the Roman empery,
Chosen Andronicus, surnamèd Pius
For many good and great deserts to Rome.
A nobler man, a braver warrior, 25
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 yoked a nation strong, trained up in arms. 30
Ten years are spent since first he undertook
This cause of Rome, and chastisèd with arms
Our enemies’ pride. Five times he hath returned
Bleeding to Rome, bearing his valiant sons
In coffins from the field. 35
And now at last, laden with honor’s spoils,
Returns the good Andronicus to Rome,
Renownèd Titus flourishing in arms.
Let us entreat, by honor of his name
Whom worthily you would have now succeed, 40
And in the Capitol and Senate’s right,
Whom you pretend to honor and adore,
That you withdraw you and abate your strength,
Dismiss your followers and, as suitors should,
Plead your deserts in peace and humbleness. 45 | Marcus steps in and is all: Not so fast, boys. Everyone knows the people have already elected Titus Andronicus. Marcus provides a laundry list of reasons Titus has been elected. He's the noblest and bravest guy in all the land, he's spent the last ten years fighting Rome's greatest enemy (the Goths), he's lost a bunch of sons in battle, and he's just returned to Rome with some very important captives. |
SATURNINUS
How fair the tribune speaks to calm my thoughts! BASSIANUS
Marcus Andronicus, so I do affy
In thy uprightness and integrity,
And so I love and honor thee and thine,
Thy noble brother Titus and his sons, 50
And her to whom my thoughts are humbled all,
Gracious Lavinia, Rome’s rich ornament,
That I will here dismiss my loving friends,
And to my fortunes and the people’s favor
Commit my cause in balance to be weighed. 55 Bassianus’ Soldiers exit. SATURNINUS
Friends that have been thus forward in my right,
I thank you all and here dismiss you all,
And to the love and favor of my country
Commit myself, my person, and the cause.
Saturninus’ Soldiers exit.
Rome, be as just and gracious unto me 60
As I am confident and kind to thee.
Open the gates and let me in. BASSIANUS
Tribunes, and me, a poor competitor. Flourish. They exit to go up into the Senate House.
The Tribunes and Senators exit from the upper stage. | Saturninus and Bassianus agree to send their soldiers home and to give up their campaigns. |
Enter a Captain. CAPTAIN
Romans, make way! The good Andronicus,
Patron of virtue, Rome’s best champion, 65
Successful in the battles that he fights,
With honor and with fortune is returned
From where he circumscribèd with his sword
And brought to yoke the enemies of Rome. Sound drums and trumpets, and then enter two of Titus’
sons (Lucius and Mutius) and then two men bearing a
coffin covered with black, then two other sons (Martius
and Quintus), then Titus Andronicus, and then Tamora
the Queen of Goths and her sons Alarbus, Chiron and
Demetrius, with Aaron the Moor, and others as many as
can be, then set down the coffin, and Titus speaks. | Titus arrives amid a lot of pomp and circumstance. We're talking marching bands, Titus's sons (three are alive and two are in coffins), and a bunch of Titus's captives (including Tamora, queen of the Goths, her three sons, and Aaron "the Moor"). |
TITUS
Hail Rome, victorious in thy mourning weeds! 70
Lo, as the bark that hath discharged his fraught
Returns with precious lading to the bay
From whence at first she weighed her anchorage,
Cometh Andronicus, bound with laurel boughs,
To resalute his country with his tears, 75
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, 80
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 sheathe my sword. 85
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. They open the tomb. There greet in silence, as the dead are wont, 90
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 hast thou of mine in store
That thou wilt never render to me more? 95 | Titus gets up on stage announces that he's returned to Rome victorious (just in case it wasn't obvious) and that he's now going to place two more of his slain sons in the Andronicus family tomb. |
LUCIUS
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 unappeased, 100
Nor we disturbed with prodigies on Earth. | Lucius, one of Titus's living sons, stands up and asks Titus to give up one of his Goth war prisoners so the Romans can hack up his limbs and make a sacrifice to the ghosts of his dead brothers. |
TITUS
I give him you, the noblest that survives,
The eldest son of this distressèd queen. | Titus thinks this is a great idea and offers up Tamora's eldest son, Alarbus. |
TAMORA
Stay, Roman brethren!—Gracious conqueror,
Victorious Titus, rue the tears I shed, 105
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 110
Captive to thee and to thy Roman yoke,
But must my sons be slaughtered 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!The eldest son of this distressèd queen.
115 She kneels. 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. 120 | Tamora asks Titus to be merciful and begs him not to kill Alarbus, pointing out that her warrior sons are just as honorable as Titus's – the only difference is that they fought on opposite side of the war. |
TITUS
Patient yourself, madam, and pardon me.
These are their brethren whom your Goths beheld
Alive and dead, and for their brethren slain
Religiously they ask a sacrifice.
To this your son is marked, and die he must, 125
T’ appease their groaning shadows that are gone. | Titus isn't hearing any of it and says Tamora's kid must die. |
LUCIUS
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 consumed. Exit Titus’ sons with Alarbus. | Alarbus is led away by Titus's sons. |
TAMORA, rising and speaking aside to her sons
O cruel, irreligious piety! 130 CHIRON, aside to Tamora and Demetrius
Was never Scythia half so barbarous! DEMETRIUS, aside to Tamora and Chiron
Oppose not Scythia to ambitious Rome!
Alarbus goes to rest and we survive
To tremble under Titus’ threat’ning look.
Then, madam, stand resolved, but hope withal 135
The selfsame gods that armed the Queen of Troy
With opportunity of sharp revenge
Upon the Thracian tyrant in his tent
May favor Tamora the Queen of Goths
(When Goths were Goths, and Tamora was queen) 140
To quit the bloody wrongs upon her foes. | Tamora and her other two sons (Demetrius and Chiron) declare that Rome is more "barbarous" than Scythia and swear they'll get revenge.
|
Enter the sons of Andronicus again with bloody swords. LUCIUS
See, lord and father, how we have performed
Our Roman rites. Alarbus’ limbs are lopped,
And entrails feed the sacrificing fire,
Whose smoke like incense doth perfume the sky. 145
Remaineth naught but to inter our brethren,
And with loud larums welcome them to Rome. | Titus's sons come back on stage with bloody swords, and Lucius announces that they have chopped up Alarbus and thrown his guts in the "sacrificing fire," which, thanks to Alarbus, now smells like "incense [that] doth perfume the sky." |
TITUS
Let it be so. And let Andronicus
Make this his latest farewell to their souls. Sound trumpets, and lay the coffin in the tomb. In peace and honor rest you here, my sons, 150
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 damnèd drugs; here are no storms,
No noise, but silence and eternal sleep. 155
In peace and honor rest you here, my sons. | Now that the ritual sacrifice is complete, the Andronicus clan can place the dead bodies of Titus's sons in the family tomb. |
LAVINIA
In peace and honor live Lord Titus long;
My noble lord and father, live in fame. She kneels. Lo, at this tomb my tributary tears
I render for my brethren’s obsequies, 160
And at thy feet I kneel, with tears of joy
Shed on this earth for thy return to Rome.
O bless me here with thy victorious hand,
Whose fortunes Rome’s best citizens applaud. | The lovely Lavinia enters and welcomes her father home from the long, bloody war and asks Titus to "bless" her with his "victorious hand." |
TITUS
Kind Rome, that hast thus lovingly reserved 165
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. Lavinia rises. | Titus declares his love for his daughter and says he hopes the virtuous Lavinia will outlive him. (Yep, that's foreshadowing alright.) |
Enter Marcus Andronicus, carrying a white robe.
Enter aloft Saturninus, Bassianus, Tribunes, Senators,
and Guards. MARCUS
Long live Lord Titus, my belovèd brother,
Gracious triumpher in the eyes of Rome. 170 TITUS
Thanks, gentle tribune, noble brother Marcus. MARCUS
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; 175
But safer triumph is this funeral pomp,
That hath aspired to Solon’s happiness,
And triumphs over chance in honor’s bed.—
Titus Andronicus, the people of Rome,
Whose friend in justice thou hast ever been, 180
Send thee by me, their tribune and their trust,
This palliament of white and spotless hue,
And name thee in election for the empire
With these our late deceasèd emperor’s sons.
Be candidatus, then, and put it on 185
And help to set a head on headless Rome. | Marcus, a Roman tribune (a government official) and brother of Titus, welcomes Titus and his sons home and announces that Titus has been elected emperor, which means Titus gets to wear a snazzy, white emperor robe. |
TITUS
A better head her glorious body fits
Than his that shakes for age and feebleness.
To Tribunes and Senators aloft. What, should I don
this robe and trouble you? 190
Be chosen with proclamations today,
Tomorrow 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, 195
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 honor for mine age,
But not a scepter to control the world. 200
Upright he held it, lords, that held it last. MARCUS
Titus, thou shalt obtain and ask the empery. | Titus says he's flattered but he's way too old and tired to rule Rome. After ten long years of military service, Titus just wants to retire in peace. |
SATURNINUS
Proud and ambitious tribune, canst thou tell? TITUS Patience, Prince Saturninus. SATURNINUS Romans, do me right. 205
Patricians, draw your swords and sheathe them not
Till Saturninus be Rome’s emperor.—
Andronicus, would thou were shipped to hell
Rather than rob me of the people’s hearts. LUCIUS
Proud Saturnine, interrupter of the good 210That noble-minded Titus means to thee. TITUS
Content thee, prince. I will restore to thee
The people’s hearts and wean them from themselves. | Saturninus, who has been growing more and more aggravated, insults Titus and declares that he still wants to be emperor. The Roman people should draw their swords and defend his right to rule. |
BASSIANUS
Andronicus, I do not flatter thee,
But honor thee, and will do till I die. 215
My faction if thou strengthen with thy friends,
I will most thankful be, and thanks, to men
Of noble minds, is honorable meed. | Now that it's obvious that Titus doesn't want to rule Rome, Bassianus throws his hat back into the ring and asks Titus for his support. |
TITUS
People of Rome, and people’s tribunes here,
I ask your voices and your suffrages. 220
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. | Titus asks the people and the tribunes to let him choose the next emperor and they agree. |
TITUS
Tribunes, I thank you, and this suit I make: 225
That you create our 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, 230
Crown him and say “Long live our emperor.” MARCUS
With voices and applause of every sort,
Patricians and plebeians, we create
Lord Saturninus Rome’s great emperor,
And say “Long live our Emperor Saturnine.” 235 | Titus names Saturninus (the guy who just tried to rally the people and their swords against him!). |
A long flourish till Saturninus, Bassianus,
and Guards come down. SATURNINUS
Titus Andronicus, for thy favors 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 240
Thy name and honorable 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? 245 | Saturninus accepts the title and offers to marry Lavinia as a thank you to Titus. |
TITUS
It doth, my worthy lord, and in this match
I hold me highly honored 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 250
My sword, my chariot, and my prisoners,
Presents well worthy Rome’s imperious lord.
Receive them, then, the tribute that I owe,
Mine honor’s ensigns humbled at thy feet. SATURNINUS
Thanks, noble Titus, father of my life. 255
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. TITUS, to Tamora
Now, madam, are you prisoner to an emperor, 260
To him that for your honor and your state
Will use you nobly, and your followers. | In a big show of loyalty to Rome's new leader, Titus hands over his daughter and all his prisoners to Saturninus. |
SATURNINUS, aside
A goodly lady, trust me, of the hue
That I would choose, were I to choose anew.—
Clear up, fair queen, that cloudy countenance. 265
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 270
Daunt all your hopes. Madam, he comforts you
Can make you greater than the Queen of Goths.—
Lavinia, you are not displeased with this? LAVINIA
Not I, my lord, sith true nobility
Warrants these words in princely courtesy. 275 SATURNINUS
Thanks, sweet Lavinia.—Romans, let us go.
Ransomless here we set our prisoners free.
Proclaim our honors, lords, with trump and drum. Flourish. Saturninus and his Guards exit, with Drums
and Trumpets. Tribunes and Senators exit aloft. | Saturninus takes one look at the luscious Tamora and immediately regrets his engagement to Lavinia, who is a sweet girl but apparently not as hot as the queen of the Goths. Saturninus then proceeds to hit on Tamora and tells Lavinia she shouldn't be jealous. |
BASSIANUS
Lord Titus, by your leave, this maid is mine. TITUS
How, sir? Are you in earnest then, my lord? 280 BASSIANUS
Ay, noble Titus, and resolved withal
To do myself this reason and this right. Bassianus takes Lavinia by the arm. MARCUS
Suum cuique is our Roman justice.
This prince in justice seizeth but his own. LUCIUS
And that he will and shall, if Lucius live! 285 TITUS
Traitors, avaunt! Where is the Emperor’s guard? Enter Saturninus and his Guards. Treason, my lord. Lavinia is surprised. SATURNINUSSurprised? By whom? BASSIANUS By him that justly may
Bear his betrothed from all the world away. 290 MUTIUS
Brothers, help to convey her hence away,
And with my sword I’ll keep this door safe. Bassianus, Lavinia, Marcus, Lucius,
Quintus, and Martius exit. | Bassianus grabs Lavinia and runs off with her. Titus's sons (Lucius, Quintus, and Martius) help him get away while Mutius guards the door, blocking Titus from chasing after them. |
TITUS, to Saturninus
Follow, my lord, and I’ll soon bring her back. Saturninus, Tamora, Demetrius, Chiron,
Aaron, and Guards exit. MUTIUS
My lord, you pass not here. TITUS What, villain boy, 295
Barr’st me my way in Rome? He stabs Mutius. MUTIUS Help, Lucius, help! Mutius dies. Enter Lucius. LUCIUS
My lord, you are unjust, and more than so!
In wrongful quarrel you have slain your son. TITUS
Nor thou nor he are any sons of mine. 300
My sons would never so dishonor me.
Traitor, restore Lavinia to the Emperor. Enter aloft the Emperor Saturninus with Tamora
and her two sons and Aaron the Moor. LUCIUS
Dead if you will, but not to be his wife
That is another’s lawful promised love. He exits. | Titus kills him for getting in the way and demands that Lavinia be returned. (Apparently, the Andronicus boys think of Lavinia as a piece of property that belongs to her future husband. Meanwhile, Lavinia is silent.) |
SATURNINUS
No, Titus, no, the Emperor needs her not, 305
Nor her, nor thee, nor any of thy stock.
I’ll trust by leisure him that mocks me once,
Thee never, nor thy traitorous haughty sons,
Confederates all thus to dishonor me.
Was none in Rome to make a stale 310
But Saturnine? Full well, Andronicus,
Agree these deeds with that proud brag of thine
That said’st I begged the empire at thy hands. | Saturninus says something like "don't bother – I don't want anything to do with you and your traitor family, Titus." |
TITUS
O monstrous! What reproachful words are these?
SATURNINUS
But go thy ways. Go give that changing piece 315
To him that flourished for her with his sword.
A valiant son-in-law thou shalt enjoy,
One fit to bandy with thy lawless sons,
To ruffle in the commonwealth of Rome.
TITUS
These words are razors to my wounded heart. 320 | Titus is crushed and feels completely disgraced. |
SATURNINUS
And therefore, lovely Tamora, Queen of Goths,
That like the stately Phoebe ’mongst her nymphs
Dost overshine the gallant’st dames of Rome,
If thou be pleased with this my sudden choice,
Behold, I choose thee, Tamora, for my bride, 325
And will create thee Emperess of Rome.
Speak, Queen of Goths, dost thou applaud my
choice?
And here I swear by all the Roman gods,
Sith priest and holy water are so near, 330
And tapers burn so bright, and everything
In readiness for Hymenaeus stand,
I will not resalute the streets of Rome
Or climb my palace till from forth this place
I lead espoused my bride along with me. 335 | Saturninus turns to Tamora and announces he wants to marry her. |
TAMORA
And here in sight of heaven to Rome I swear,
If Saturnine advance the Queen of Goths,
She will a handmaid be to his desires,
A loving nurse, a mother to his youth. | Tamora promises that if Saturninus marries her, she'll be a "handmaid" to his "desires." |
SATURNINUS
Ascend, fair queen, to Pantheon.—Lords, accompany 340
Your noble emperor and his lovely bride,
Sent by the heavens for Prince Saturnine,
Whose wisdom hath her fortune conquerèd.
There shall we consummate our spousal rites. All but Titus exit. TITUS
I am not bid to wait upon this bride. 345
Titus, when wert thou wont to walk alone,
Dishonored thus and challengèd of wrongs? | Since there's a priest nearby (how convenient!) the happy couple runs off to get hitched, leaving Titus alone onstage to boo-hoo about how awful his life is. |
Enter Marcus and Titus’ sons Lucius, Martius,
and Quintus. MARCUS O Titus, see! O, see what thou hast done!
In a bad quarrel slain a virtuous son. TITUS No, foolish tribune, no; no son of mine, 350
Nor thou, nor these confederates in the deed
That hath dishonored all our family.
Unworthy brother and unworthy sons! | |
LUCIUS
But let us give him burial as becomes,
Give Mutius burial with our brethren. 355 TITUS
Traitors, away! He rests not in this tomb.
This monument five hundred years hath stood,
Which I have sumptuously reedified.
Here none but soldiers and Rome’s servitors
Repose in fame, none basely slain in brawls. 360
Bury him where you can. He comes not here. | Titus refuses to repent and says that Mutius (a name that sounds a lot like "mutiny"), doesn't get to be placed in the family tomb. |
MARCUS
My lord, this is impiety in you.
My nephew Mutius’ deeds do plead for him.
He must be buried with his brethren. MARTIUS
And shall, or him we will accompany. 365 TITUS
“And shall”? What villain was it spake that word? MARTIUS
He that would vouch it in any place but here. TITUS
What, would you bury him in my despite? MARCUS
No, noble Titus, but entreat of thee
To pardon Mutius and to bury him. 370 TITUS
Marcus, even thou hast struck upon my crest,
And with these boys mine honor thou hast wounded.
My foes I do repute you every one.
So trouble me no more, but get you gone. QUINTUS
He is not with himself; let us withdraw. 375 MARTIUS
Not I, till Mutius’ bones be burièd. The brother (Marcus) and the sons
(Lucius, Martius, and Quintus) kneel. MARCUS
Brother, for in that name doth nature plead— MARTIUS
Father, and in that name doth nature speak— TITUS
Speak thou no more, if all the rest will speed. MARCUS
Renownèd Titus, more than half my soul— 380 LUCIUS
Dear father, soul and substance of us all— MARCUS
Suffer thy brother Marcus to inter
His noble nephew here in virtue’s nest,
That died in honor and Lavinia’s cause.
Thou art a Roman; be not barbarous. 385
The Greeks upon advice did bury Ajax,
That slew himself, and wise Laertes’ son
Did graciously plead for his funerals.
Let not young Mutius, then, that was thy joy,
Be barred his entrance here. 390 TITUS Rise, Marcus, rise. They rise. The dismall’st day is this that e’er I saw,
To be dishonored by my sons in Rome.
Well, bury him, and bury me the next. They put Mutius in the tomb. LUCIUS
There lie thy bones, sweet Mutius, with thy friends’, 395
Till we with trophies do adorn thy tomb.
They all except Titus kneel and say:
No man shed tears for noble Mutius.
He lives in fame, that died in virtue’s cause. All but Marcus and Titus exit. MARCUS
My lord, to step out of these dreary dumps,
How comes it that the subtle Queen of Goths 400
Is of a sudden thus advanced in Rome? TITUS
I know not, Marcus, but I know it is.
Whether by device or no, the heavens can tell.
Is she not then beholding to the man
That brought her for this high good turn so far? 405
Yes, and will nobly him remunerate. | After some bickering, Marcus tells Titus not to be "barbarous" and Titus finally agrees to allow Mutius's body to be interred in the family vault. (Good thing this doesn't drag out. If we wanted to read a play about someone banned from burying a brother, we'd read Sophocles' Antigone.) |
Flourish. Enter the Emperor Saturninus, Tamora
and her two sons, with Aaron the Moor, Drums and
Trumpets, at one door. Enter at the other door
Bassianus and Lavinia, with Lucius, Martius, and
Quintus, and others. SATURNINUS
So, Bassianus, you have played your prize.
God give you joy, sir, of your gallant bride. BASSIANUS
And you of yours, my lord. I say no more,
Nor wish no less, and so I take my leave. 410 SATURNINUS
Traitor, if Rome have law or we have power,
Thou and thy faction shall repent this rape. | The newlyweds return, and Saturninus declares that Titus's family and Bassianus are going to pay for what they've done. |
BASSIANUS
“Rape” call you it, my lord, to seize my own,
My true betrothèd love and now my wife?
But let the laws of Rome determine all. 415
Meanwhile am I possessed of that is mine. SATURNINUS
’Tis good, sir, you are very short with us.
But if we live, we’ll be as sharp with you. BASSIANUS
My lord, what I have done, as best I may,
Answer I must, and shall do with my life. 420
Only thus much I give your Grace to know:
By all the duties that I owe to Rome,
This noble gentleman, Lord Titus here,
Is in opinion and in honor wronged,
That in the rescue of Lavinia 425
With his own hand did slay his youngest son,
In zeal to you, and highly moved to wrath
To be controlled in that he frankly gave.
Receive him then to favor, Saturnine,
That hath expressed himself in all his deeds 430
A father and a friend to thee and Rome. TITUS
Prince Bassianus, leave to plead my deeds.
’Tis thou, and those, that have dishonored me.
Rome and the righteous heavens be my judge
How I have loved and honored Saturnine. He kneels. 435 | Bassianus sticks ups for his future father-in-law, pointing out that Titus killed his own son out of loyalty to Saturninus, so he shouldn't be punished. |
TAMORA, to Saturninus
My worthy lord, if ever Tamora
Were gracious in those princely eyes of thine,
Then hear me speak indifferently for all,
And at my suit, sweet, pardon what is past. SATURNINUS
What, madam, be dishonored openly, 440
And basely put it up without revenge? TAMORA
Not so, my lord; the gods of Rome forfend
I should be author to dishonor you.
But on mine honor dare I undertake
For good Lord Titus’ innocence in all, 445
Whose fury not dissembled speaks his griefs.
Then at my suit look graciously on him.
Lose not so noble a friend on vain suppose,
Nor with sour looks afflict his gentle heart.
Aside to Saturninus. My lord, be ruled by me; be 450
won at last.
Dissemble all your griefs and discontents.
You are but newly planted in your throne.
Lest, then, the people, and patricians too,
Upon a just survey take Titus’ part 455
And so supplant you for ingratitude,
Which Rome reputes to be a heinous sin.
Yield at entreats, and then let me alone.
I’ll find a day to massacre them all
And raze their faction and their family, 460
The cruel father and his traitorous sons,
To whom I sued for my dear son’s life,
And make them know what ’tis to let a queen
Kneel in the streets and beg for grace in vain.
Aloud. Come, come, sweet emperor.—Come, 465
Andronicus.—
Take up this good old man, and cheer the heart
That dies in tempest of thy angry frown. | Tamora takes Saturninus aside and says the Roman people might revolt if their beloved Titus is punished by a new emperor. She's all "don't worry, dear, I'll make sure Titus and his family pay for what they've done." Then Tamora makes a big show of reuniting Saturninus and Titus. |
SATURNINUS
Rise, Titus, rise. My empress hath prevailed. TITUS, rising
I thank your Majesty and her, my lord. 470
These words, these looks, infuse new life in me. TAMORA
Titus, I am incorporate in Rome,
A Roman now adopted happily,
And must advise the Emperor for his good.
This day all quarrels die, Andronicus.— 475
And let it be mine honor, good my lord,
That I have reconciled your friends and you.—
For you, Prince Bassianus, I have passed
My word and promise to the Emperor
That you will be more mild and tractable.— 480
And fear not, lords—and you, Lavinia.
By my advice, all humbled on your knees,
You shall ask pardon of his Majesty. Marcus, Lavinia, Lucius, Martius, and Quintus kneel. LUCIUS
We do, and vow to heaven and to his Highness
That what we did was mildly as we might, 485
Tend’ring our sister’s honor and our own. MARCUS
That on mine honor here do I protest. SATURNINUS
Away, and talk not; trouble us no more. TAMORA
Nay, nay, sweet emperor, we must all be friends.
The tribune and his nephews kneel for grace. 490
I will not be denied. Sweetheart, look back. SATURNINUS
Marcus, for thy sake, and thy brother’s here,
And at my lovely Tamora’s entreats,
I do remit these young men’s heinous faults.
Stand up. They rise. 495
Lavinia, though you left me like a churl,
I found a friend, and sure as death I swore
I would not part a bachelor from the priest.
Come, if the Emperor’s court can feast two brides,
You are my guest, Lavinia, and your friends.— 500
This day shall be a love-day, Tamora. | Saturninus pretends to make up with Titus and, since he's already paid the caterer and the Elvis impersonator, he invites Lavinia and Bassianus to have a double wedding feast. |
TITUS
Tomorrow, an it please your Majesty
To hunt the panther and the hart with me,
With horn and hound we’ll give your Grace bonjour. SATURNINUS
Be it so, Titus, and gramercy too. 505 Sound trumpets. All but Aaron exit. | Things seem hunky dory, so Titus says it would be fun to go panther hunting tomorrow and invites everyone along. |