1.1 Location: Rome (outside the senate house or Capitol) Flourish trumpet fanfare accompanying the arrival or departure of a person or people of rank Tribunes officials appointed to protect the interests and rights of the people aloft i.e., on the upper staging level or gallery Saturninus a name suggestive of a saturnine temperament, i.e., gloomy, sullen, sluggish Drum and Colours drummers and flagbearers
1 patricians Roman noblemen patrons protectors, supporters
4 successive hereditary
5 that of he who
6 diadem crown
7 honours respect due to rank/reputation/dignity
11 gracious popular/worthy of favor
12 Keep guard Capitol hill on which the temple of Jupiter stood; used in the play as the location of the senate house (the seat of government)
13 suffer not do not permit
14 virtue consecrate worth consecrated
15 continence self-restraint
16 desert merit, worth pure election free choice (as opposed to automatic inheritance by the eldest son)
19 empery status of emperor/absolute dominion
21 A special party i.e., elected representative (a tribune) voice vote/consensus
23 surnamèd given the honorary name Pius i.e., dutiful, patriotic, just (embodying the virtues of Rome’s legendary founder, Pius Aeneas)
24 deserts worthy deeds, actions deserving reward
27 accited summoned
29 That he who
30 yoked conquered
38 flourishing vigorous, thriving, eminent
39 honour…succeed the honorable name of the candidate you wish to succeed worthily to the empery (i.e., “your own honor” as the speech is addressed to Saturninus and Bassianus, each of whom wants the empery)
42 pretend claim
44 suitors petitioners
45 deserts deservings, rights
46 fair courteously, in a balanced manner
47 affy trust
51 all entirely
56 forward in active in supporting
61 confident and kind trustful and well-disposed
63 competitor fellow candidate
65 Patron protector/pattern champion defender
68 circumscribèd confined Tamora her name may be an allusion to Tomyris, Queen of the Massagetae, who carried out a bloody revenge on Cyrus of Persia after he had attacked her lands and killed her son; it perhaps suggests “amor” (Latin for “love”) and the object of her desire, the “Moor” Aaron “aron,” which is how the name is spelled in the earliest (Quarto) text, is the name of a bitter herb Moor person of either African or Middle Eastern origin; a term often used to refer to someone from Barbary, in north Africa
70 weeds garments
71 bark small ship
72 lading cargo (i.e., fresh goods picked up after the discharge of the original load)
73 anchorage anchors
77 Thou i.e., Jupiter Capitolinus, guardian of the city
78 Stand gracious to look favorably on
80 King Priam King of Troy and father of fifty sons, nearly all of whom were slain in the Trojan War
83 latest last
84 With i.e., let Rome reward with
85 given me leave allowed me (i.e., as they have been defeated)
86 unkind lacking in natural family feeling careless negligent, having no care
88 Styx river forming the boundary to the classical underworld, which could only be crossed by souls whose bodies had been properly buried
90 wont accustomed
93 cell storehouse
95 more again
97 hew hack
98 Ad manus fratrum “to the hands of our brothers” (Latin)
100 That so so that shadows ghosts
101 prodigies ill omens/unnatural events
104 gracious favored/merciful
105 rue feel pity for
106 passion grief
109 Sufficeth not is it not enough
110 triumphs victorious processions into Rome
121 Patient calm
127 straight straightaway
129 clean totally
131 Scythia ancient region extending over much of eastern Europe and Asiatic Russia, notorious for its barbarous inhabitants
132 Oppose compare
135 withal as well
136 Queen…tent Hecuba, the wife of King Priam of Troy, took revenge for the death of her son Polydorus by blinding his murderer, the Thracian King Polymestor sharp severe/merciless
141 quit requite, repay
144 entrails bowels, intestines
147 ’larums trumpet calls
149 latest final
153 envy malice
158 fame honor/renown
159 tributary paid as a tribute/like tributary rivers
160 obsequies commemorative rites
166 cordial medicine which invigorates the heart
168 And…praise i.e., may you outlive even eternal fame, on account of your virtue
171 gentle kind/noble
174 your…all i.e., the living and the dead share the same honor
176 triumph ceremonial victory celebration
177 aspired risen Solon’s happiness the ancient Greek philosopher and lawgiver Solon observed that man is only securely happy when dead
178 bed i.e., the grave
181 tribune…trust trusted representative
182 palliament candidate’s gown (George Peele is the only writer in English to use this word, evidence strongly suggesting his authorship of this scene)
185 candidatus “candidate” (literally “one clad in a white robe”)
187 fits befits, suits
192 set abroad generate
197 right and service defending the just cause
201 obtain and ask obtain if you ask
206 would I wish
211 wean…themselves reconcile them to not getting their own way
216 meed reward
218 voices…suffrages votes
221 gratulate express joy at, salute
222 admits acknowledges (as lawful successor)
223 suit formal request
224 create appoint
226 Titan Roman sun god
236 in…deserts as part-payment of the reward you deserve
237 gentleness kindness/nobility
238 an onset a start
242 Pantheon circular temple dedicated to all the gods
243 motion proposal
245 hold me consider myself of by
252 ensigns symbols, tokens
256 unspeakable inexpressible
257 fealty obligation of allegiance
259 for because of state high rank
260 use treat (with possible anticipatory play on the sense of “have sex with”)
261 hue appearance/complexion
264 cheer facial expression
267 Rest rely
268 he comforts he who comforts
271 sith since
272 Warrants justifies/acts as a pledge for/authenticates
278 withal moreover
279 reason justified course of action
280 ‘Suum cuique’ “to each his own” (Latin)
283 avaunt be gone
284 surprised ambushed, captured unexpectedly
293 Lucius, help Lucius may reenter or may have remained at the rear of Bassianus’ party
295 quarrel (hostile) cause
296 Nor neither
303 by leisure barely (i.e., I will not be quick to)
306 Was none was there no one stale laughingstock (especially a ridiculed lover)/person used as a tool for a sinister purpose
311 changing piece fickle woman (piece is derogatory)
312 flourished brandished
314 bandy brawl
315 ruffle fight
318 Phoebe or Diana, Roman goddess of the moon, chastity, and hunting
319 overshine outshine gallant’st finest looking
326 tapers candles
327 Hymenaeus god of marriage
335 Pantheon to the Pantheon
338 Whose…conquerèd i.e., who has wisely overcome her misfortune by accepting Saturninus
340 bid invited
341 wont accustomed
342 challengèd accused
349 becomes is fitting
353 re-edified rebuilt, restored
354 servitors servants/soldiers
359 bretheren brothers
360 TITUS’ TWO SONS i.e., Quintus and Martius, though the theater audience never hears their names
362 vouch maintain, assert
363 in my despite in contemptuous disregard of me/as an act of malice toward me
366 crest helmet (perhaps, anachronistically, with heraldic connotations)
368 repute consider
374 speed succeed/be satisfied
377 Suffer allow
381 The…funerals the Greek warrior Ajax, in a frenzy of rage because the dead Achilles’ armor had been awarded to Odysseus rather than himself, killed a flock of sheep in the maddened belief that they were Greek generals; he committed suicide in shame, but received a proper burial after Odysseus (Laertes’ son) persuaded the Greeks that he deserved one advice deliberation
387 dismall’st most ominous
391 trophies memorials to a military victory
394 dumps melancholy mood, dejection
395 subtle cunning, wily
397 is is so
398 device scheming
399 beholding beholden, indebted
402 played your prize won your bout (fencing term)
407 rape seizure (of Lavinia)
411 that that which
412 ’Tis good very well
413 sharp curt, short, dismissive (but with sinister play on the sense of “violent”)
415 Answer be answerable for (it)
419 opinion reputation
423 controlled checked, thwarted frankly freely, unconditionally
427 leave to plead i.e., leave off pleading on behalf of
428 those i.e., Titus’ sons and brother
433 indifferently impartially
436 put it up submit to it
437 forfend forbid
438 author to dishonour responsible for dishonoring
439 undertake vouch
441 fury…griefs genuine fury attests to the truth of his grief
443 vain suppose needless supposition
446 Dissemble disguise
449 survey consideration, examination
452 at entreats to entreaty let me alone leave it to me
454 raze erase, obliterate
456 suèd pleaded
460 Take up bid to rise
465 incorporate in formally admitted to by legal procedure/part of the body of
466 happily fortunately, opportunely
471 For as for
479 Tend’ring while having regard for
480 protest declare, affirm
488 churl ungenerous person
489 friend (generous) patron/lover
493 love-day day for amicable reconciliation/day for lovemaking
494 an if
495 hart male deer
496 bonjour “good day” (French)
497 gramercy “great thanks” (from the French grand merci)
1 Olympus the mountain home of the Greek gods
3 of from
6 gilt covered with gold, i.e., shone over
7 Gallops gallops through glistering glittering
8 overlooks looks down on
10 wit intelligence/ingenuity; it also has sexual connotations of “genitals” in certain contexts
14 mount her pitch rise to the highest point of her flight (falconry term; mount has sexual connotations) in triumph as a victorious conqueror (who would return to Rome leading his chained prisoners behind his chariot)
16 charming spell-casting
17 Prometheus…Caucasus in punishment for stealing fire from the gods, Prometheus was chained to a rock in the Caucasus mountains where he had his liver perpetually gnawed by an eagle
18 weeds garments idle worthless/weary
21 wanton frolic lasciviously queen puns on “quean” (i.e., prostitute)
22 Semiramis Assyrian queen famed for beauty, cruelty, and lust
23 siren bewitching creature (part-woman, part-bird, though often confused with the mermaid); her enchanting singing lured sailors to shipwreck braving challenging one another, behaving with bravado
26 want lack edge sharpness; there seems to be a sexual play around “wit” here
27 graced favored
28 aught anything affected loved
29 overween presume
30 bear me down subdue me braves bravado, boasts
34 serve plays on the sense of “have sex”
35 approve prove
37 Clubs, clubs! rallying cry to summon apprentices armed with clubs to suppress a riot
38 unadvised ill-advisedly
39 dancing-rapier sword worn only for ornament when dancing
40 friends relatives
41 Go to expression of impatient dismissal lath stage sword made of wood
45 brave defiant, insolent
47 near…draw in Elizabethan England, it was illegal to draw weapons near a royal residence
49 wot know
54 put up sheathe your swords
64 brabble brawl, quarrel undo ruin
66 jet encroach
67 loose unchaste, promiscuous
70 controlment restraint
72 ground basis (puns on the musical sense of “base melody, on which variations are developed”)
73 knew she if she knew
75 meaner humbler, lower-ranking
79 brook tolerate
81 device scheme, intention
82 deaths perhaps plays on secondary meaning of death as “sexual orgasm” propose be ready to meet
85 mak’st…strange do you find it so odd
91 shive slice
93 Vulcan’s badge i.e., the cuckold’s horns traditionally supposed to be worn by a man with an unfaithful wife (Vulcan’s wife Venus slept with Mars)
95 court it play the courtier/woo
97 struck…nose killed a deer and smuggled it away without the gamekeeper noticing (struck a doe plays on the sense of “had sex with a woman or whore”; doe female fallow deer)
99 snatch seizure of the prey/hasty sexual act (the modern “quickie”)
100 serve your turns serve your purposes/render sexual service (Chiron plays on this sense in his reply)
102 hit it hit the point exactly/shot the prey (in his reply, Aaron shifts the sense to “penetrated the vagina”)
104 ado fuss/copulating
106 square for quarrel over
109 so provided that
110 join…jar join forces to obtain what you quarrel over
111 policy cunning/strategy
112 affect aim at
113 as…may achieve in the way you would like you must accomplish any way you can
115 Lucrece virtuous Roman wife who killed herself after being raped by Tarquin
117 ling’ring languishment protracted love-sorrow
119 solemn ceremonial
120 troop gather, assemble
122 plots spots (perhaps suggestive of the sense of “schemes”)
123 kind nature
124 Single select, isolate (an animal from the herd) dainty choice/pleasing to the palate/delicately pretty
125 strike her home fatally wound the deer/penetrate the vaginal target
126 stand perhaps with connotations of penile erection
127 sacred devoted (to villainy)/accursed
130 file our engines sharpen our stratagems
131 square yourselves thwart yourselves with quarreling
133 house of Fame house of whispering, gossip and rumor (described in Ovid’s Metamorphoses and Chaucer’s House of Fame)
135 dreadful inspiring awe and fear
136 strike take action/attack/penetrate sexually turns plays on the sense of “sexual acts”
138 treasury with the slang sense of “vagina”
140 Sit…nefas “be it right or wrong” (Latin)
142 Per…vehor “I am carried through the Stygian regions, through the realm of the shades”—i.e., “I am in hell” (Latin, adapted from Seneca’s Hippolytus)
2.2 Location: Rome (outside the emperor’s palace). Hitherto, the style of the play has been mainly that of Peele; henceforth, it is mainly that of Shakespeare
1 up afoot
3 Uncouple release the hounds (who were fastened in couples) bay deep prolonged barking of hunting hounds
5 hunter’s peal horn-blowing to rouse the hounds
7 charge responsibility Wind blow a blast on
14 lustily heartily
16 how what
23 chase royal hunting grounds
24 promontory mountain ridge
2.3 Location: a forest near Rome
3 inherit possess
5 coin create (literally, stamp metal to form a coin)
6 beget conceive, create
9 alms…chest i.e., this gold from Tamora’s treasury
10 wherefore why
11 boast show
21 conflict sex
22 wand’ring…Dido while on his sea-wanderings after the fall of Troy, Aeneas landed in Carthage and fell in love with Queen Dido; when out hunting they were caught in a storm and took refuge in a cave where they made love (celebrated in Virgil’s Aeneid)
23 happy fortuitous
24 counsel-keeping secret-keeping
30 Venus Roman goddess of love
31 Saturn the planet’s influence was supposed to make men sullen and melancholy dominator dominant planet
32 deadly-standing death-dealing
37 venereal erotic, lustful (from Venus)
41 hopes hopes for
43 Philomel Tereus raped Philomel and cut her tongue out to prevent her naming him as the perpetrator; she revealed his identity by weaving an account of what had happened
46 Take it up take it
49 parcel part hopeful hoped-for/promising
53 cross antagonistic, quarrelsome
56 Unfurnished…troop not equipped with a suitable escort
57 Dian Diana, Roman goddess of hunting, and chastity habited dressed
59 general participated in by all
60 Saucy insolent controller critic/official responsible for household finances (i.e., one of lower status)
62 presently immediately
63 Actaeon having seen Diana bathing naked, Actaeon was punished by being turned into a stag and hunted by his own hounds
64 drive rush
66 Under your patience if I may say so gentle noble
67 horning giving cuckold’s horns (i.e., being unfaithful to one’s husband)
68 doubted suspected
69 Are singled forth have deliberately separated yourselves (as an animal is from the herd) experiments i.e., sexual exploration
70 Jove supreme Roman god
72 swarth swarthy (i.e., black) Cimmerian one of a people who were supposed to live in darkness (i.e., the dark-skinned Aaron)
75 sequestered separated train retinue
81 Great reason i.e., no wonder rated berated, chastised
83 joy enjoy
84 passing surpassingly
86 slips moral errors/sexual lapses noted notorious, branded with disgrace/the subject of talk
92 ’ticed enticed
95 O’ercome overgrown baleful deadly, poisonous
97 fatal ominous raven like the owl, a bird whose call was associated with death
101 toads thought to be poisonous urchins goblins, elves
104 straight straightaway suddenly immediately
107 dismal ominous
110 Goth probably pronounced “goat,” a proverbially lascivious animal
118 Semiramis Assyrian queen noted for beauty, cruelty, and lust
120 poniard dagger
123 thrash plays on the sense of “have sex”
124 minion hussy stood upon insisted upon, made much of
126 painted i.e., false
128 An if if
131 honey sexual sweets
132 outlive live longer
133 warrant assure, guarantee
134 perforce by force
135 nice-preservèd honesty fastidiously maintained chastity
142 dam mother
143 learn teach
145 tyranny violence, cruelty, villainy
146 sons alike identical sons
149 raven a bird of ill omen, associated with (moral) blackness and with “ravening” (ravishing/devoring) lark associated with the brightness of morning and, because of its high flight, heaven
150 it it to be so
152 paws claws
153 forlorn abandoned, destitute
154 birds chicks
156 Nothing…pitiful if not as kind (as the fostering raven), then at least somewhat pitiful
157 it i.e., pity
166 use treat/employ sexually
172 Fond foolish
173 present immediate
174 womanhood female modesty denies forbids
176 tumble ironically to “tumble” can also mean “to have sex with”
179 fee payment, i.e., sexual entitlement
181 stayed delayed
183 our general name the reputation of womankind
184 Confusion ruin, disorder/shame/mental disturbance
187 make her sure secure her, i.e., ensure she is no threat to us
189 Andronici Latin plural of “Andronicus,” i.e., the whole family made away killed
191 spleenful violent, lustful (the spleen was regarded as the seat of strong passions) trull whore
192 better foot before best foot forward
195 dull lacking keenness of perception (associated with a melancholy and foreboding)
198 subtle treacherous, crafty, disguised
199 rude-growing wild, uncultivated
204 object sight
210 unhallowed unholy, wicked
211 surprisèd bewildered, overcome uncouth unfamiliar
217 compassionate afflicted with sorrow
219 by surmise even to imagine
222 embrewèd soaked
223 on a heap prostrate
227 ring…hole presumably the ring is set with a carbuncle, a gem supposed to emit light
228 monument tomb
229 earthly pale, lifeless
231 Pyramus in the mistaken belief that his lover Thisbe had been killed by a lion, Pyramus committed suicide; discovering this, Thisbe did the same
232 maiden blood his own blood, that of a male virgin/Thisbe’s blood (after she had killed herself over his body)
235 fell fierce, cruel
236 Cocytus a river in hell, used here for hell generally
238 wanting lacking
239 womb stomach/uterus
258 out alas alas (out is an intensifier)
260 gride pierced
262 search probe
264 writ document
265 complot plan, plot (with suggestions of “outline of a play” picked up in tragedy) timeless untimely
266 fold hide
268 handsomely conveniently
272 elder tree an ill-omened tree associated with betrayal
274 decreed decided
275 purchase win
279 should was to
281 kind nature
286 wondrous strange/incredible
292 apparent obvious
298 their suspicion the suspicion they are under
305 Fear not fear not for
* ravished raped
3 bewray divulge
5 scrawl gesticulate awkwardly/write untidily
6 sweet water a perfumed preparation similar to rose water
9 cause case, situation
10 knit knot
12 Cousin a term used for any relative
14 strike astrological term referring to the power of a planet to emit a deadly influence
19 circling shadows protective encircling shade
26 Tereus her brother-in-law who raped Philomel
27 detect expose/accuse
30 conduit fountain
31 Titan the sun god
35 rail at berate, rant at
36 stopped shut up
39 tedious laboriously executed sampler piece of embroidery
40 mean method, course of action
51 Cerberus…feet Orpheus (the Thracian poet) played his lute so sweetly that Cerberus, the three-headed dog guarding the entrance to the underworld, fell asleep at his feet
54 meads meadows
3.1 Location: Rome (public place)
1 grave fathers dignified and venerable old men
4 my blood i.e., the blood of my sons quarrel cause
5 watched remained awake, on guard
13 languor sorrow, affliction
14 stanch satisfy, quench
15 shame feel shame
17 distil trickle down these…ruins i.e., his eyes
19 still continually
22 So provided that
24 doom sentence
26 prevailing orators successful in their entreaty
34 mark pay attention to
36 bootless in vain, pointlessly
39 intercept interrupt
42 attirèd clothed/covered grave somber/deathly weeds garments/wild plants
43 afford offer/supply
51 happy fortunate
64 object sight
71 Nilus the river Nile, known for its annual flooding disdaineth scorns, treats with contempt (i.e., overflows)
74 nursed…life i.e., in helping to uphold Rome, my hands have contributed to my own grief
76 effectless fruitless
81 martyred mutilated
82 engine instrument
83 blabbed uttered/told what was better kept secret
88 park enclosed hunting ground
90 unrecuring incurable
91 dear puns on deer
94 Environed surrounded
95 waxing swelling
96 Expecting ever always awaiting the time envious malicious
97 brinish briny, salty
101 spurn kick, blow
105 lively living
109 this this time, now
112 honey-dew sweet sticky substance found on the leaves and stems of plants, excreted by aphids but formerly believed to be akin to dew
121 do thee ease comfort you, bring you some relief
126 miry muddy
128 clearness i.e., the pure water of the fountain
131 dumb shows mimes; frequently included in early drama
134 device scheme, plan/dramatic performance
139 wot know
140 napkin handkerchief
148 sympathy agreement, union
149 Limbo dwelling place of the unbaptized, on the borders of hell
169 castle helmet, i.e., head/fortress
170 none of both neither of you
179 meet fit
184 spare save, leave unharmed (but Titus privately intends the sense of “do without”)
192 that you’ll say i.e., you will realize that I have deceived you
193 stay your strife stop arguing
195 warded protected
197 that i.e., burial
198 account of consider/value
200 dear costly/precious mine own what already belonged to me by right
202 Look expect
204 fat nourish/delight
205 fair pale-faced/virtuous
208 ruin i.e., his mutilated body
212 welkin sky
215 with possibilities realistically
218 passions outbursts of feeling
222 o’erflow become flooded
225 coil turmoil
226 her i.e., Lavinia’s
228 be movèd become choppy/be emotionally affected
231 For why because bowels core, interior
234 stomachs bellies/resentments
239 sports entertainments
240 That so that
242 Aetna volcano in Sicily
245 some deal somewhat
246 flouted mocked
248 shrink wither through blood loss
249 bear his name continue to be called life
252 starvèd benumbed with cold
254 flattery self-delusion
257 dear grievous
260 control try to restrain
270 tributary paid asa tribute/like tributary rivers
273 threat warn, give ominous indication
274 mischiefs misfortunes/injuries
277 heavy sorrowful
292 pledges those left behind as bail (i.e., his family)
294 tofore formerly
295 nor neither
296 But except
299 Tarquin…queen the last King of Rome, Tarquinius Superbus, was expelled after his son Sextus Tarquinius raped Lucrece; Lucius Junius Brutus led the people in an uprising that saw the establishment of a republic
300 power army
3.2 Location: Rome (Titus’ house) banquet light meal
4 sorrow-wreathen knot Marcus’ arms are folded in a gesture denoting grief
5 want lack
6 passionate express with passion
8 tyrannize i.e., thump violently
9 Who which (referring to hand)
12 map image/epitome
13 outrageous violent/excessive
15 sighing each sigh was thought to drain a drop of blood from the heart
19 sink pool or pit for waste water/receptacle
20 fool term of endearment
22 tender young
23 dote foolish/deranged
27 Aeneas in Virgil’s Aeneid, Dido asks Aeneas to tell the story of the fall of Troy, to which he responds that to repeat it would renew his grief
30 still continually
31 franticly frenziedly/foolishly square shape
34 fall to begin eating
38 meshed mashed (i.e., brewed)
39 complainer one who laments
40 action performance/oratorical gesture perfect perfectly acquainted
43 wink close the eyes
45 still constant
46 grandsire grandfather
48 tender young/tender-hearted/sensitive
49 heaviness sorrow
54 Out on thee expression of reproachful indignation
62 buzz lamenting doings tell of sorrowful deeds
66 ill-favoured ugly
71 insult on triumph scornfully over
72 Flattering…if deluding myself into believing
75 sirrah sir (used to an inferior)
79 wrought on worked on, affected
81 take away clear the table
82 closet private room
83 chancèd that occurred
85 dazzle grow blurred
4.1 Location: Rome (outside Titus’ house)
9 somewhat something
12 Cornelia Roman mother, exemplary for educating her sons, the Gracchi, who became notable political reformers
14 Tully’s Orator Cicero’s De Oratore, a widely studied treatise on rhetoric
15 plies importunes, behaves insistently toward
20 I…Troy in Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Hecuba became frenzied with grief and eventually turned into a dog
24 fury a fit of madness
27 go accompany us
33 deeper…skilled i.e., prepared for more advanced reading than Young Lucius’ schoolroom texts
35 beguile while away
38 in sequence one after the other
40 fact crime
41 heaves lifts
42 tosseth turns the leaves of
46 culled selected
47 Soft wait a moment/hush
51 annoy mental anguish
52 quotes observes, examines
53 surprised seized, ambushed
55 vast desolate
59 Patterned by that on the pattern of that which
62 tragedies dire events (with a play on the idea of theatrical tragedies)
65 Or…erst or was it not Saturnine who slunk as Tarquin once did
68 Apollo…Mercury Apollo was associated with the discovery of the truth, Pallas Athene with the law, Jove with the punishment of crime and the messenger-god Mercury with carrying forward the will of Jove
71 plain flat, smooth
72 after me following my example
74 shift means, expedient
76 discovered revealed
80 Stuprum “rape” (Latin)
83 Magni…vides? “Ruler of the great heavens, are you so slow to hear crimes, so slow to see?” (Latin; from Seneca’s Hippolytus)
88 exclaims outcries, protests
90 Roman Hector’s hope Hector was the greatest of the Trojan warriors, so Lucius is claimed as a Roman equivalent; his son Young Lucius is his hope for the future
91 fere spouse
94 prosecute…advice pursue by well-considered means
96 reproach shame, disgrace
97 an if
99 dam mother wind get wind of
100 lion i.e., Saturnine
101 playeth…back rolls playfully/has sex with him
102 do plays on the sense of “have sex (with)” list pleases
103 young inexperienced
104 leaf sheet
105 gad sharp spike, applied to a stylus or pen
107 Sibyl’s leaves the Sibyl (female prophet) of Cumae wrote her prophecies on leaves which were sometimes blown away before there was time to read them
111 bondmen slaves
116 fit equip (with arms) withal in addition
123 brave it swagger defiantly, make a show
124 marry by the Virgin Mary be waited on i.e., not ignored as we have been formerly
126 compassion pity
127 ecstasy fit of madness
4.2 Location: Rome (exact location unspecified)
6 confound destroy
7 Gramercy great thanks
8 deciphered discovered/interpreted, read (referring to Lavinia’s writing of their names)
10 well advised after careful consideration, in his right mind
16 appointed equipped
20 ‘Integer…arcu’ “The man of upright life and free from crime does not need the javelins or bows of the Moor” (Latin; from Horace’s Odes)
23 grammar school textbook (the quotation appears in William Lily’s Latin grammar, widely used in schools from 1540 onward)
24 just just so, precisely
26 no sound jest said in irony; the jest could not be sounder
28 That…quick i.e., the message touches the matter to its very heart, but the boys are so stupid that they don’t sense it
29 witty clever afoot up and about
30 conceit ingenious conception
31 her unrest Tamora is in labor
32 happy fortunate
36 brave defy, be insolent toward
38 insinuate Demetrius has misinterpreted Titus’ message as a strategy for gaining entrance at court
40 friendly kindly (ironic; also plays on the sense of “like a lover”)
42 At…bay cornered thus (hunting metaphor referring to the cornered animal turning to face its pursuers) by turn one after the other (plays on the sense of “with copulation”) serve gratify sexually
45 more i.e., more Roman dames
50 Belike probably
54 more puns on Moor ne’er a whit not a bit (perhaps plays on “white”)
55 what what do you want
56 undone ruined
67 issue outcome/offspring
70 fair-faced breeders light-skinned mothers clime climate/region, realm
71 thy…seal i.e., with your mark upon it
74 blowse ruddy fat-faced wench (here applied to the baby as a reaction to the nurse’s condemnation of his blackness)
78 done had sex with
80 chance luck
87 broach stick, as on a spit
92 got conceived
95 Enceladus one of the giants who fought the Olympian gods
96 Typhon another giant (and father of monsters) who fought against the gods
97 Alcides Hercules, the Greek hero famed for feats of great strength god of war Mars
99 sanguine red-faced
100 white-limed whitewashed (puns on “white-limbed”) ale-house painted crudely painted
105 lave wash flood sea/river
109 this i.e., the baby
112 maugre in spite of
113 smoke i.e., suffer (an image drawn from burning at the stake)
115 escape sexual transgression
117 ignomy ignominy, disgrace
120 close enacts secret actions
121 framed made leer complexion/sly sideways glance
122 slave villain
123 As…say as if saying
124 sensibly perceptibly/made capable of sensation
125 self-blood selfsame blood
127 enfranchisèd freed
128 the surer i.e., the mother’s
131 Advise thee consider
133 so provided that
135 have…of watch as a hunter does from the security of a downwind position
140 chafèd angry/provoked
148 Weke, weke! Aaron imitates the Nurse’s dying cry
150 policy expedience, strategy
152 long-tongued chattering
156 like to her i.e., pale-skinned
157 pack make an arrangement/conspire
158 circumstance details
164 physic medicine (ironic)
165 bestow give
166 grooms fellows/herdsmen/court officials responsible for organizing special events like funerals
167 days time
168 presently immediately
179 shifts expedients/stratagems
181 curds and whey coagulated milk, similar to yogurt suck drink the milk of
182 cabin lodge
4.3 Location: Rome (outside the emperor’s palace)
3 draw home draw the bow to its fullest extent ’tis there straight it will reach its target straightaway
4 Terras Astraea reliquit: “Astraea [goddess of justice] has left the earth” (Latin; from Ovid’s Metamorphoses) be you remembered remember
6 cousins kinsmen sound measure the depth of
8 Haply perhaps/hopefully
9 there’s i.e., in the sea there is
11 mattock agricultural tool similar to a pick, used to break up hard ground
13 Pluto’s region the classical underworld, over which Pluto ruled
19 What time when suffrages votes
22 man-of-war warship
23 her i.e., Astraea, Greek goddess of justice
24 pipe for look in vain for, whistle for
25 heavy case sad state of affairs
26 distract deranged, mad
28 carefully attentively/with solicitude
29 feed his humour indulge, humor him
30 careful comforting/costing trouble
32 Join…Goths a line is missing before this in the early texts; it was probably something like “But let us live in hope that Lucius will”
33 wreak vengeance
36 her i.e., Astraea
39 for as for
41 perforce of necessity stay wait
43 burning lake both Acheron and the fiery Phlegethon were rivers in the classical underworld
46 Cyclops one-eyed giant
48 wrung racked/wrenched/pressed down upon
49 sith since
50 move provoke/rouse/appeal to
51 for to to
52 gear business
54 ‘Ad…Martem’ “To Jove,” “To Apollo” and “To Mars” (Latin)
57 You…wind i.e., you might as well shoot against the wind as appeal to Saturninus
58 loose let fly
59 Of on
64 said done
65 Virgo the constellation of the virgin, associated with Astraea; shooting an arrow into her lap is sexually suggestive Give it Pallas shoot the arrow labeled “Pallas” (i.e., Pallas Athene, also associated with virginity)
70 Taurus constellation of the bull
72 galled grazed Arles constellation of the ram
73 horns the signs of cuckoldry (i.e., having an unfaithful wife); Marcus imagines Aaron giving them to Saturninus
74 villain servant/doer of wicked deeds
77 there it goes a hunter’s cry of encouragement Clown a rustic/the actor who played low-comic parts
78 post messenger
81 gibbet-maker the Clown has misheard or misunderstood the word Jupiter taken them down i.e., taken down the gallows (because the execution has been postponed)
85 carrier messenger (the Clown responds to the literal sense of “bearer”)
89 press aspire
90 tribunal plebs malapropism for “tribuni plebis”—the tribunes in their capacity as magistrates protecting the plebeians in law take up amicably settle (a legal dispute; the pigeons are to serve as a peace offering)
91 emperial’s malapropism for “emperor’s”
92 oration petition
94 with a grace courteously, pleasingly, with propriety (the Clown understands “along with a prayer before meals”)
96 ado fuss
99 Hold stop, wait charges expenses
101 supplication written request
105 look for expect bravely in good style
106 let me alone leave it to me
4.4 Location: action continues, but shifting to interior of palace
2 overborne oppressed
3 for the extent in return for his exercising
5 mightful mighty
7 passed happened/been legally determined
8 even in accordance
11 wreaks acts of vengeance
18 blazoning proclaiming/displaying
19 humour whim, caprice
24 she i.e., justice
33 meanest lowest
35 High-witted clever, sharp gloze use fair, false words withal along with the rest
40 forsooth in truth
42 good e’en good evening (i.e., any time after noon)
45 must I am I to
47 By’r lady by Our Lady (i.e., the Virgin Mary) brought up raised (plays on the sense of “given utterance to a report or legal claim”) neck plays on the sense of “the laying of a charge at law” end i.e., death (plays on the sense of “completion of a legal case”)
50 device trick/plot
55 shape privilege create immunity from prosecution
56 slaughterman executioner
57 frantic mad holp’st helped
61 gathered head raised an army power army
62 bent…spoil determined on destruction
63 amain in full force/at full speed conduct leadership
66 Coriolanus Roman war hero who, having been exiled from Rome, joined forces with his former enemy to march against the city, events that are dramatized in Shakespeare’s Coriolanus
68 nip me cut off my growth/blight me with frost
73 walkèd…man i.e., gone among his citizens in disguise
74 wrongfully wrongfully done
79 thy name i.e., Saturninus, with its suggestion of Saturn, supposedly King of Rome in the golden age
81 suffers allows
82 is not careful does not care
84 stint stop
85 giddy fickle in allegiance/intoxicated with the thought of revolt
89 honey-stalks clover flowers, the overeating of which causes sheep to become bloated and die
91 rotted destroyed/corrupted by the rot, a disease that affects sheep
94 smooth flatter
99 parley peace negotiations during which hostilities are suspended
100 appoint arrange
103 stand in insist upon
105 effectually adequately, to the purpose
107 temper work on
111 successantly at once/one after the other
5.1 Location: somewhere near Rome Drum drummer
1 Approvèd tried and tested
5 as…witness as noble as your titles proclaim you to be
7 scathe harm
9 slip offspring (literally, a cutting from a plant)
13 bold confident
15 master in Shakespeare’s time, queen bees were assumed to be masculine
19 lusty vigorous
22 earnestly with sincere feeling
26 controlled calmed
27 tawny brown-skinned
28 bewray betray brat not necessarily contemptuous
33 rates berates, scolds
39 use…man deal with the man as you think necessary
42 pearl…eye proverbial: “a black man is a pearl in a fair woman’s eye”
43 fruit i.e., the baby
44 wall-eyed with glaring eyes
50 sire father
51 sprawl convulse in the throes of death
52 withal with, moreover
66 Complots conspiracies mischief wickedness
67 Ruthful…performed lamentable to hear about, yet done in order to excite pity
75 for because
77 popish i.e., deceptive, superstitious (Protestant term; anachronistic in this context)
80 bauble professional fool’s baton with a carved head at one end
86 discover reveal
89 luxurious lecherous, lascivious
91 To compared to
94 trimmed plays on the sense of “had sex with”
96 washed…trimmed i.e., like dead meat
97 Trim fine
100 codding lecherous (from “cod,” i.e., “testicle”)
101 As…set i.e., their mother’s lecherousness guaranteed theirs, as certain cards are guaranteed to win a game
102 bloody bloodthirsty
103 dog…head in bull- or bear-baiting, dogs were admired for attacking head-on
105 trained lured, as to a snare
109 Confederate in a conspiracy
112 cheater person who cheats/escheator (i.e., officer who looks after property forfeited to the crown)
115 pried me peered, spied
123 as…is “to blush like a black dog” was proverbial for having a brazen face
131 forswear myself swear falsely/break my word
147 presently instantly
159 for since
161 your hostages i.e., such hostages as you may require
5.2 Location: Rome (outside Titus’ house)
1 sad habiliment somber clothing
5 keeps dwells, remains (possibly playing on the sense of “watches/lies in wait”)
7 Tell I will tell
8 confusion ruin, overthrow Aloft or within he is either on the upper-stage or in the “discovery space”
10 ope open
11 sad decrees grave resolutions
14 bloody lines writing describing bloody deeds (but with the suggestion that the lines have been, metaphorically, written in his own blood)
15 executed plays on the sense of “killed”
17 grace adorn, augment/give plausibility to
18 Wanting…action lacking a hand to accompany my words with gestures
19 odds of advantage over
23 trenches i.e., wrinkles
24 heavy sorrowful/burdensome
32 wreakful vengeful
38 couch lie hidden
39 dreadful inspiring fear and dread
46 surance assurance, guarantee
49 globes planets (or a printer’s error for “globe”)
50 proper palfreys handsome horses
51 hale haul
52 murder i.e., murderers
53 car chariot
56 Hyperion the Greek sun god
57 downfall descent; perhaps an additional allusion to the story of Hyperion’s son Phaethon, who, attempting to drive the chariot of the sun, was unable to control the horses and crashed into the sea
59 So provided that Rapine Rape
63 of on
65 worldly mortal
70 closing agreeing (may play on the sense of “embracing”)
71 forge invent
76 sure securely
77 practice plot out of hand immediately/spontaneously
78 giddy unstable, excitable, inconstant
80 ply my theme work at my exercise
82 Fury avenging goddess
85 fitted fitted out
87 wags makes the slightest movement/goes anywhere (plays on the sense of sexual motion)
90 convenient fitting, suitable
93 deal with set to work upon (i.e., kill)
101 hap chance
106 proportion physical shape, appearance
107 up and down in every respect
115 solemn stately, ceremonial
124 repair make his way
136 but Lucius i.e., but that revenge which Lucius shall enact
139 governed…jest managed the exploit we planned
140 smooth…fair flatter and humor him
141 turn return
161 cry cry out
162 forbear stop
163 therefore precisely for that reason
170 spring i.e., Lavinia
180 martyr kill with great violence
187 paste usually, a mixture of flour and water
188 coffin pie crust (puns on the usual sense of the word)
189 pasties meat pies (baked without a dish)
190 strumpet whore, harlot unhallowed unholy, wicked
191 increase offspring
193 surfeit feed to excess/become sick from overeating
195 Progne Progne (or Procne), wife of Tereus, revenged his rape of her sister, Philomel, by killing her son Itys and serving him to his father in a pie
199 temper moisten
201 officious diligent in duties
203 Centaurs’ feast the wedding feast of Pirithous the Lapith and Hippodamia ended in a bloody battle between the Lapithae and the Centaurs (half-men, half-horses) when one of the Centaurs launched an attack on the women present by attempting to violate the bride
205 gainst before/in anticipation of the time when
5.3 Location: action continues; the scene then moves into the house
3 ours with thine i.e., our minds accord with yours
9 ambush men lying in wait to attack
17 firmament sky
18 boots profits, avails
19 break the parle open the negotiations
21 careful afflicted with care/considerate Hautboys oboelike instruments
28 cheer food/hospitality
33 beholding indebted
36 Virginius the centurion Virginius killed his daughter Virginia to prevent her being raped by Appius Claudius; in some versions of the story he killed her because she had been raped
41 Because so that
42 still continually
44 lively striking/living, active warrant authoritative witness/conclusive proof/sanction/document licensing execution
48 unkind cruel
52 outrage violent action
61 daintily with delicate attention to the palate
66 meed for meed measure for measure
71 mutual unified, mutually supporting
73 bane murderer/poison
75 forlorn outcast
77 frosty signs i.e., white hair chaps wrinkles/cracked skin
80 erst formerly/once ancestor i.e., Aeneas did
83 baleful deadly
84 subtle cunning Greeks…Troy i.e., by gaining entry through hiding in the wooden horse
85 Sinon the man who tricked the Trojans into accepting the horse
86 engine instrument of warfare (i.e., the Trojan horse)
88 compact composed
96 auditory assembly of listeners, audience
100 fell fierce, cruel
101 cozened cheated
102 fought…out fought to the end for Rome’s cause
104 unkindly unnaturally
112 advent’rous willing to incur risk
113 vaunter boaster
129 aught anything
131 poor…Andronici the few remaining members of the Andronicus family
133 ragged rough
149 give me aim stand by and observe (archery metaphor: the person who “gave aim” stood by the target and reported the results of the shots)
151 aloof aside
152 obsequious pertaining to obsequies, i.e., funeral rites trunk body, corpse
157 tenders offers (as one would discharge a financial obligation; also with connotations of tenderness)
165 Meet fitting
169 associate accompany
179 famish starve
182 doom sentence
195 heinous wicked
202 heavy haps sorrowful fortunes