First folio
| Modern text
| Definitions
| Key line
| |
Flourish. Enter Aaron alone. | Aaron is alone on stage | | Tit II.i.1.1 | |
Aron. | AARON | | | |
Now climbeth Tamora Olympus toppe, | Now climbeth Tamora Olympus' top, | Olympus (n.)mountainous region of N Greece; the home of the gods | Tit II.i.1 | |
Safe out of Fortunes shot, and sits aloft, | Safe out of fortune's shot, and sits aloft, | | Tit II.i.2 | |
Secure of Thunders cracke or lightning flash, | Secure of thunder's crack or lightning flash, | secure (adj.)free [from], safe [from], untouched [by] | Tit II.i.3 | |
Aduanc'd about pale enuies threatning reach: | Advanced above pale envy's threat'ning reach. | advance (v.)raise, lift up, upraise | Tit II.i.4 | |
As when the golden Sunne salutes the morne, | As when the golden sun salutes the morn | morn (n.)morning, dawn | Tit II.i.5 | |
| | salute (v.)approach, greet, make contact with | | |
And hauing gilt the Ocean with his beames, | And, having gilt the ocean with his beams, | | Tit II.i.6 | |
Gallops the Zodiacke in his glistering Coach, | Gallops the zodiac in his glistering coach | glistering (adj.)glittering, shining, sparkling | Tit II.i.7 | |
| | zodiac (n.)belt of the celestial sphere within which the sun, moon, and planets appear to move, divided into twelve equal domains [signs] named after constellations | | |
And ouer-lookes the highest piering hills: | And overlooks the highest-peering hills, | overlook (v.)rise above, look down on | Tit II.i.8 | |
So Tamora | So Tamora. | | Tit II.i.9 | |
Vpon her wit doth earthly honour waite, | Upon her wit doth earthly honour wait, | wit (n.)intelligence, wisdom, good sense, mental ability | Tit II.i.10 | |
And vertue stoopes and trembles at her frowne. | And virtue stoops and trembles at her frown. | | Tit II.i.11 | |
Then Aaron arme thy hart, and fit thy thoughts, | Then, Aaron, arm thy heart and fit thy thoughts | | Tit II.i.12 | |
To mount aloft with thy Emperiall Mistris, | To mount aloft with thy imperial mistress, | mount (v.)ascend, rise up, climb | Tit II.i.13 | |
And mount her pitch, whom thou in ttiumph long | And mount her pitch, whom thou in triumph long | pitch (n.)height [to which a bird of prey soars before swooping] | Tit II.i.14 | |
Hast prisoner held, fettred in amorous chaines, | Hast prisoner held, fettered in amorous chains, | | Tit II.i.15 | |
And faster bound to Aarons charming eyes, | And faster bound to Aaron's charming eyes | charming (adj.)acting as charms, exercising magic power | Tit II.i.16 | |
Then is Prometheus ti'de to Caucasus. | Than is Prometheus tied to Caucasus. | Prometheus (n.)one of the Titan gods, who stole fire from heaven to help mankind, and was punished by being chained to a rock | Tit II.i.17 | |
Away with slauish weedes, and idle thoughts, | Away with slavish weeds and servile thoughts! | weed (n.)(plural) garments, dress, clothes | Tit II.i.18 | |
I will be bright and shine in Pearle and Gold, | I will be bright and shine in pearl and gold | | Tit II.i.19 | |
To waite vpon this new made Empresse. | To wait upon this new-made Empress. | | Tit II.i.20 | |
To waite said I? To wanton with this Queene, | ‘ To wait ’ said I? – to wanton with this queen, | wanton (v.)play, sport, frolic | Tit II.i.21 | |
This Goddesse, this Semerimis, this Queene, | This goddess, this Semiramis, this nymph, | Semiramis (n.)[pron: se'miramis] semi-legendary Assyrian queen renowned for promiscuity, 9th-c BC | Tit II.i.22 | |
This Syren, that will charme Romes Saturnine, | This siren that will charm Rome's Saturnine, | Siren (n.)sea demon of Greek mythology, half bird, half woman, whose music lured sailors to destruction on the rocky shores of her island | Tit II.i.23 | |
And see his shipwracke, and his Commonweales. | And see his shipwreck and his commonweal's. | commonweal, commonwealth (n.)state, nation, community, body politic | Tit II.i.24 | |
Hollo, what storme is this? | Hollo, what storm is this? | | Tit II.i.25 | |
Enter Chiron and Demetrius brauing. | Enter Chiron and Demetrius braving | brave (v.)swagger, act boastfully, show off | Tit II.i.26.1 | |
Dem. | DEMETRIUS | | | |
Chiron thy yeres wants wit, thy wit wants edge | Chiron, thy years want wit, thy wit wants edge | wit (n.)intelligence, wisdom, good sense, mental ability | Tit II.i.26 | |
| | want (v.)lack, need, be without | | |
| | edge (n.)sharpness, keenness | | |
And manners to intru'd where I am grac'd, | And manners to intrude where I am graced, | grace (v.)favour, add merit to, do honour to | Tit II.i.27 | |
And may for ought thou know'st affected be. | And may, for aught thou knowest, affected be. | aught (n.)anything, [with negative word] nothing | Tit II.i.28 | |
| | affect (v.)love, like, be fond of | | |
Chi. | CHIRON | | | |
Demetrius, thou doo'st ouer-weene in all, | Demetrius, thou dost overween in all, | overween (v.)presume too much, go too far | Tit II.i.29 | |
And so in this, to beare me downe with braues, | And so in this, to bear me down with braves. | bear down (v.)overwhelm, put down, overcome | Tit II.i.30 | |
| | brave (n.)boast, bravado, blustering threat | | |
'Tis not the difference of a yeere or two | 'Tis not the difference of a year or two | | Tit II.i.31 | |
Makes me lesse gracious, or thee more fortunate: | Makes me less gracious, or thee more fortunate: | | Tit II.i.32 | |
I am as able, and as fit, as thou, | I am as able and as fit as thou | | Tit II.i.33 | |
To serue, and to deserue my Mistris grace, | To serve and to deserve my mistress' grace, | | Tit II.i.34 | |
And that my sword vpon thee shall approue, | And that my sword upon thee shall approve, | approve (v.)prove, confirm, corroborate, substantiate | Tit II.i.35 | |
And plead my passions for Lauinia's loue. | And plead my passions for Lavinia's love. | | Tit II.i.36 | |
Aron. | AARON | | | |
| (aside) | | Tit II.i.37.1 | |
Clubs, clubs, these louers will not keep the peace. | Clubs, clubs! These lovers will not keep the peace. | clubs (int.)cry calling apprentices to rally round in a fight | Tit II.i.37 | |
Dem. | DEMETRIUS | | | |
Why Boy, although our mother (vnaduised) | Why, boy, although our mother, unadvised, | unadvised (adj.)rash, foolhardy, thoughtless, unconsidered | Tit II.i.38 | |
Gaue you a daunsing Rapier by your side, | Gave you a dancing-rapier by your side, | dancing-rapier (n.)ornamental sword worn in dancing | Tit II.i.39 | |
Are you so desperate growne to threat your friends? | Are you so desperate grown to threat your friends? | threat (v.)threaten | Tit II.i.40 | |
| | friend (n.)relative, relation, kinsman | | |
Goe too: haue your Lath glued within your sheath, | Go to, have your lath glued within your sheath | lath (n.)toy sword, stage weapon | Tit II.i.41 | |
Till you know better how to handle it. | Till you know better how to handle it. | | Tit II.i.42 | |
Chi. | CHIRON | | | |
Meanewhile sir, with the little skill I haue, | Meanwhile, sir, with the little skill I have, | | Tit II.i.43 | |
Full well shalt thou perceiue how much I dare. | Full well shalt thou perceive how much I dare. | | Tit II.i.44 | |
Deme. | DEMETRIUS | | | |
I Boy, grow ye so braue? | Ay, boy, grow ye so brave? | brave (adj.)defiant, insolent, impudent | Tit II.i.45.1 | |
They drawe. | They draw | | Tit II.i.45 | |
Aron. | AARON | | | |
Why how now Lords? | Why, how now, lords? | | Tit II.i.45.2 | |
So nere the Emperours Pallace dare you draw, | So near the Emperor's palace dare ye draw, | | Tit II.i.46 | |
And maintaine such a quarrell openly? | And maintain such a quarrel openly? | | Tit II.i.47 | |
Full well I wote, the ground of all this grudge. | Full well I wot the ground of all this grudge. | wot (v.)learn, know, be told | Tit II.i.48 | |
I would not for a million of Gold, | I would not for a million of gold | | Tit II.i.49 | |
The cause were knowne to them it most concernes. | The cause were known to them it most concerns, | | Tit II.i.50 | |
Nor would your noble mother for much more | Nor would your noble mother for much more | | Tit II.i.51 | |
Be so dishonored in the Court of Rome: | Be so dishonoured in the court of Rome. | | Tit II.i.52 | |
For shame put vp. | For shame, put up! | put up (v.)sheathe, put away | Tit II.i.53.1 | |
Deme. | DEMETRIUS | | | |
Not I, till I haue sheath'd | Not I, till I have sheathed | | Tit II.i.53.2 | |
My rapier in his bosome, and withall | My rapier in his bosom, and withal | rapier (n.)light sharp-pointed sword used for thrusting | Tit II.i.54 | |
Thrust these reprochfull speeches downe his throat, | Thrust those reproachful speeches down his throat, | | Tit II.i.55 | |
That he hath breath'd in my dishonour heere. | That he hath breathed in my dishonour here. | | Tit II.i.56 | |
Chi. | CHIRON | | | |
For that I am prepar'd, and full resolu'd, | For that I am prepared and full resolved, | | Tit II.i.57 | |
Foule spoken Coward, / That thundrest with thy tongue, | Foul-spoken coward, that thund'rest with thy tongue | | Tit II.i.58 | |
And with thy weapon nothing dar'st performe. | And with thy weapon nothing dar'st perform. | | Tit II.i.59 | |
Aron. | AARON | | | |
Away I say. | Away, I say! | | Tit II.i.60 | |
Now by the Gods that warlike Gothes adore, | Now, by the gods that warlike Goths adore, | | Tit II.i.61 | |
This pretty brabble will vndoo vs all: | This petty brabble will undo us all. | undo (v.)ruin, destroy, wipe out | Tit II.i.62 | |
| | brabble (n.)brawl, noisy quarrel, fracas | | |
Why Lords, and thinke you not how dangerous | Why, lords, and think you not how dangerous | | Tit II.i.63 | |
It is to set vpon a Princes right? | It is to jet upon a prince's right? | jet upon (v.)encroach on, usurp, trespass upon | Tit II.i.64 | |
What is Lauinia then become so loose, | What, is Lavinia then become so loose, | | Tit II.i.65 | |
Or Bassianus so degenerate, | Or Bassianus so degenerate, | | Tit II.i.66 | |
That for her loue such quarrels may be broacht, | That for her love such quarrels may be broached | | Tit II.i.67 | |
Without controulement, Iustice, or reuenge? | Without controlment, justice, or revenge? | controlment (n.)control, restraint, check | Tit II.i.68 | |
Young Lords beware, and should the Empresse know, | Young lords, beware; and should the Empress know | | Tit II.i.69 | |
This discord ground, the musicke would not please. | This discord's ground, the music would not please. | ground (n.)reason, cause, source | Tit II.i.70 | |
Chi. | CHIRON | | | |
I care not I, knew she and all the world, | I care not, I, knew she and all the world: | | Tit II.i.71 | |
I loue Lauinia more then all the world. | I love Lavinia more than all the world. | | Tit II.i.72 | |
Demet. | DEMETRIUS | | | |
Youngling, / Learne thou to make some meaner choise, | Youngling, learn thou to make some meaner choice: | mean (adj.)of low rank, inferior in position, less important | Tit II.i.73 | |
| | youngling (n.)stripling, youngster, beginner | | |
Lauinia is thine elder brothers hope. | Lavinia is thine elder brother's hope. | | Tit II.i.74 | |
Aron. | AARON | | | |
Why are ye mad? Or know ye not in Rome, | Why, are ye mad? Or know ye not in Rome | | Tit II.i.75 | |
How furious and impatient they be, | How furious and impatient they be, | | Tit II.i.76 | |
And cannot brooke Competitors in loue? | And cannot brook competitors in love? | brook (v.)endure, tolerate, put up with | Tit II.i.77 | |
I tell you Lords, you doe but plot your deaths, | I tell you, lords, you do but plot your deaths | | Tit II.i.78 | |
By this deuise. | By this device. | device (n.)way of thinking, inclination, fancy | Tit II.i.79.1 | |
Chi. | CHIRON | | | |
Aaron, a thousand deaths | Aaron, a thousand deaths | | Tit II.i.79.2 | |
would I propose, / To atchieue her whom I do loue. | Would I propose to achieve her whom I love. | propose (v.)face, confront, be ready to meet | Tit II.i.80 | |
Aron. | AARON | | | |
To atcheiue her, how? | To achieve her how? | | Tit II.i.81.1 | |
Deme. | DEMETRIUS | | | |
Why, mak'st thou it so strange? | Why makes thou it so strange? | make (v.)consider, regard, treat [as] | Tit II.i.81.2 | |
Shee is a woman, therefore may be woo'd, | She is a woman, therefore may be wooed; | | Tit II.i.82 | |
Shee is a woman, therfore may be wonne, | She is a woman, therefore may be won; | | Tit II.i.83 | |
Shee is Lauinia therefore must be lou'd. | She is Lavinia, therefore must be loved. | | Tit II.i.84 | |
What man, more water glideth by the Mill | What, man, more water glideth by the mill | | Tit II.i.85 | |
Then wots the Miller of, and easie it is | Than wots the miller of, and easy it is | wot (v.)learn, know, be told | Tit II.i.86 | |
Of a cut loafe to steale a shiue we know: | Of a cut loaf to steal a shive, we know. | shive (n.)slice | Tit II.i.87 | |
Though Bassianus be the Emperours brother, | Though Bassianus be the Emperor's brother, | | Tit II.i.88 | |
Better then he haue worne Vulcans badge. | Better than he have worn Vulcan's badge. | Vulcan (n.)Roman god of fire, and the gods' blacksmith; his forge was under Mt Etna, and thus associated with destruction and hell | Tit II.i.89 | |
Aron, | AARON | | | |
| (aside) | | Tit II.i.90 | |
I, and as good as Saturnius may. | Ay, and as good as Saturninus may. | | Tit II.i.90 | |
Deme. | DEMETRIUS | | | |
Then why should he dispaire that knowes to court it | Then why should he despair that knows to court it | court (v.)pay court, play the suitor [to] | Tit II.i.91 | |
With words, faire lookes, and liberality: | With words, fair looks, and liberality? | | Tit II.i.92 | |
What hast not thou full often strucke a Doe, | What, hast not thou full often struck a doe | | Tit II.i.93 | |
And borne her cleanly by the Keepers nose? | And borne her cleanly by the keeper's nose? | cleanly (adv.)deftly, cleverly, skilfully | Tit II.i.94 | |
Aron. | AARON | | | |
Why then it seemes some certaine snatch or so | Why then, it seems some certain snatch or so | snatch (n.)hasty grab, quick theft | Tit II.i.95 | |
Would serue your turnes. | Would serve your turns. | | Tit II.i.96.1 | |
Chi. | CHIRON | | | |
I so the turne were serued. | Ay, so the turn were served. | | Tit II.i.96.2 | |
Deme. | DEMETRIUS | | | |
Aaron thou hast hit it. | Aaron, thou hast hit it. | | Tit II.i.97.1 | |
Aron. | AARON | | | |
Would you had hit it too, | Would you had hit it too, | | Tit II.i.97.2 | |
Then should not we be tir'd with this adoo: | Then should not we be tired with this ado. | ado (n.)fuss, business, to-do | Tit II.i.98 | |
Why harke yee, harke yee, audare you such fooles, | Why, hark ye, hark ye, and are you such fools | | Tit II.i.99 | |
To square for this? Would it offend you then? | To square for this? Would it offend you then | square (v.)quarrel, fall out, disagree | Tit II.i.100 | |
| That both should speed? | speed (v.)meet with success, prosper, flourish | Tit II.i.101 | |
Chi. | CHIRON | | | |
Faith not me. | Faith, not me. | | Tit II.i.101.1 | |
Deme. | DEMETRIUS | | | |
Nor me, so I were one. | Nor me, so I were one. | | Tit II.i.102.2 | |
Aron. | AARON | | | |
For shame be friends, & ioyne for that you iar: | For shame, be friends, and join for that you jar. | jar (v.)quarrel, wrangle, disagree [over] | Tit II.i.103 | |
'Tis pollicie, and stratageme must doe | 'Tis policy and stratagem must do | policy (n.)stratagem, cunning, intrigue, craft | Tit II.i.104 | |
That you affect, and so must you resolue, | That you affect, and so must you resolve | resolve (v.)decide, make up one's mind | Tit II.i.105 | |
| | affect (v.)incline to, like, favour, be drawn to | | |
That what you cannot as you would atcheiue, | That what you cannot as you would achieve, | | Tit II.i.106 | |
You must perforce accomplish as you may: | You must perforce accomplish as you may. | perforce (adv.)of necessity, with no choice in the matter | Tit II.i.107 | |
Take this of me, Lucrece was not more chast | Take this of me: Lucrece was not more chaste | Lucrece, Lucretia (n.)[lu'krees] legendary Roman heroine, 6th-c BC, who killed herself after being raped by Tarquin | Tit II.i.108 | |
Then this Lauinia, Bassianus loue, | Than this Lavinia, Bassianus' love. | | Tit II.i.109 | |
A speedier course this lingring languishment | A speedier course than ling'ring languishment | languishment (n.)longing, pain, grief [caused by love] | Tit II.i.110 | |
| | course (n.)course of action, way of proceeding | | |
Must we pursue, and I haue found the path: | Must we pursue, and I have found the path. | | Tit II.i.111 | |
My Lords, a solemne hunting is in hand. | My lords, a solemn hunting is in hand; | solemn (adj.)formal, ceremonious, stately | Tit II.i.112 | |
There will the louely Roman Ladies troope: | There will the lovely Roman ladies troop. | | Tit II.i.113 | |
The Forrest walkes are wide and spacious, | The forest walks are wide and spacious, | walk (n.)garden path, walkway | Tit II.i.114 | |
And many vnfrequented plots there are, | And many unfrequented plots there are, | plot (n.)place, spot | Tit II.i.115 | |
Fitted by kinde for rape and villanie: | Fitted by kind for rape and villainy. | kind (n.)nature, reality, character, disposition | Tit II.i.116 | |
Single you thither then this dainty Doe, | Single you thither then this dainty doe, | dainty (adj.)delicately pretty, of tender beauty | Tit II.i.117 | |
| | single (v.)[hunting] single out, pick out | | |
And strike her home by force, if not by words: | And strike her home by force, if not by words. | strike (v.)[hunting, of a prey] thrust, stab, pierce | Tit II.i.118 | |
| | home (adv.)fully, thoroughly, unsparingly | | |
This way or not at all, stand you in hope. | This way, or not at all, stand you in hope. | | Tit II.i.119 | |
Come, come, our Empresse with her sacred wit | Come, come; our Empress with her sacred wit | wit (n.)intelligence, wisdom, good sense, mental ability | Tit II.i.120 | |
| | sacred (adj.)accursed, blasphemous | | |
To villainie and vengance consecrate, | To villainy and vengeance consecrate, | | Tit II.i.121 | |
Will we acquaint with all that we intend, | Will we acquaint with all that we intend, | | Tit II.i.122 | |
And she shall file our engines with aduise, | And she shall file our engines with advice | engine (n.)plot, device, means, instrument | Tit II.i.123 | |
| | file (v.)polish, hone, refine | | |
That will not suffer you to square yourselues, | That will not suffer you to square yourselves, | suffer (v.)allow, permit, let | Tit II.i.124 | |
| | square (v.)quarrel, fall out, disagree | | |
But to your wishes height aduance you both. | But to your wishes' height advance you both. | advance (v.)raise, lift up, upraise | Tit II.i.125 | |
The Emperours Court is like the house of Fame, | The Emperor's court is like the house of fame, | | Tit II.i.126 | |
The pallace full of tongues, of eyes, of eares: | The palace full of tongues, of eyes, and ears; | | Tit II.i.127 | |
The Woods are ruthlesse, dreadfull, deafe, and dull: | The woods are ruthless, dreadful, deaf, and dull. | dull (adj.)gloomy, melancholic, sullen | Tit II.i.128 | |
There speake, and strike braue Boyes, & take your turnes. | There speak and strike, brave boys, and take your turns; | brave (adj.)audacious, daring, bold | Tit II.i.129 | |
There serue your lusts, shadow'd from heauens eye, | There serve your lust, shadowed from heaven's eye, | shadow (v.)conceal, hide, screen from view | Tit II.i.130 | |
And reuell in Lauinia's Treasurie. | And revel in Lavinia's treasury. | | Tit II.i.131 | |
Chi. | CHIRON | | | |
Thy counsell Lad smells of no cowardise. | Thy counsel, lad, smells of no cowardice. | | Tit II.i.132 | |
Deme. | DEMETRIUS | | | |
Sij fas aut nefas, till I finde the streames, | Sit fas aut nefas, till I find the stream | sic...be it right or wrong | Tit II.i.133 | |
To coole this heat, a Charme to calme their fits, | To cool this heat, a charm to calm these fits, | | Tit II.i.134 | |
Per Stigia per manes Vehor. | Per Stygia per manes vehor. | per... I am carried across the Styx, through the shades of the dead | Tit II.i.135 | |
Exeunt. | Exeunt | | Tit II.i.135 | |