Author: Liam Harris

On a street in Rome, a group of judges, tribunes, and senators troop along with the prisoners, Martius and Quintus, who have been framed for Bassianus’s murder.Titus confronts them and plays the “I’m a war hero” card, pleading for mercy on behalf of his so Titus lies down on the ground in protest of his sons’ imprisonment, but the judges just walk past him.

Alone in front of the Senate-house, Aaron delivers a soliloquy (a long speech that reveals a character’s innermost thoughts to the audience) about Tamora’s rise to power in Rome. Since Tamora and Aaron are longtime secret lovers, Aaron is hoping to benefit from Tamora’s new status as Rome’s imperial first lady. Aaron also brags that, since Tamora is basically his love slave, he’ll soon be in a position to destroy Rome. (Aaron never really explains why he wants to do this.)

LAVINIA

In peace and honour live Lord Titus long;

My noble lord and father, live in fame!

Lo, at this tomb my tributary tears

I render, for my brethren’s obsequies;

And at thy feet I kneel, with tears of joy,

Shed on the earth, for thy return to Rome:

O, bless me here with thy victorious hand,

Whose fortunes Rome’s best citizens applaud!

TITUS ANDRONICUS

Kind Rome, that hast thus lovingly reserved

The cordial of mine age to glad my heart!

Lavinia, live; outlive thy father’s days,

And fame’s eternal date, for virtue’s praise!

[Enter, below, MARCUS ANDRONICUS and Tribunes; re-enter SATURNINUS and BASSIANUS, attended]

MARCUS ANDRONICUS

Long live Lord Titus, my beloved brother,

Gracious triumpher in the eyes of Rome!

TITUS ANDRONICUS

Thanks, gentle tribune, noble brother Marcus.

MARCUS ANDRONICUS

And welcome, nephews, from successful wars,

You that survive, and you that sleep in fame!

Fair lords, your fortunes are alike in all,

That in your country’s service drew your swords:

But safer triumph is this funeral pomp,

That hath aspired to Solon’s happiness

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;

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.

TITUS ANDRONICUS

A better head her glorious body fits

Than his that shakes for age and feebleness:

What should I don this robe, and trouble you?

Be chosen with proclamations to-day,

To-morrow yield up rule, resign my life,

And set abroad new business for you all?

Rome, I have been thy soldier forty years,

And led my country’s strength successfully,

And buried one and twenty valiant sons,

Knighted in field, slain manfully in arms,

In right and service of their noble country

Give me a staff of honour for mine age,

But not a sceptre to control the world:

Upright he held it, lords, that held it last.

MARCUS ANDRONICUS

Titus, thou shalt obtain and ask the empery.

SATURNINUS

Proud and ambitious tribune, canst thou tell?

TITUS ANDRONICUS

Patience, Prince Saturninus.

SATURNINUS

Romans, do me right:

Patricians, draw your swords: and sheathe them not

Till Saturninus be Rome’s emperor.

Andronicus, would thou wert shipp’d to hell,

Rather than rob me of the people’s hearts!

LUCIUS

Proud Saturnine, interrupter of the good

That noble-minded Titus means to thee!

TITUS ANDRONICUS

Content thee, prince; I will restore to thee

The people’s hearts, and wean them from themselves.

BASSIANUS

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.

TITUS ANDRONICUS

People of Rome, and people’s tribunes here,

I ask your voices and your suffrages:

Will you bestow them friendly on Andronicus?

Tribunes

To gratify the good Andronicus,

And gratulate his safe return to Rome,

The people will accept whom he admits.

TITUS ANDRONICUS

Tribunes, I thank you: and this suit I make,

That you create your emperor’s eldest son,

Lord Saturnine; whose virtues will, I hope,

Reflect on Rome as Titan’s rays on earth,

And ripen justice in this commonweal:

Then, if you will elect by my advice,

Crown him and say ‘Long live our emperor!’

MARCUS ANDRONICUS

With voices and applause of every sort,

Patricians and plebeians, we create

Lord Saturninus Rome’s great emperor,

And say ‘Long live our Emperor Saturnine!’

[A long flourish till they come down]

lavinia
in peace and honour live lord titus long;

lavinia
in peace and honour live lord titus long;
my noble lord and father, live in fame!
lo, at this tomb my tributary tears
i render, for my brethren’s obsequies;
and at your feet i kneel, with tears of joy,
shed on the earth, for your return to rome:
o, bless me here with your victorious hand,
whose fortunes rome’s best citizens applaud!
titus andronicus
kind rome, that have thus lovingly reserved
the cordial of my age to glad my heart!
lavinia, live; outlive your father’s days,
and fame’s eternal date, for virtue’s praise!
[enter, below, marcus andronicus and tribunes; re-enter saturninus and bassianus, attended]

marcus andronicus
long live lord titus, my beloved brother,
gracious triumpher in the eyes of rome!

titus andronicus
thanks, noble tribune, noble brother marcus. marcus andronicus
and welcome, nephews, from successful wars,
you that survive, and you that sleep in fame!
fair lords, your fortunes are alike in all,
that in your country’s service drew your swords:
but safer triumph is this funeral pomp,
that has aspired to solon’s happiness
and triumphs over chance in honour’s bed. titus andronicus, the people of rome,
whose friend in justice you have ever been,
send you by me, their tribune and their trust,
this palliament of white and spotless hue;
and name you 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. titus andronicus
a better head her glorious body fits
than his that shakes for age and feebleness:
what should i don this robe, and trouble you?
be chosen with proclamations to-day,
to-morrow yield up rule, resign my life,
and set abroad new business for you all?
rome, i have been your 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
give me a staff of honour for my age,
but not a sceptre to control the world:
upright he held it, lords, that held it last. marcus andronicus
titus, you shalt obtain and ask the empery. saturninus
proud and ambitious tribune, canst you tell?

titus andronicus
patience, prince saturninus. saturninus
romans, do me right:
patricians, draw your swords: and sheathe them not
till saturninus be rome’s emperor. andronicus, would you wert shipped to hell,
rather than rob me of the people’s hearts!

lucius
proud saturnine, interrupter of the good
that noble-minded titus means to you!

titus andronicus
content you, prince; i will restore to thee
the people’s hearts, and wean them from themselves. bassianus
andronicus, i do not flatter you,
but honour you, and will do till i die:
my faction if you strengthen with your friends,
i will most thankful be; and thanks to men
of noble minds is honourable meed. titus andronicus
people of rome, and people’s tribunes here,
i ask your voices and your suffrages:
will you bestow them friendly on andronicus?

tribunes
to gratify the good andronicus,
and gratulate his safe return to rome,
the people will accept whom he admits. titus andronicus
tribunes, i thank you: and this wooing i make,
that you create your emperor’s eldest son,
lord saturnine; whose virtues will, i hope,
reflect on rome as titan’s rays on earth,
and ripen justice in this commonweal:
then, if you will elect by my advice,
crown him and say ‘long live our emperor!’

marcus andronicus

with voices and applause of every sort,
patricians and plebeians, we create
lord saturninus rome’s great emperor,
and say ‘long live our emperor saturnine!’

[a long flourish till they come down]
my noble lord and father, live in fame!
lo, at this tomb my tributary tears
i render, for my brethren’s obsequies;
and at your feet i kneel, with tears of joy,
shed on the earth, for your return to rome:
o, bless me here with your victorious hand,
whose fortunes rome’s best citizens applaud!
titus andronicus
kind rome, that have thus lovingly reserved
the cordial of my age to glad my heart!
lavinia, live; outlive your father’s days,
and fame’s forever date, for virtue’s praise!
[enter, below, marcus andronicus and tribunes; re-enter saturninus and bassianus, attended]

marcus andronicus
long live lord titus, my beloved brother,
gracious triumpher in the eyes of rome!

titus andronicus
thanks, noble tribune, noble brother marcus. marcus andronicus
and welcome, nephews, from successful wars,
you that survive, and you that sleep in fame!
fair lords, your fortunes are alike in all,
that in your country’s service drew your swords:
but safer triumph is this funeral pomp,
that has aspired to solon’s happiness
and triumphs over chance in honour’s bed. titus andronicus, the people of rome,
whose friend in justice you have ever been,
send you by me, their tribune and their trust,
this palliament of white and spotless hue;
and name you 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. titus andronicus
a better head her glorious body fits
than his that shakes for age and feebleness:
what should i don this robe, and trouble you?
be chosen with proclamations to-day,
to-morrow yield up rule, resign my life,
and set abroad new business for you all?
rome, i have been your 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
give me a staff of honour for my age,
but not a sceptre to control the world:
upright he held it, lords, that held it last. marcus andronicus
titus, you shalt obtain and ask the empery. saturninus
proud and ambitious tribune, canst you tell?

titus andronicus
patience, prince saturninus. saturninus
romans, do me right:
patricians, draw your swords: and sheathe them not
till saturninus be rome’s emperor. andronicus, would you wert shipped to hell,
rather than rob me of the people’s hearts!

lucius
proud saturnine, interrupter of the good
that noble-minded titus means to you!

titus andronicus
content you, prince; i will restore to thee
the people’s hearts, and wean them from themselves. bassianus
andronicus, i do not flatter you,
but honour you, and will do till i die:
my faction if you strengthen with your friends,
i will most thankful be; and thanks to men
of noble minds is honourable meed. titus andronicus
people of rome, and people’s tribunes here,
i ask your voices and your suffrages:
will you bestow them friendly on andronicus?

tribunes
to gratify the good andronicus,
and gratulate his safe return to rome,
the people will accept whom he admits. titus andronicus
tribunes, i thank you: and this wooing i make,
that you create your emperor’s eldest son,
lord saturnine; whose virtues will, i hope,
reflect on rome as titan’s rays on earth,
and ripen justice in this commonweal:
then, if you will elect by my advice,
crown him and say ‘long live our emperor!’

marcus andronicus

with voices and clapping of every sort,
patricians and , we create
lord saturninus rome’s great emperor,
and say ‘long live our emperor saturnine!’

[a long flourish till they come down]