Titus Andronicus

The only recorded copy of a 1594 Quarto edition of The Most Lamentable Roman Tragedy of Titus Andronicus was found in Sweden in 1904. It survives from the earliest known printed edition of any of Shakespeare’s plays and is now a treasured item in the collection of the Folger Shakespeare Library. Before its discovery the play was known from the Quartos of 1600 and 1611 and from the First Folio of 1623, where it is the second of the tragedies and gains a whole scene, 3.2, not present in the Quartos. This scene, which appears to be authentic, may well have been added at some date later than 1594. The 1594 title-page records performance by the Earl of Derby, Earl of Pembroke and Earl of Sussex’s Men, whether consecutively or in combination (the play makes heavy casting demands). Five performances at the Rose playhouse between 23 January and 12 June 1594 are recorded in Philip Henslowe’s accounts, three by Sussex’s Men, two by the Lord Chamberlain’s (i.e. Derby’s) Men. Proposed dates of composition range from 1589 to 1593–4: the Arden 3 editor puts forward arguments for the later date. Long regarded as a play of dubious authorship, Titus is now generally accepted as Shakespeare’s, despite continuing claims that act 1, which shows signs of revision to incorporate the killings of Alarbus and Mutius, was originally the work of George Peele. A drawing of characters from the play by Henry Peacham (see p. 6) appears to combine moments from different scenes, if indeed it relates directly to performance at all. Once dated 1595, this well-known drawing may in fact have been made as late as 1615 (the date on it admitting of more than one interpretation).

Despite the presence of many motifs familiar from Ovid’s Metamorphoses (a book used in its action), Seneca’s tragedies and the plays of Marlowe, the plot of Titus appears to be original. A ballad and prose history once identified as its sources are better accounted for as derivative spin-offs, occasioned by the sustained success of the play (whose continued popularity Ben Jonson mocked as late as 1614).

A long period of infrequent revival and generally low esteem followed the attempt of Edward Ravenscroft to rewrite Titus for audiences in the Restoration. Modern theatrical interest began in the 1920s and received much stimulus from the worldwide success of Peter Brook’s production starring Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh, which was first presented at Stratford-upon-Avon in 1955. Recent productions have used a less thoroughly rearranged text than that of Brook, who cut it heavily and reordered its action to inhibit intrusive laughter.

It is easy to caricature Titus as violent melodrama, but it exercises great power in the theatre and shows Shakespeare already engaged with tragic characters and situations to which he would return as late as Antony and Cleopatra and Coriolanus (alluded to at 4.4.62–7), which again dramatize the opposition of the values of an ostensibly civilized and honourable Rome to those of threatening barbarians. Titus adumbrates both the crafty madness of Hamlet and the passionate madness of Lear; the villainous Moor, Aaron, combines qualities which were to separate into Othello and Iago; but it is supremely Lavinia, mutilated and mute, who first realizes the pathos of female victims of violence which is so distinctive a feature of Shakespeare’s tragic writing.

The 1995 Arden text is based on the unique copy of the 1594 First Quarto, with a few corrections from the 1600 Second Quarto and the addition of 3.2 from the 1623 First Folio. Passages unique to the Second Quarto and the First Folio are designated by superscript Q2 or F at the beginning and end of them.

LIST OF ROLES

ROMANS
SATURNINUS	eldest son of the recently deceased Emperor of Rome,
	later Emperor
BASSIANUS	younger brother of Saturninus
TITUS Andronicus	a Roman nobleman, general against the Goths
MARCUS Andronicus	a tribune of the people, brother of Titus
	the surviving sons of Titus Andronicus (in descending order of age)
LAVINIA	only daughter of Titus Andronicus, betrothed to Bassianus
Young Lucius, a BOY	son of Lucius
PUBLIUS	son of Marcus Andronicus
	kinsmen of the Andronici
EMILLIUS	a Roman
CAPTAIN
MESSENGER
NURSE
CLOWN
Other ROMANS	including senators, tribunes, soldiers and attendants
GOTHS
TAMORA	Queen of the Goths and later Empress of Rome by
	marriage to Saturninus
AARON	a Moor in the service of Tamora, her lover
Other GOTHS	forming an army

Titus Andronicus

1.1 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 the other, with drums and colours.

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 first-born son that was the last	5
That wore the imperial diadem of Rome:
Then let my father’s honours live in me,
Nor wrong mine age with this indignity.
BASSIANUS
Romans, friends, followers, favourers 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 dishonour 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.
MARCUS     [aloft, with 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, surnamed 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 chastised with arms
Our enemies’ pride; five times he hath returned
Bleeding to Rome, bearing his valiant sons
In coffins from the field Q2and at this day	35
To the monument of the Andronici
Done sacrifice of expiation,
And slain the noblest prisoner of the GothsQ2.
And now at last, laden with honour’s spoils,
Returns the good Andronicus to Rome,	40
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,	45
That you withdraw you and abate your strength,
Dismiss your followers and, as suitors should,
Plead your deserts in peace and humbleness.
SATURNINUS
How fair the tribune speaks to calm my thoughts.
BASSIANUS     Marcus Andronicus, so I do affy	50
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,	55
That I will here dismiss my loving friends
And to my fortune’s and the people’s favour
Commit my cause in balance to be weighed.
Exeunt his soldiers.
SATURNINUS
Friends that have been thus forward in my right,
I thank you all and here dismiss you all,	60
And to the love and favour of my country
Commit myself, my person and the cause.
Exeunt his soldiers.
Rome, be as just and gracious unto me
As I am confident and kind to thee.
Open the gates and let me in.	65
BASSIANUS     Tribunes, and me, a poor competitor.
Flourish. They go up into the Senate House.
Enter a Captain.
CAPTAIN     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	70
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, and then two men bearing a coffin covered with black, then two other sons, then TITUS ANDRONICUS, and then, as prisoners, TAMORA, the Queen of Goths, and her three 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     Hail, Rome, victorious in thy mourning weeds!
Lo, as the bark that hath discharged his freight
Returns with precious lading to the bay	75
From whence at first she weighed her anchorage,
Cometh Andronicus, bound with laurel boughs,
To resalute his country with his tears,
Tears of true joy for his return to Rome.
Thou great defender of this Capitol,	80
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;	85
These that I bring unto their latest home,
With burial amongst their ancestors.
Here Goths have given me leave to sheathe my sword.
Titus, unkind and careless of thine own,
Why suffer’st thou thy sons unburied yet	90
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,
And sleep in peace, slain in your country’s wars.
O sacred receptacle of my joys,	95
Sweet cell of virtue and nobility,
How many sons hast thou of mine in store
That thou wilt never render to me more!
LUCIUS     Give us the proudest prisoner of the Goths,
That we may hew his limbs and on a pile	100
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.
TITUS     I give him you, the noblest that survives,	105
The eldest son of this distressed queen.
TAMORA     [kneeling]
Stay, Roman brethren, gracious conqueror,
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,	110
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 slaughtered in the streets	115
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?	120
Draw near them then in being merciful.
Sweet mercy is nobility’s true badge:
Thrice noble Titus, spare my first-born son.
TITUS     Patient yourself, madam, and pardon me.
These are their brethren whom your Goths beheld	125
Alive and dead, and for their brethren slain,
Religiously they ask a sacrifice.
To this your son is marked, and die he must,
T’appease their groaning shadows that are gone.
LUCIUS     Away with him, and make a fire straight,	130
And with our swords upon a pile of wood
Let’s hew his limbs till they be clean consumed.
Exeunt Titus’ sons with Alarbus.
TAMORA     [rising] O cruel, irreligious piety!
CHIRON     Was never Scythia half so barbarous!
DEMETRIUS     Oppose not Scythia to ambitious Rome.	135
Alarbus goes to rest and we survive
To tremble under Titus’ threatening look.
Then, madam, stand resolved, but hope withal
The self-same gods that armed the queen of Troy
With opportunity of sharp revenge	140
Upon the Thracian tyrant in his tent
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.
LUCIUS     See, lord and father, how we have performed	145
Our Roman rites: Alarbus’ limbs are lopped
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.	150
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 honour rest you here, my sons;
Rome’s readiest champions, repose you here in rest,
Secure from worldly chances and mishaps.	155
Here lurks no treason, here no envy swells,
Here grow no damned drugs, here are no storms,
No noise, but silence and eternal sleep:
In peace and honour rest you here, my sons.
Enter LAVINIA.
LAVINIA     In peace and honour, live Lord Titus long:	160
My noble lord and father, live in fame!
Lo, at this tomb my tributary tears
I render for my brethren’s obsequies,
[kneeling] And at thy feet I kneel with tears of joy
Shed on this earth for thy return to Rome.	165
O bless me here with thy victorious hand,
Whose fortunes Rome’s best citizens applaud.
TITUS     Kind Rome, that hast thus lovingly reserved
The cordial of mine age to glad my heart.
Lavinia live, outlive thy father’s days	170
And fame’s eternal date, for virtue’s praise.
[Lavinia rises.]
Enter MARCUS below.
MARCUS     Long live Lord Titus, my beloved brother,
Gracious triumpher in the eyes of Rome!
TITUS     Thanks, gentle tribune, noble brother Marcus.
MARCUS
And welcome, nephews, from successful wars,	175
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 aspired to Solon’s happiness	180
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 tribune and their trust,
This palliament of white and spotless hue,	185
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.
[Offers robe.]
TITUS     A better head her glorious body fits	190
Than his that shakes for age and feebleness.
What, should I don this robe and trouble you?
Be chosen with proclamations today,
Tomorrow yield up rule, resign my life
And set abroad new business for you all?	195
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:	200
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.
MARCUS     Titus, thou shalt obtain and ask the empery.
SATURNINUS     [aloft]
Proud and ambitious tribune, canst thou tell?	205
TITUS     Patience, prince Saturninus.
SATURNINUS     [aloft] Romans, do me right.
Patricians, draw your swords and sheathe them not
Till Saturninus be Rome’s emperor.
Andronicus, would thou were shipped to hell	210
Rather than rob me of the people’s hearts.
LUCIUS     Proud Saturnine, interrupter of the good
That noble-minded Titus means to thee.
TITUS     Content thee, prince, I will restore to thee
The people’s hearts, and wean them from
themselves.	215
BASSIANUS     [aloft] 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.	220
TITUS     People of Rome, and people’s tribunes here,
I ask your voices and your suffrages.
Will ye bestow them friendly on Andronicus?
TRIBUNES     [aloft] To gratify the good Andronicus
And gratulate his safe return to Rome,	225
The people will accept whom he admits.
TITUS     Tribunes, I thank you, and this suit I make,
That you create our emperor’s eldest son,
Lord Saturnine, whose virtues will, I hope,
Reflect on Rome as Titan’s rays on earth,	230
And ripen justice in this commonweal –
Then if you will elect by my advice,
Crown him and say, ‘Long live our emperor!’
MARCUS     With voices and applause of every sort,
Patricians and plebeians, we create	235
Lord Saturninus Rome’s great emperor,
And say, ‘Long live our emperor Saturnine!’
[A long flourish till they come down.]
SATURNINUS     Titus Andronicus, for thy favours done
To us in our election this day,
I give thee thanks in part of thy deserts,	240
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,	245
And in the sacred Pantheon her espouse.
Tell me, Andronicus, doth this motion please thee?
TITUS     It doth, my worthy lord, and in this match
I hold me highly honoured of your grace,
And here in sight of Rome to Saturnine,	250
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 imperious lord:
Receive them then, the tribute that I owe,	255
Mine honour’s ensigns humbled at thy feet.
[Titus’ sword and prisoners are handed over to Saturninus.]
SATURNINUS     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,	260
Romans forget your fealty to me.
TITUS     [to Tamora]
Now, madam, are you prisoner to an emperor,
To him that for your honour and your state
Will use you nobly and your followers.
SATURNINUS     A goodly lady, trust me, of the hue	265
That I would choose were I to choose anew.
[to Tamora] 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.	270
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 displeased with this?
LAVINIA     Not I, my lord, sith true nobility	275
Warrants these words in princely courtesy.
SATURNINUS     Thanks, sweet Lavinia. Romans, let us go.
Ransomless here we set our prisoners free;
Proclaim our honours, lords, with trump and drum.
[Sound drums and trumpets.
Tamora, Chiron, Demetrius and Aaron are released.]
BASSIANUS     [seizing Lavinia]
Lord Titus, by your leave, this maid is mine.	280
TITUS     How, sir? Are you in earnest then, my lord?
BASSIANUS     Ay, noble Titus, and resolved withal
To do myself this reason and this right.
MARCUS     Suum cuique is our Roman justice:
This prince in justice seizeth but his own.	285
LUCIUS     [joining Bassianus]
And that he will, and shall, if Lucius live.
TITUS     Traitors, avaunt! Where is the emperor’s guard?
Treason, my lord – Lavinia is surprised.
SATURNINUS     Surprised? 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, Marcus and Titus’ sons
bear Lavinia out of one door.
TITUS     Follow, my lord, and I’ll soon bring her back.
Saturninus does not follow, but exit at the other
door with Tamora, her two sons and Aaron the Moor.
MUTIUS     My lord, you pass not here.
TITUS     What, villain boy, barr’st me my way in Rome?	295
[He kills him.]
MUTIUS     Help, Lucius, help!
LUCIUS     [returning]
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:
My sons would never so dishonour me.	300
Traitor, restore Lavinia to the emperor.
LUCIUS     Dead if you will, but not to be his wife
That is another’s lawful promised love.     Exit.
Enter aloft the Emperor with TAMORA and her two sons and AARON the Moor.
SATURNINUS     [aloft]
No, Titus, no, the emperor needs her not,
Nor her, nor thee, nor any of thy stock.	305
I’ll trust by leisure him that mocks me once,
Thee never, nor thy traitorous haughty sons,
Confederates all thus to dishonour me.
Was none in Rome to make a stale
But Saturnine? Full well, Andronicus,	310
Agree these deeds with that proud brag of thine
That saidst I begged the empire at thy hands.
TITUS
O monstrous! What reproachful words are these?
SATURNINUS     [aloft]
But go thy ways, go give that changing piece
To him that flourished for her with his sword.	315
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.
SATURNINUS     [aloft]
And therefore, lovely Tamora, queen of Goths,	320
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,
And will create thee empress of Rome.	325
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,
And tapers burn so bright, and everything
In readiness for Hymenaeus stand,	330
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.
TAMORA     [aloft]
And here in sight of heaven to Rome I swear,
If Saturnine advance the queen of Goths,	335
She will a handmaid be to his desires,
A loving nurse, a mother to his youth.
SATURNINUS     [aloft]
Ascend, fair queen, Pantheon. Lords, accompany
Your noble emperor and his lovely bride,
Sent by the heavens for prince Saturnine,	340
Whose wisdom hath her fortune conquered.
There shall we consummate our spousal rites.
Exeunt omnes except Titus.
TITUS     I am not bid to wait upon this bride.
Titus, when wert thou wont to walk alone,
Dishonoured thus and challenged of wrongs?	345
Enter MARCUS and Titus’ three remaining Sons.
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,
Nor thou, nor these, confederates in the deed
That hath dishonoured all our family –	350
Unworthy brother and unworthy sons.
LUCIUS     But let us give him burial as becomes;
Give Mutius burial with our brethren.
TITUS     Traitors, away! He rests not in this tomb.
This monument five hundred years hath stood,	355
Which I have sumptuously re-edified.
Here none but soldiers and Rome’s servitors
Repose in fame; none basely slain in brawls.
Bury him where you can, he comes not here.
MARCUS     My lord, this is impiety in you;	360
My nephew Mutius’ deeds do plead for him,
He must be buried with his brethren.
2, 3 SONS And shall, or him we will accompany.
TITUS     And shall? What villain was it spake that word?
2 SON He that would vouch it in any place but here.	365
TITUS     What, would you bury him in my despite?
MARCUS     No, noble Titus, but entreat of thee
To pardon Mutius and to bury him.
TITUS     Marcus, even thou hast struck upon my crest,
And with these boys mine honour thou hast
wounded.	370
My foes I do repute you every one,
So trouble me no more, but get you gone.
3 SON He is not with himself, let us withdraw.
2 SON Not I, till Mutius’ bones be buried.
[The brother and the sons kneel.]
MARCUS
Brother, for in that name doth nature plead –	375
2 SON Father, and in that name doth nature speak –
TITUS     Speak thou no more, if all the rest will speed.
MARCUS     Renowned Titus, more than half my soul –
LUCIUS     Dear father, soul and substance of us all –
MARCUS     Suffer thy brother Marcus to inter	380
His noble nephew here in virtue’s nest,
That died in honour and Lavinia’s cause.
Thou art a Roman, be not barbarous.
The Greeks upon advice did bury Ajax
That slew himself, and wise Laertes’ son	385
Did graciously plead for his funerals:
Let not young Mutius then, that was thy joy,
Be barred his entrance here.
TITUS     Rise, Marcus, rise. [They rise.]
The dismall’st day is this that e’er I saw:
To be dishonoured by my sons in Rome!	390
Well, bury him, and bury me the next.
[They put him in the tomb.]
LUCIUS
There lie thy bones, sweet Mutius, with thy friends’,
Till we with trophies do adorn thy tomb.
MARCUS& TITUS’ SONS [kneeling]
No man shed tears for noble Mutius:
He lives in fame that died in virtue’s cause.	395
Exeunt all but Marcus and Titus.
MARCUS My lord – to step out of these dreary dumps –
How comes it that the subtle queen of Goths
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.	400
Is she not then beholden to the man
That brought her for this high good turn so far?
FMARCUS Yes – and will nobly him remunerateF.
Flourish. Enter the Emperor, TAMORA and her two sons, with the Moor at one door. Enter at the other door BASSIANUS     and LAVINIA, with Titus’ three Sons.
SATURNINUS
So, Bassianus, you have played your prize.
God give you joy, sir, of your gallant bride.	405
BASSIANUS And you of yours, my lord. I say no more,
Nor wish no less, and so I take my leave.
SATURNINUS
Traitor, if Rome have law or we have power,
Thou and thy faction shall repent this rape.
BASSIANUS
‘Rape’ call you it, my lord, to seize my own,	410
My true betrothed love, and now my wife?
But let the laws of Rome determine all;
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.	415
BASSIANUS My lord, what I have done, as best I may,
Answer I must, and shall do with my life.
Only thus much I give your grace to know:
By all the duties that I owe to Rome,
This noble gentleman, Lord Titus here,	420
Is in opinion and in honour wronged,
That in the rescue of Lavinia
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.	425
Receive him then to favour, Saturnine,
That hath expressed himself in all his deeds
A father and a friend to thee and Rome.
TITUS     Prince Bassianus, leave to plead my deeds;
’Tis thou and those that have dishonoured me.	430
[He kneels.]
Rome and the righteous heavens be my judge
How I have loved and honoured Saturnine!
TAMORA     [to Saturninus] My worthy lord, if ever Tamora
Were gracious in those princely eyes of thine,
Then hear me speak indifferently for all,	435
And at my suit, sweet, pardon what is past.
SATURNINUS     What, madam, be dishonoured openly,
And basely put it up without revenge?
TAMORA     Not so, my lord. The gods of Rome forfend
I should be author to dishonour you.	440
But on mine honour dare I undertake
For good Lord Titus’ innocence in all,
Whose fury not dissembled speaks his griefs.
Then at my suit look graciously on him;
Lose not so noble a friend on vain suppose,	445
Nor with sour looks afflict his gentle heart.
[aside to Saturninus]
My lord, be ruled by me, be won at last,
Dissemble all your griefs and discontents.
You are but newly planted in your throne;
Lest then the people, and patricians too,	450
Upon a just survey take Titus’ part,
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,	455
And raze their faction and their family,
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.	460
[aloud] Come, come, sweet emperor – come,
Andronicus –
Take up this good old man, and cheer the heart
That dies in tempest of thy angry frown.
SATURNINUS
Rise, Titus, rise: my empress hath prevailed.
TITUS     [rising] I thank your majesty and her, my lord;	465
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;	470
And let it be mine honour, 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.	475
And fear not, lords, and you, Lavinia:
By my advice, all humbled on your knees,
You shall ask pardon of his majesty.
[Titus’ sons kneel.]
LUCIUS     We do, and vow to heaven and to his highness
That what we did was mildly as we might,	480
Tendering our sister’s honour and our own.
MARCUS     [kneeling]
That on mine honour 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;	485
I will not be denied: sweet heart, 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.
[Marcus and Titus’ sons stand up.]
Lavinia, though you left me like a churl,	490
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.
This day shall be a love-day, Tamora.	495
TITUS     Tomorrow, and 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.
Sound trumpets. Exeunt all except the Moor.

[2.1]

AARON     Now climbeth Tamora Olympus’ top,	500
Safe out of fortune’s shot, and sits aloft,
Secure of thunder’s crack or lightning flash,
Advanced above pale envy’s threatening reach.
As when the golden sun salutes the morn	[5]
And, having gilt the ocean with his beams,	505
Gallops the zodiac in his glistering coach
And overlooks the highest-peering hills,
So Tamora.
Upon her wit doth earthly honour wait,	[10]
And virtue stoops and trembles at her frown.	510
Then, Aaron, arm thy heart and fit thy thoughts
To mount aloft with thy imperial mistress,
And mount her pitch whom thou in triumph long
Hast prisoner held, fettered in amorous chains	[15]
And faster bound to Aaron’s charming eyes	515
Than is Prometheus tied to Caucasus.
Away with slavish weeds and servile thoughts!
I will be bright, and shine in pearl and gold
To wait upon this new-made empress.	[20]
To wait, said I? – to wanton with this queen,	520
This goddess, this Semiramis, this nymph,
This siren that will charm Rome’s Saturnine
And see his shipwreck and his commonweal’s.
Hallo, what storm is this?	[25]
Enter CHIRON and DEMETRIUS, braving.
DEMETRIUS
Chiron, thy years want wit, thy wits want edge	525
And manners to intrude where I am graced
And may, for aught thou knowest, affected be.
CHIRON     Demetrius, thou dost overween in all,
And so in this, to bear me down with braves.	[30]
’Tis not the difference of a year or two	530
Makes me less gracious, or thee more fortunate:
I am as able and as fit as thou
To serve, and to deserve my mistress’ grace,
And that my sword upon thee shall approve,	[35]
And plead my passions for Lavinia’s love.	535
AARON     [aside]
Clubs, clubs! These lovers will not keep the peace.
DEMETRIUS
Why, boy, although our mother, unadvised,
Gave you a dancing-rapier by your side,
Are you so desperate grown to threat your friends?	[40]
Go to, have your lath glued within your sheath	540
Till you know better how to handle it.
CHIRON     Meanwhile, sir, with the little skill I have,
Full well shalt thou perceive how much I dare.
DEMETRIUS     Ay boy, grow ye so brave? [They draw.]
AARON     Why, how now, lords?	[45]
So near the emperor’s palace dare ye draw	545
And maintain such a quarrel openly?
Full well I wot the ground of all this grudge.
I would not for a million of gold
The cause were known to them it most concerns,	[50]
Nor would your noble mother for much more	550
Be so dishonoured in the court of Rome.
For shame, put up.
DEMETRIUS     Not I, till I have sheathed
My rapier in his bosom, and withal
Thrust those reproachful speeches down his throat	[55]
That he hath breathed in my dishonour here.	555
CHIRON     For that I am prepared and full resolved,
Foul-spoken coward, that thunderest with thy
tongue,
And with thy weapon nothing dar’st perform.
AARON     Away, I say.	[60]
Now, by the gods that warlike Goths adore,	560
This petty brabble will undo us all.
Why, lords, and think you not how dangerous
It is to jet upon a prince’s right?
What, is Lavinia then become so loose,	[65]
Or Bassianus so degenerate,	565
That for her love such quarrels may be broached
Without controlment, justice, or revenge?
Young lords, beware – and should the empress know
This discord’s ground, the music would not please.	[70]
CHIRON     I care not, I, knew she and all the world:	570
I love Lavinia more than all the world.
DEMETRIUS
Youngling, learn thou to make some meaner choice;
Lavinia is thine elder brother’s hope.
AARON     Why, are ye mad? Or know ye not in Rome	[75]
How furious and impatient they be,	575
And cannot brook competitors in love?
I tell you, lords, you do but plot your deaths
By this device.
CHIRON     Aaron, a thousand deaths would I propose	[80]
T’achieve her whom I love.
AARON     T’achieve her how?	580
DEMETRIUS     Why makes thou it so strange?
She is a woman, therefore may be wooed;
She is a woman, therefore may be won;
She is Lavinia, therefore must be loved.	[85]
What, man, more water glideth by the mill	585
Than wots the miller of, and easy it is
Of a cut loaf to steal a shive, we know.
Though Bassianus be the emperor’s brother,
Better than he have worn Vulcan’s badge.	[90]
AARON     [aside] Ay, and as good as Saturninus may.	590
DEMETRIUS
Then why should he despair that knows to court it
With words, fair looks and liberality?
What, hast not thou full often struck a doe
And borne her cleanly by the keeper’s nose?	[95]
AARON     Why then, it seems some certain snatch or so	595
Would serve your turns.
CHIRON     Ay, so the turn were served.
DEMETRIUS     Aaron, thou hast hit it.
AARON     Would you had hit it too,
Then should not we be tired with this ado.
Why, hark ye, hark ye, and are you such fools	[100]
To square for this? Would it offend you then	600
That both should speed?
CHIRON     Faith, not me.
DEMETRIUS     Nor me, so I were one.
AARON     For shame, be friends, and join for that you jar.
’Tis policy and stratagem must do	[105]
That you affect, and so must you resolve	605
That what you cannot as you would achieve,
You must perforce accomplish as you may.
Take this of me: Lucrece was not more chaste
Than this Lavinia, Bassianus’ love.	[110]
A speedier course than lingering languishment	610
Must we pursue, and I have found the path.
My lords, a solemn hunting is in hand;
There will the lovely Roman ladies troop.
The forest walks are wide and spacious,	[115]
And many unfrequented plots there are,	615
Fitted by kind for rape and villainy.
Single you thither then this dainty doe,
And strike her home by force, if not by words:
This way or not at all stand you in hope.	[120]
Come, come, our empress, with her sacred wit	620
To villainy and vengeance consecrate,
Will we acquaint withal what we intend,
And she shall file our engines with advice
That will not suffer you to square yourselves,	[125]
But to your wishes’ height advance you both.	625
The emperor’s court is like the house of Fame,
The palace full of tongues, of eyes and ears;
The woods are ruthless, dreadful, deaf and dull:
There speak and strike, brave boys, and take your
turns;	[130]
There serve your lust, shadowed from heaven’s eye,	630
And revel in Lavinia’s treasury.
CHIRON     Thy counsel, lad, smells of no cowardice.
DEMETRIUS     Sit fas aut nefas, till I find the stream
To cool this heat, a charm to calm these fits,	[135]
Per Stygia, per manes vehor. Exeunt.	635

2.1 [2.2] Enter TITUS ANDRONICUS and his three sons, and MARCUS, making a noise with hounds and horns.

TITUS     The hunt is up, the morn is bright and grey,
The fields are fragrant and the woods are green.
Uncouple here, and let us make a bay
And wake the emperor and his lovely bride,
And rouse the prince, and ring a hunter’s peal,	5
That all the court may echo with the noise.
Sons, let it be your charge, as it is ours,
To attend the emperor’s person carefully.
I have been troubled in my sleep this night,
But dawning day new comfort hath inspired.	10
Here a cry of hounds, and wind horns in a peal; then enter SATURNINUS, TAMORA, BASSIANUS, LAVINIA, CHIRON, DEMETRIUS     and their attendants.
Many good morrows to your majesty;
Madam, to you as many and as good.
I promised your grace a hunter’s peal.
SATURNINUS     And you have rung it lustily, my lords,
Somewhat too early for new-married ladies.	15
BASSIANUS     Lavinia, how say you?
LAVINIA     I say no:
I have been broad awake two hours and more.
SATURNINUS
Come on then, horse and chariots let us have,
And to our sport.
[to Tamora]     Madam, now shall ye see
Our Roman hunting.
MARCUS     I have dogs, my lord,	20
Will rouse the proudest panther in the chase
And climb the highest promontory top.
TITUS     And I have horse will follow where the game
Makes way and runs like swallows o’er the plain.
DEMETRIUS     [aside]
Chiron, we hunt not, we, with horse nor hound,	25
But hope to pluck a dainty doe to ground. Exeunt.

2.2 [2.3] Enter AARON alone, with a money-bag.

AARON     He that had wit would think that I had none,
To bury so much gold under a tree
And never after to inherit it.
Let him that thinks of me so abjectly
Know that this gold must coin a stratagem	5
Which, cunningly effected, will beget
A very excellent piece of villainy.
And so repose, sweet gold, for their unrest
That have their alms out of the empress’ chest.
[Hides the money-bag.]
Enter TAMORA alone, to the Moor.
TAMORA     My lovely Aaron, wherefore look’st thou sad	10
When everything doth make a gleeful boast?
The birds chant melody on every bush,
The snakes lies rolled in the cheerful sun,
The green leaves quiver with the cooling wind
And make a chequered shadow on the ground.	15
Under their sweet shade, Aaron, let us sit,
And whilst the babbling echo mocks the hounds,
Replying shrilly to the well-tuned horns
As if a double hunt were heard at once,
Let us sit down and mark their yellowing noise;	20
And after conflict such as was supposed
The wandering prince and Dido once enjoyed,
When with a happy storm they were surprised
And curtained with a counsel-keeping cave,
We may, each wreathed in the other’s arms,	25
Our pastimes done, possess a golden slumber,
Whiles hounds and horns and sweet melodious birds
Be unto us as is a nurse’s song
Of lullaby to bring her babe asleep.
AARON     Madam, though Venus govern your desires,	30
Saturn is dominator over mine.
What signifies my deadly-standing eye,
My silence and my cloudy melancholy,
My fleece of woolly hair that now uncurls
Even as an adder when she doth unroll	35
To do some fatal execution?
No, madam, these are no venereal signs;
Vengeance is in my heart, death in my hand,
Blood and revenge are hammering in my head.
Hark, Tamora, the empress of my soul,	40
Which never hopes more heaven than rests in thee,
This is the day of doom for Bassianus,
His Philomel must lose her tongue today,
Thy sons make pillage of her chastity
And wash their hands in Bassianus’ blood.	45
Seest thou this letter? Take it up, I pray thee,
[Gives letter.]
And give the king this fatal-plotted scroll.
Now question me no more: we are espied.
Here comes a parcel of our hopeful booty,
Which dreads not yet their lives’ destruction.	50
Enter BASSIANUS and LAVINIA.
TAMORA     Ah, my sweet Moor, sweeter to me than life!
AARON     No more, great empress: Bassianus comes.
Be cross with him, and I’ll go fetch thy sons
To back thy quarrels, whatsoe’er they be.     Exit.
BASSIANUS     Who have we here? Rome’s royal empress,	55
Unfurnished of her well-beseeming troop?
Or is it Dian, habited like her,
Who hath abandoned her holy groves
To see the general hunting in this forest?
TAMORA     Saucy controller of my private steps,	60
Had I the power that some say Dian had,
Thy temples should be planted presently
With horns, as was Actaeon’s, and the hounds
Should drive upon thy new-transformed limbs,
Unmannerly intruder as thou art.	65
LAVINIA     Under your patience, gentle empress,
’Tis thought you have a goodly gift in horning,
And to be doubted that your Moor and you
Are singled forth to try experiments.
Jove shield your husband from his hounds today:	70
’Tis pity they should take him for a stag.
BASSIANUS     Believe me, queen, your swart Cimmerian
Doth make your honour of his body’s hue,
Spotted, detested and abominable.
Why are you sequestered from all your train,	75
Dismounted from your snow-white goodly steed,
And wandered hither to an obscure plot,
Accompanied but with a barbarous Moor,
If foul desire had not conducted you?
LAVINIA     And being intercepted in your sport,	80
Great reason that my noble lord be rated
For sauciness. [to Bassianus] I pray you, let us hence,
And let her joy her raven-coloured love.
This valley fits the purpose passing well.
BASSIANUS     The king my brother shall have note of this.	85
LAVINIA     Ay, for these slips have made him noted long:
Good king, to be so mightily abused!
TAMORA     Why, I have patience to endure all this.
Enter CHIRON and DEMETRIUS.
DEMETRIUS
How now, dear sovereign and our gracious mother,
Why doth your highness look so pale and wan?	90
TAMORA     Have I not reason, think you, to look pale?
These two have ’ticed me hither to this place:
A barren detested vale you see it is;
The trees, though summer, yet forlorn and lean,
O’ercome with moss and baleful mistletoe;	95
Here never shines the sun, here nothing breeds
Unless the nightly owl or fatal raven.
And when they showed me this abhorred pit,
They told me here at dead time of the night
A thousand fiends, a thousand hissing snakes,	100
Ten thousand swelling toads, as many urchins,
Would make such fearful and confused cries
As any mortal body hearing it
Should straight fall mad, or else die suddenly.
No sooner had they told this hellish tale,	105
But straight they told me they would bind me here
Unto the body of a dismal yew
And leave me to this miserable death.
And then they called me foul adulteress,
Lascivious Goth, and all the bitterest terms	110
That ever ear did hear to such effect.
And had you not by wondrous fortune come,
This vengeance on me had they executed.
Revenge it as you love your mother’s life,
Or be ye not henceforth called my children.	115
DEMETRIUS     This is a witness that I am thy son.
[Stabs him.]
CHIRON
And this for me, struck home to shew my strength.
[He also stabs Bassianus, who dies.]
LAVINIA     Ay, come, Semiramis, nay, barbarous Tamora,
For no name fits thy nature but thy own.
TAMORA
Give me the poniard. You shall know, my boys,	120
Your mother’s hand shall right your mother’s wrong.
DEMETRIUS     Stay, madam, here is more belongs to her:
First thrash the corn, then after burn the straw.
This minion stood upon her chastity,
Upon her nuptial vow, her loyalty,	125
And with that quaint hope braves your mightiness.
And shall she carry this unto her grave?
CHIRON     And if she do, I would I were an eunuch.
Drag hence her husband to some secret hole
And make his dead trunk pillow to our lust.	130
TAMORA     But when ye have the honey we desire,
Let not this wasp outlive, us both to sting.
CHIRON     I warrant you, madam, we will make that sure.
Come, mistress, now perforce we will enjoy
That nice-preserved honesty of yours.	135
LAVINIA     O Tamora, thou bearest a woman’s face –
TAMORA     I will not hear her speak; away with her!
LAVINIA     Sweet lords, entreat her hear me but a word.
DEMETRIUS     [to Tamora]
Listen, fair madam, let it be your glory
To see her tears, but be your heart to them	140
As unrelenting flint to drops of rain.
LAVINIA
When did the tiger’s young ones teach the dam?
O, do not learn her wrath: she taught it thee.
The milk thou suckst from her did turn to marble;
Even at thy teat thou hadst thy tyranny.	145
Yet every mother breeds not sons alike:
[to Chiron] Do thou entreat her show a woman’s pity.
CHIRON
What, wouldst thou have me prove myself a bastard?
LAVINIA     ’Tis true, the raven doth not hatch a lark.
Yet have I heard – O, could I find it now –	150
The lion, moved with pity, did endure
To have his princely paws pared all away.
Some say that ravens foster forlorn children
The whilst their own birds famish in their nests.
O be to me, though thy hard heart say no,	155
Nothing so kind, but something pitiful.
TAMORA     I know not what it means; away with her!
LAVINIA     O, let me teach thee for my father’s sake,
That gave thee life when well he might have slain thee.
Be not obdurate, open thy deaf ears.	160
TAMORA     Hadst thou in person ne’er offended me,
Even for his sake am I pitiless.
Remember, boys, I poured forth tears in vain
To save your brother from the sacrifice,
But fierce Andronicus would not relent.	165
Therefore away with her and use her as you will:
The worse to her, the better loved of me.
LAVINIA     [clinging to Tamora]
O Tamora, be called a gentle queen,
And with thine own hands kill me in this place.
For ’tis not life that I have begged so long;	170
Poor I was slain when Bassianus died.
TAMORA
What begg’st thou then, fond woman? Let me go!
LAVINIA     ’Tis present death I beg, and one thing more
That womanhood denies my tongue to tell.
O, keep me from their worse-than-killing lust,	175
And tumble me into some loathsome pit
Where never man’s eye may behold my body.
Do this, and be a charitable murderer.
TAMORA     So should I rob my sweet sons of their fee.
No, let them satisfy their lust on thee.	180
DEMETRIUS     [to Lavinia]
Away, for thou hast stayed us here too long.
LAVINIA
No grace? No womanhood? Ah, beastly creature,
The blot and enemy to our general name,
Confusion fall –
CHIRON     Nay then, I’ll stop your mouth.
[Grabs her, covering her mouth.]
[to Demetrius] Bring thou her husband:	185
This is the hole where Aaron bid us hide him.
Demetrius throws Bassianus’ body into the pit,
he and Chiron then exeunt, dragging Lavinia.
TAMORA
Farewell, my sons; see that you make her sure.
Ne’er let my heart know merry cheer indeed
Till all the Andronici be made away.
Now will I hence to seek my lovely Moor,	190
And let my spleenful sons this trull deflower.     Exit.
Enter AARON with two of Titus’ sons, QUINTUS and MARTIUS.
AARON     Come on, my lords, the better foot before.
Straight will I bring you to the loathsome pit
Where I espied the panther fast asleep.
QUINTUS     My sight is very dull, whate’er it bodes.	195
MARTIUS
And mine, I promise you; were it not for shame,
Well could I leave our sport to sleep awhile.
[Falls into the pit.]
QUINTUS
What, art thou fallen? What subtle hole is this,
Whose mouth is covered with rude-growing briers
Upon whose leaves are drops of new-shed blood	200
As fresh as morning dew distilled on flowers?
A very fatal place it seems to me.
Speak, brother, hast thou hurt thee with the fall?
MARTIUS     [from below]
O brother, with the dismall’st object hurt
That ever eye with sight made heart lament.	205
AARON     [aside]
Now will I fetch the king to find them here,
That he thereby may have a likely guess
How these were they that made away his brother.     Exit.
MARTIUS     [from below]
Why dost not comfort me and help me out
From this unhallowed and bloodstained hole?	210
QUINTUS     I am surprised with an uncouth fear;
A chilling sweat o’erruns my trembling joints;
My heart suspects more than mine eye can see.
MARTIUS     [from below]
To prove thou hast a true-divining heart,
Aaron and thou look down into this den,	215
And see a fearful sight of blood and death.
QUINTUS     Aaron is gone and my compassionate heart
Will not permit mine eyes once to behold
The thing whereat it trembles by surmise.
O tell me who it is, for ne’er till now	220
Was I a child to fear I know not what.
MARTIUS     [from below]
Lord Bassianus lies berayed in blood
All on a heap, like to a slaughtered lamb,
In this detested, dark, blood-drinking pit.
QUINTUS     If it be dark, how dost thou know ’tis he?	225
MARTIUS     [from below]
Upon his bloody finger he doth wear
A precious ring that lightens all this hole,
Which like a taper in some monument
Doth shine upon the dead man’s earthy cheeks
And shows the ragged entrails of this pit.	230
So pale did shine the moon on Pyramus
When he by night lay bathed in maiden blood.
O brother, help me with thy fainting hand –
If fear hath made thee faint, as me it hath –
Out of this fell devouring receptacle,	235
As hateful as Cocytus’ misty mouth.
QUINTUS     [Reaches into pit.]
Reach me thy hand that I may help thee out
Or, wanting strength to do thee so much good,
I may be plucked into the swallowing womb
Of this deep pit, poor Bassianus’ grave.	240
I have no strength to pluck thee to the brink –
MARTIUS     [from below]
Nor I no strength to climb without thy help.
QUINTUS     Thy hand once more; I will not loose again
Till thou art here aloft or I below.
Thou canst not come to me – I come to thee.	245
[Falls into the pit.]
Enter the Emperor and AARON the Moor, with attendants.
SATURNINUS     Along with me! I’ll see what hole is here
And what he is that now is leapt into it.
[Speaks into the pit.]
Say, who art thou that lately didst descend
Into this gaping hollow of the earth?
MARTIUS     [from below]
The unhappy sons of old Andronicus,	250
Brought hither in a most unlucky hour
To find thy brother Bassianus dead.
SATURNINUS
My brother dead? I know thou dost but jest;
He and his lady both are at the lodge
Upon the north side of this pleasant chase.	255
’Tis not an hour since I left them there.
MARTIUS     [from below]
We know not where you left them all alive,
But, out alas, here have we found him dead.
Enter TAMORA, TITUS ANDRONICUS and LUCIUS.
TAMORA     Where is my lord the king?
SATURNINUS
Here, Tamora, though gride with killing grief.	260
TAMORA     Where is thy brother Bassianus?
SATURNINUS
Now to the bottom dost thou search my wound:
Poor Bassianus here lies murdered.
TAMORA     Then all too late I bring this fatal writ,
The complot of this timeless tragedy,	265
And wonder greatly that man’s face can fold
In pleasing smiles such murderous tyranny.
[She giveth Saturnine a letter.]
SATURNINUS     [Reads.]
And if we miss to meet him handsomely,
Sweet huntsman – Bassianus ’tis we mean –
Do thou so much as dig the grave for him.	270
Thou know’st our meaning. Look for thy reward
Among the nettles at the elder tree
Which overshades the mouth of that same pit
Where we decreed to bury Bassianus.
Do this, and purchase us thy lasting friends.	275
O Tamora, was ever heard the like?
This is the pit and this the elder tree.
Look, sirs, if you can find the huntsman out
That should have murdered Bassianus here.
AARON     [finding the money-bag]
My gracious lord, here is the bag of gold.	280
SATURNINUS     [to Titus]
Two of thy whelps, fell curs of bloody kind,
Have here bereft my brother of his life.
Sirs, drag them from the pit unto the prison.
There let them bide until we have devised
Some never-heard-of torturing pain for them.	285
TAMORA     What, are they in this pit? O wondrous thing!
How easily murder is discovered.
[Attendants pull Quintus, Martius and
Bassianus’ body from the pit.]
TITUS     [kneeling] High emperor, upon my feeble knee
I beg this boon with tears not lightly shed:
That this fell fault of my accursed sons,	290
Accursed if the fault be proved in them –
SATURNINUS     If it be proved? You see it is apparent.
Who found this letter? Tamora, was it you?
TAMORA     Andronicus himself did take it up.
TITUS     I did, my lord, yet let me be their bail,	295
For by my fathers’ reverend tomb I vow
They shall be ready at your highness’ will
To answer their suspicion with their lives.
SATURNINUS
Thou shalt not bail them. See thou follow me.
Some bring the murdered body, some the murderers.	300
Let them not speak a word: the guilt is plain;
For, by my soul, were there worse end than death
That end upon them should be executed.
TAMORA     Andronicus, I will entreat the king;
Fear not thy sons, they shall do well enough.	305
TITUS     [rising]
Come, Lucius, come; stay not to talk with them.
Exeunt, some taking the body, some guarding the prisoners.

2.3 [2.4] Enter the Empress’ Sons with LAVINIA, her hands cut off and her tongue cut out, and ravished.

DEMETRIUS     So, now go tell, and if thy tongue can speak,
Who ’twas that cut thy tongue and ravished thee.
CHIRON     Write down thy mind, bewray thy meaning so,
And if thy stumps will let thee, play the scribe.
DEMETRIUS
See how with signs and tokens she can scrawl.	5
CHIRON     Go home, call for sweet water, wash thy hands.
DEMETRIUS
She hath no tongue to call, nor hands to wash,
And so let’s leave her to her silent walks.
CHIRON     And ’twere my cause, I should go hang myself.
DEMETRIUS
If thou hadst hands to help thee knit the cord.	10
Exeunt Chiron and Demetrius.
Wind horns. Enter MARCUS from hunting.
Lavinia runs away.
MARCUS     Who is this – my niece that flies away so fast?
Cousin, a word. Where is your husband?
[Lavinia turns.]
If I do dream, would all my wealth would wake me;
If I do wake, some planet strike me down
That I may slumber an eternal sleep.	15
Speak, gentle niece, what stern ungentle hands
Hath lopped and hewed and made thy body bare
Of her two branches, those sweet ornaments
Whose circling shadows kings have sought to sleep in
And might not gain so great a happiness	20
As half thy love. Why dost not speak to me?
[Lavinia opens her mouth.]
Alas, a crimson river of warm blood,
Like to a bubbling fountain stirred with wind,
Doth rise and fall between thy rosed lips,
Coming and going with thy honey breath.	25
But sure some Tereus hath deflowered thee
And, lest thou shouldst detect him, cut thy tongue.
Ah, now thou turn’st away thy face for shame,
And notwithstanding all this loss of blood,
As from a conduit with three issuing spouts,	30
Yet do thy cheeks look red as Titan’s face,
Blushing to be encountered with a cloud.
Shall I speak for thee? Shall I say ’tis so?
O that I knew thy heart, and knew the beast,
That I might rail at him to ease my mind!	35
Sorrow concealed, like an oven stopped,
Doth burn the heart to cinders where it is.
Fair Philomela, why she but lost her tongue,
And in a tedious sampler sewed her mind;
But, lovely niece, that mean is cut from thee.	40
A craftier Tereus, cousin, hast thou met,
And he hath cut those pretty fingers off,
That could have better sewed than Philomel.
O, had the monster seen those lily hands
Tremble like aspen leaves upon a lute	45
And make the silken strings delight to kiss them,
He would not then have touched them for his life.
Or had he heard the heavenly harmony
Which that sweet tongue hath made,
He would have dropped his knife and fell asleep,	50
As Cerberus at the Thracian poet’s feet.
Come, let us go and make thy father blind,
For such a sight will blind a father’s eye.
One hour’s storm will drown the fragrant meads:
What will whole months of tears thy father’s eyes?	55
Do not draw back, for we will mourn with thee;
O, could our mourning ease thy misery!     Exeunt.

3.1 Enter the Tribunes as judges and the senators, with Titus’ two sons QUINTUS and MARTIUS bound, passing to the place of execution, and TITUS going before pleading.

TITUS     Hear me, grave fathers; noble tribunes, stay!
For pity of mine age, whose youth was spent
In dangerous wars whilst you securely slept;
For all my blood in Rome’s great quarrel shed,
For all the frosty nights that I have watched,	5
And for these bitter tears which now you see
Filling the aged wrinkles in my cheeks,
Be pitiful to my condemned sons,
Whose souls is not corrupted as ’tis thought.
For two-and-twenty sons I never wept,	10
Because they died in honour’s lofty bed.
[Andronicus lieth down, and the judges pass by him.]
For these two, tribunes, in the dust I write
My heart’s deep languor and my soul’s sad tears.
Let my tears staunch the earth’s dry appetite;
My sons’ sweet blood will make it shame and blush.	15
Exeunt all but Titus.
O earth, I will befriend thee more with rain
That shall distil from these two ancient ruins
Than youthful April shall with all his showers.
In summer’s drought I’ll drop upon thee still;
In winter with warm tears I’ll melt the snow	20
And keep eternal springtime on thy face,
So thou refuse to drink my dear sons’ blood.
Enter LUCIUS with his weapon drawn.
O reverend tribunes, O gentle aged men,
Unbind my sons, reverse the doom of death,
And let me say, that never wept before,	25
My tears are now prevailing orators.
LUCIUS     O noble father, you lament in vain:
The tribunes hear you not, no man is by,
And you recount your sorrows to a stone.
TITUS     Ah Lucius, for thy brothers let me plead.	30
Grave tribunes, once more I entreat of you –
LUCIUS     My gracious lord, no tribune hears you speak.
TITUS     Why, ’tis no matter, man: if they did hear,
They would not mark me, or if they did mark,
They would not pity me; yet plead I must,	35
And bootless unto them.
Therefore I tell my sorrows to the stones,
Who, though they cannot answer my distress,
Yet in some sort they are better than the tribunes
For that they will not intercept my tale.	40
When I do weep, they humbly at my feet
Receive my tears and seem to weep with me,
And were they but attired in grave weeds
Rome could afford no tribunes like to these.
A stone is soft as wax, tribunes more hard than
stones;	45
A stone is silent and offendeth not,
And tribunes with their tongues doom men to death.
But wherefore stand’st thou with thy weapon drawn?
LUCIUS     To rescue my two brothers from their death,
For which attempt the judges have pronounced	50
My everlasting doom of banishment.
TITUS     [rising]
O happy man, they have befriended thee!
Why, foolish Lucius, dost thou not perceive
That Rome is but a wilderness of tigers?
Tigers must prey, and Rome affords no prey	55
But me and mine. How happy art thou then
From these devourers to be banished.
But who comes with our brother Marcus here?
Enter MARCUS with LAVINIA.
MARCUS     Titus, prepare thy aged eyes to weep,
Or if not so, thy noble heart to break:	60
I bring consuming sorrow to thine age.
TITUS     Will it consume me? Let me see it then.
MARCUS     This was thy daughter.
TITUS     Why, Marcus, so she is.
LUCIUS     [falling to his knees] Ay me, this object kills me.	65
TITUS     Faint-hearted boy, arise and look upon her.
[Lucius rises.]
Speak, Lavinia, what accursed hand
Hath made thee handless in thy father’s sight?
What fool hath added water to the sea?
Or brought a faggot to bright-burning Troy?	70
My grief was at the height before thou cam’st,
And now like Nilus it disdaineth bounds.
Give me a sword, I’ll chop off my hands too,
For they have fought for Rome, and all in vain;
And they have nursed this woe in feeding life;	75
In bootless prayer have they been held up,
And they have served me to effectless use.
Now all the service I require of them
Is that the one will help to cut the other.
’Tis well, Lavinia, that thou hast no hands,	80
For hands to do Rome service is but vain.
LUCIUS     Speak, gentle sister: who hath martyred thee?
MARCUS     O, that delightful engine of her thoughts,
That blabbed them with such pleasing eloquence,
Is torn from forth that pretty hollow cage	85
Where, like a sweet melodious bird, it sung
Sweet varied notes, enchanting every ear.
LUCIUS     O, say thou for her: who hath done this deed?
MARCUS     O, thus I found her, straying in the park,
Seeking to hide herself, as doth the deer	90
That hath received some unrecuring wound.
TITUS     It was my dear, and he that wounded her
Hath hurt me more than had he killed me dead.
For now I stand as one upon a rock,
Environed with a wilderness of sea,	95
Who marks the waxing tide grow wave by wave,
Expecting ever when some envious surge
Will in his brinish bowels swallow him.
This way to death my wretched sons are gone;
Here stands my other son, a banished man,	100
And here my brother, weeping at my woes.
But that which gives my soul the greatest spurn
Is dear Lavinia, dearer than my soul.
Had I but seen thy picture in this plight,
It would have madded me; what shall I do	105
Now I behold thy lively body so?
Thou hast no hands to wipe away thy tears,
Nor tongue to tell me who hath martyred thee;
Thy husband he is dead, and for his death
Thy brothers are condemned, and dead by this.	110
Look, Marcus, ah, son Lucius, look on her!
When I did name her brothers, then fresh tears
Stood on her cheeks, as doth the honey-dew
Upon a gathered lily almost withered.
MARCUS
Perchance she weeps because they killed her
husband,	115
Perchance because she knows them innocent.
TITUS     If they did kill thy husband, then be joyful,
Because the law hath ta’en revenge on them.
No, no, they would not do so foul a deed:
Witness the sorrow that their sister makes.	120
Gentle Lavinia, let me kiss thy lips
Or make some sign how I may do thee ease.
Shall thy good uncle and thy brother Lucius
And thou and I sit round about some fountain,
Looking all downwards to behold our cheeks,	125
How they are stained like meadows yet not dry,
With miry slime left on them by a flood?
And in the fountain shall we gaze so long
Till the fresh taste be taken from that clearness
And made a brine pit with our bitter tears?	130
Or shall we cut away our hands like thine?
Or shall we bite our tongues and in dumb shows
Pass the remainder of our hateful days?
What shall we do? Let us that have our tongues
Plot some device of further misery	135
To make us wondered at in time to come.
LUCIUS     Sweet father, cease your tears, for at your grief
See how my wretched sister sobs and weeps.
MARCUS
Patience, dear niece; good Titus, dry thine eyes.
[Gives handkerchief.]
TITUS     Ah Marcus, Marcus, brother, well I wot	140
Thy napkin cannot drink a tear of mine,
For thou, poor man, hast drowned it with thine own.
LUCIUS     Ah, my Lavinia, I will wipe thy cheeks.
TITUS     Mark, Marcus, mark! I understand her signs:
Had she a tongue to speak, now would she say	145
That to her brother which I said to thee.
His napkin with his true tears all bewet
Can do no service on her sorrowful cheeks.
O, what a sympathy of woe is this;
As far from help as limbo is from bliss.	150
Enter AARON the Moor alone.
AARON     Titus Andronicus, my lord the emperor
Sends thee this word: that if thou love thy sons,
Let Marcus, Lucius, or thyself, old Titus,
Or any one of you, chop off your hand
And send it to the king, he for the same	155
Will send thee hither both thy sons alive –
And that shall be the ransom for their fault.
TITUS     O gracious emperor, O gentle Aaron!
Did ever raven sing so like a lark
That gives sweet tidings of the sun’s uprise?	160
With all my heart I’ll send the emperor my hand.
Good Aaron, wilt thou help to chop it off?
LUCIUS     Stay, father, for that noble hand of thine
That hath thrown down so many enemies
Shall not be sent. My hand will serve the turn.	165
My youth can better spare my blood than you,
And therefore mine shall save my brothers’ lives.
MARCUS
Which of your hands hath not defended Rome
And reared aloft the bloody battleaxe,
Writing destruction on the enemy’s casque?	170
O, none of both but are of high desert.
My hand hath been but idle: let it serve
To ransom my two nephews from their death,
Then have I kept it to a worthy end.
AARON     Nay, come, agree whose hand shall go along,	175
For fear they die before their pardon come.
MARCUS     My hand shall go.
LUCIUS     By heaven it shall not go.
TITUS
Sirs, strive no more. Such withered herbs as these
Are meet for plucking up – and therefore mine.
LUCIUS     Sweet father, if I shall be thought thy son,	180
Let me redeem my brothers both from death.
MARCUS     And for our father’s sake and mother’s care,
Now let me show a brother’s love to thee.
TITUS     Agree between you: I will spare my hand.
LUCIUS     Then I’ll go fetch an axe.	185
MARCUS     But I will use the axe.
Exeunt Lucius and Marcus.
TITUS     Come hither, Aaron. I’ll deceive them both:
Lend me thy hand and I will give thee mine.
AARON     [aside] If that be called deceit, I will be honest
And never whilst I live deceive men so.	190
But I’ll deceive you in another sort,
And that you’ll say ere half an hour pass.
[He cuts off Titus’ hand.]
Enter LUCIUS and MARCUS again.
TITUS
Now stay your strife; what shall be is dispatched.
Good Aaron, give his majesty my hand.
Tell him it was a hand that warded him	195
From thousand dangers, bid him bury it:
More hath it merited; that let it have.
As for my sons, say I account of them
As jewels purchased at an easy price,
And yet dear too, because I bought mine own.	200
AARON     I go, Andronicus, and for thy hand
Look by and by to have thy sons with thee.
[aside] Their heads I mean. O, how this villainy
Doth fat me with the very thoughts of it.
Let fools do good and fair men call for grace,	205
Aaron will have his soul black like his face.     Exit.
TITUS     O, here I lift this one hand up to heaven
And bow this feeble ruin to the earth. [Kneels.]
If any power pities wretched tears,
To that I call. [Lavinia kneels.]
What, wouldst thou kneel with me?	210
Do then, dear heart, for heaven shall hear our
prayers,
Or with our sighs we’ll breathe the welkin dim
And stain the sun with fog, as sometime clouds
When they do hug him in their melting bosoms.
MARCUS     O brother, speak with possibility,	215
And do not break into these deep extremes.
TITUS     Is not my sorrows deep, having no bottom?
Then be my passions bottomless with them.
MARCUS     But yet let reason govern thy lament.
TITUS     If there were reason for these miseries,	220
Then into limits could I bind my woes.
When heaven doth weep, doth not the earth o’erflow?
If the winds rage, doth not the sea wax mad,
Threatening the welkin with his big-swollen face?
And wilt thou have a reason for this coil?	225
I am the sea. Hark how her sighs doth blow.
She is the weeping welkin, I the earth.
Then must my sea be moved with her sighs,
Then must my earth with her continual tears
Become a deluge overflowed and drowned,	230
For why my bowels cannot hide her woes,
But like a drunkard must I vomit them.
Then give me leave, for losers will have leave
To ease their stomachs with their bitter tongues.
Enter a Messenger with two heads and a hand.
[Titus and Lavinia may rise here.]
MESSENGER     Worthy Andronicus, ill art thou repaid	235
For that good hand thou sent’st the emperor.
Here are the heads of thy two noble sons,
And here’s thy hand in scorn to thee sent back:
Thy grief their sports, thy resolution mocked,
That woe is me to think upon thy woes	240
More than remembrance of my father’s death.
Sets down heads and hand, exit.
MARCUS     Now let hot Etna cool in Sicily,
And be my heart an ever-burning hell!
These miseries are more than may be borne.
To weep with them that weep doth ease some deal,	245
But sorrow flouted at is double death.
LUCIUS
Ah, that this sight should make so deep a wound
And yet detested life not shrink thereat!
That ever death should let life bear his name,
Where life hath no more interest but to breathe!	250
[Lavinia kisses the heads.]
MARCUS     Alas, poor heart, that kiss is comfortless
As frozen water to a starved snake.
TITUS     When will this fearful slumber have an end?
MARCUS     Now farewell flattery, die Andronicus.
Thou dost not slumber. See thy two sons’ heads,	255
Thy warlike hand, thy mangled daughter here,
Thy other banished son with this dear sight
Struck pale and bloodless, and thy brother, I,
Even like a stony image, cold and numb.
Ah, now no more will I control thy griefs:	260
Rend off thy silver hair, thy other hand
Gnawing with thy teeth, and be this dismal sight
The closing up of our most wretched eyes.
Now is a time to storm. Why art thou still?
TITUS     Ha, ha, ha!	265
MARCUS     Why dost thou laugh? It fits not with this hour.
TITUS     Why? I have not another tear to shed.
Besides, this sorrow is an enemy
And would usurp upon my watery eyes
And make them blind with tributary tears.	270
Then which way shall I find Revenge’s cave?
For these two heads do seem to speak to me
And threat me I shall never come to bliss
Till all these mischiefs be returned again
Even in their throats that hath committed them.	275
Come, let me see what task I have to do.
You heavy people, circle me about,
That I may turn me to each one of you
And swear unto my soul to right your wrongs.
[They make a vow.]
The vow is made. Come, brother, take a head,	280
And in this hand the other will I bear.
And, Lavinia, thou shalt be employed:
Bear thou my hand, sweet wench, between thy teeth.
As for thee, boy, go get thee from my sight:
Thou art an exile and thou must not stay;	285
Hie to the Goths and raise an army there,
And if ye love me, as I think you do,
Let’s kiss and part, for we have much to do.
They kiss. Exeunt. Lucius remains.
LUCIUS Farewell, Andronicus, my noble father,
The woefull’st man that ever lived in Rome.	290
Farewell, proud Rome, till Lucius come again;
He loves his pledges dearer than his life.
Farewell, Lavinia, my noble sister,
O would thou wert as thou tofore hast been!
But now nor Lucius nor Lavinia lives	295
But in oblivion and hateful griefs.
If Lucius live, he will requite your wrongs
And make proud Saturnine and his empress
Beg at the gates like Tarquin and his queen.
Now will I to the Goths and raise a power,	300
To be revenged on Rome and Saturnine. Exit Lucius.

^F3.2 A banquet. Enter TITUS ANDRONICUS, MARCUS, LAVINIA     and the Boy, Young Lucius.

TITUS     So, so, now sit, and look you eat no more
Than will preserve just so much strength in us
As will revenge these bitter woes of ours. [They sit.]
MARCUS, unknit that sorrow-wreathen knot.
Thy niece and I, poor creatures, want our hands	5
And cannot passionate our tenfold grief
With folded arms. This poor right hand of mine
Is left to tyrannize upon my breast,
Who, when my heart, all mad with misery,
Beats in this hollow prison of my flesh,	10
Then thus I thump it down.
[to Lavinia]
Thou map of woe, that thus dost talk in signs,
When thy poor heart beats with outrageous beating,
Thou canst not strike it thus to make it still.
Wound it with sighing, girl, kill it with groans,	15
Or get some little knife between thy teeth
And just against thy heart make thou a hole,
That all the tears that thy poor eyes let fall
May run into that sink and, soaking in,
Drown the lamenting fool in sea-salt tears.	20
MARCUS Fie, brother, fie! Teach her not thus to lay
Such violent hands upon her tender life.
TITUS How now, has sorrow made thee dote already?
Why, Marcus, no man should be mad but I.
What violent hands can she lay on her life?	25
Ah, wherefore dost thou urge the name of hands
To bid Aeneas tell the tale twice o’er
How Troy was burnt and he made miserable?
O handle not the theme, to talk of hands,
Lest we remember still that we have none.	30
Fie, fie, how franticly I square my talk,
As if we should forget we had no hands
If Marcus did not name the word of hands.
Come, let’s fall to, and, gentle girl, eat this.
Here is no drink! Hark, Marcus, what she says:	35
I can interpret all her martyred signs –
She says she drinks no other drink but tears,
Brewed with her sorrow, mashed upon her cheeks.
Speechless complainer, I will learn thy thought.
In thy dumb action will I be as perfect	40
As begging hermits in their holy prayers.
Thou shalt not sigh, nor hold thy stumps to heaven,
Nor wink, nor nod, nor kneel, nor make a sign,
But I of these will wrest an alphabet
And by still practice learn to know thy meaning.	45
BOY     Good grandsire, leave these bitter deep laments;
Make my aunt merry with some pleasing tale.
MARCUS     Alas, the tender boy in passion moved
Doth weep to see his grandsire’s heaviness.
TITUS     Peace, tender sapling, thou art made of tears,	50
And tears will quickly melt thy life away.
[Marcus strikes the dish with a knife.]
What dost thou strike at, Marcus, with thy knife?
MARCUS     At that that I have killed, my lord – a fly.
TITUS     Out on thee, murderer. Thou kill’st my heart.
Mine eyes are cloyed with view of tyranny;	55
A deed of death done on the innocent
Becomes not Titus’ brother. Get thee gone;
I see thou art not for my company.
MARCUS     Alas, my lord, I have but killed a fly.
TITUS     ‘But’?	60
How if that fly had a father and a mother?
How would he hang his slender gilded wings
And buzz lamenting doings in the air.
Poor harmless fly,
That with his pretty buzzing melody	65
Came here to make us merry, and thou hast killed him.
MARCUS     Pardon me, sir, it was a black ill-favoured fly,
Like to the empress’ Moor. Therefore I killed him.
TITUS     Oh, Oh, Oh!
Then pardon me for reprehending thee,	70
For thou hast done a charitable deed.
Give me thy knife; I will insult on him,
Flattering myself as if it were the Moor
Come hither purposely to poison me.
[Takes knife and strikes.]
There’s for thyself, and that’s for Tamora.	75
Ah, sirrah!
Yet I think we are not brought so low
But that between us we can kill a fly
That comes in likeness of a coal-black Moor.
MARCUS     Alas, poor man! Grief has so wrought on him	80
He takes false shadows for true substances.
TITUS     Come, take away. Lavinia, go with me;
I’ll to thy closet and go read with thee
Sad stories chanced in the times of old.
Come, boy, and go with me; thy sight is young,	85
And thou shalt read when mine begin to dazzle.
Exeunt.F