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Translated Text |
| Source: Folger Shakespeare Library |
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Enter Emperor Saturninus and Empress Tamora
and her two sons Chiron and Demetrius, with
Attendants. The Emperor brings the arrows in his
hand that Titus shot at him. SATURNINUS
Why, lords, what wrongs are these! Was ever seen
An emperor in Rome thus overborne,
Troubled, confronted thus, and for the extent
Of equal justice, used in such contempt?
My lords, you know, as know the mightful gods, 5
However these disturbers of our peace
Buzz in the people’s ears, there naught hath passed
But even with law against the willful sons
Of old Andronicus. And what an if
His sorrows have so overwhelmed his wits? 10
Shall we be thus afflicted in his wreaks,
His fits, his frenzy, and his bitterness?
And now he writes to heaven for his redress!
See, here’s “to Jove,” and this “to Mercury,”
This “to Apollo,” this to the god of war. 15
Sweet scrolls to fly about the streets of Rome!
What’s this but libeling against the Senate
And blazoning our unjustice everywhere?
A goodly humor is it not, my lords?
As who would say, in Rome no justice were. 20
But if I live, his feignèd ecstasies
Shall be no shelter to these outrages,
But he and his shall know that justice lives
In Saturninus’ health, whom, if he sleep,
He’ll so awake as he in fury shall 25
Cut off the proud’st conspirator that lives. | At the palace, Saturninus complains to Tamora, Demetrius, and Chiron about Titus shooting arrows at him. Saturninus is not amused by this stunt and believes Titus is just pretending to be a madman. The old man better watch out, because Saturninus isn't buying into his crazy act.
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TAMORA
My gracious lord, my lovely Saturnine,
Lord of my life, commander of my thoughts,
Calm thee, and bear the faults of Titus’ age,
Th’ effects of sorrow for his valiant sons, 30
Whose loss hath pierced him deep and scarred his
heart,
And rather comfort his distressèd plight
Than prosecute the meanest or the best
For these contempts. (Aside.) Why, thus it shall 35
become
High-witted Tamora to gloze with all.
But, Titus, I have touched thee to the quick.
Thy lifeblood out, if Aaron now be wise,
Then is all safe, the anchor in the port. 40 | Tamora steps in and smoothes Saturninus's ruffled feathers, saying that Titus's grief and old age really have made him crazy. Then she whispers to the audience that everything is going according to her deliciously evil plan.
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Enter Country Fellow. TAMORA
How now, good fellow, wouldst thou speak with us? COUNTRY FELLOW Yea, forsooth, an your Mistresship be
emperial. TAMORA
Empress I am, but yonder sits the Emperor. COUNTRY FELLOW ’Tis he!—God and Saint Stephen 45
give you good e’en. I have brought you a letter and
a couple of pigeons here. | The Clown enters and offers up the basket of pigeons and Titus's letter.
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Saturninus reads the letter. SATURNINUS
Go, take him away, and hang him presently. COUNTRY FELLOW How much money must I have? TAMORA Come, sirrah, you must be hanged. 50 COUNTRY FELLOW Hanged! By ’r Lady, then I have
brought up a neck to a fair end. He exits with Attendants. | Saturninus reads the letter and then immediately sentences the Clown to death by hanging. (We're not sure what the letter says, but it must have been pretty insulting.)
The Clown, who has no idea what's going, stands around waiting to be tipped for his efforts.
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SATURNINUS
Despiteful and intolerable wrongs!
Shall I endure this monstrous villainy?
I know from whence this same device proceeds. 55
May this be borne?—as if his traitorous sons,
That died by law for murder of our brother,
Have by my means been butchered wrongfully!
Go, drag the villain hither by the hair.
Nor age nor honor shall shape privilege. 60
For this proud mock, I’ll be thy slaughterman,
Sly, frantic wretch, that holp’st to make me great
In hope thyself should govern Rome and me. | Saturninus orders his men to fetch Titus, who is totally going to pay for whatever it was that he wrote in the letter.
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Enter nuntius, Aemilius. SATURNINUS What news with thee, Aemilius? AEMILIUS
Arm, my lords! Rome never had more cause. 65
The Goths have gathered head, and with a power
Of high-resolvèd men bent to the spoil,
They hither march amain under conduct
Of Lucius, son to old Andronicus,
Who threats, in course of this revenge, to do 70
As much as ever Coriolanus did. | Aemilius enters and announces that Lucius has amassed an army of Goths and they're getting ready to attack.
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SATURNINUS
Is warlike Lucius general of the Goths?
These tidings nip me, and I hang the head
As flowers with frost or grass beat down with storms.
Ay, now begins our sorrows to approach. 75
’Tis he the common people love so much.
Myself hath often heard them say,
When I have walkèd like a private man,
That Lucius’ banishment was wrongfully,
And they have wished that Lucius were their emperor. 80 TAMORA
Why should you fear? Is not your city strong? SATURNINUS
Ay, but the citizens favor Lucius
And will revolt from me to succor him. | Saturninus decides that this could be bad. There's a huge army coming after him, and it also seems like his people love Lucius more than him – everyone wants Lucius to be the emperor. Saturninus apparently knows this because, in his spare time, he disguises himself as a commoner and walks the streets of Rome so he can keep tabs on what everyone is saying about him.
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TAMORA
King, be thy thoughts imperious like thy name.
Is the sun dimmed that gnats do fly in it? 85
The eagle suffers little birds to sing
And is not careful what they mean thereby,
Knowing that with the shadow of his wings
He can at pleasure stint their melody.
Even so mayst thou the giddy men of Rome. 90
Then cheer thy spirit, for know, thou emperor,
I will enchant the old Andronicus
With words more sweet and yet more dangerous
Than baits to fish or honey-stalks to sheep,
Whenas the one is wounded with the bait, 95
The other rotted with delicious feed. SATURNINUS
But he will not entreat his son for us. TAMORA
If Tamora entreat him, then he will,
For I can smooth and fill his agèd ears
With golden promises, that were his heart 100
Almost impregnable, his old ears deaf,
Yet should both ear and heart obey my tongue.
To Aemilius. Go thou before to be our ambassador.
Say that the Emperor requests a parley
Of warlike Lucius, and appoint the meeting 105
Even at his father’s house, the old Andronicus. SATURNINUS
Aemilius, do this message honorably,
And if he stand in hostage for his safety,
Bid him demand what pledge will please him best. AEMILIUS
Your bidding shall I do effectually. 110
He exits. TAMORA
Now will I to that old Andronicus
And temper him with all the art I have
To pluck proud Lucius from the warlike Goths.
And now, sweet emperor, be blithe again,
And bury all thy fear in my devices. 115 SATURNINUS
Then go successantly, and plead to him.
They exit. | Tamora tells Saturninus not to worry—she's going to pay Titus a visit and convince the crazy old guy to stop badmouthing Saturninus. |