The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated)

by William Shakespeare

Father, for that is the name which should make you-

  TITUS.

  Speak thou no more, if all the rest will speed.

  Say no more, if the rest is like this.

  MARCUS.

  Renowned Titus, more than half my soul-

  Renowned Titus, who can claim more than half my soul-

  LUCIUS.

  Dear father, soul and substance of us all-

  Dear father, the soul and body of us all-

  MARCUS.

  Suffer thy brother Marcus to inter

  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

  Did graciously plead for his funerals.

  Let not young Mutius, then, that was thy joy,

  Be barr'd his entrance here.

  Allow your brother Marcus to place

  his noble nephew here in the home of virtue,

  who died honourably fighting for Lavinia.

  You are a Roman - don't act like a barbarian.

  After thinking about it the Greeks buried Ajax,

  who had killed himself; and wise Ulysses

  graciously argued for a proper funeral.

  So don't let young Mutius, who was the apple of your eye,

  be blocked from a burial here.

  TITUS.

  Rise, Marcus, rise;

  The dismal'st day is this that e'er I saw,

  To be dishonoured by my sons in Rome!

  Well, bury him, and bury me the next.

  [They put MUTIUS in the tomb]

  Get up, Marcus;

  this is the worst day of my life,

  being dishonoured by my sons in Rome!

  Well, bury him, and bury me afterwards.

  LUCIUS.

  There lie thy bones, sweet Mutius, with thy friends,

  Till we with trophies do adorn thy tomb.

  Let your bones lie there, sweet Mutius, with your friends,

  until we decorate your tomb with trophies.

  ALL.

  [Kneeling] No man shed tears for noble Mutius;

  He lives in fame that died in virtue's cause.

  No man should weep for noble Mutius,

  he lives on in his fame for dying in the cause of virtue.

  MARCUS.

  My lord- to step out of these dreary dumps-

  How comes it that the subtle Queen of Goths

  Is of a sudden thus advanc'd in Rome?

  My lord - to move on from this sad mood -

  why has the cunning Queen of the Goths

  suddenly become promoted so high in Rome?

  TITUS.

  I know not, Marcus, but I know it is-

  Whether by device or no, the heavens can tell.

  Is she not, then, beholding to the man

  That brought her for this high good turn so far?

  I don't know, Marcus, but I know it's happened -

  whether it's a plot or not, only heaven knows.

  Does she owe nothing, then, to the man

  who brought her so far for such honours?

  MARCUS.

  Yes, and will nobly him remunerate.

  Flourish. Re-enter the EMPEROR, TAMORA

  and her two SONS, with the MOOR, at one door;

  at the other door, BASSIANUS and LAVINIA, with others

  Yes, and she will pay him generously.

  SATURNINUS.

  So, Bassianus, you have play'd your prize:

  God give you joy, sir, of your gallant bride!

  So, Bassanius, you have won your bout:

  may heaven give you pleasure in your noble bride!

  BASSIANUS.

  And you of yours, my lord! I say no more,

  Nor wish no less; and so I take my leave.

  And the same to you, my lord!I'll say no more,

  and I don't wish for any less; and so I'll say goodbye.

  SATURNINUS.

  Traitor, if Rome have law or we have power,

  Thou and thy faction shall repent this rape.

  You traitor, if Rome has laws or I have power

  you and your party will regret this rape.

  BASSIANUS.

  Rape, call you it, my lord, to seize my own,

  My true betrothed love, and now my wife?

  But let the laws of Rome determine all;

  Meanwhile am I possess'd of that is mine.

  Do you call it rape, my lord, to claim what's mine,

  my true fiancee, and now my wife?

  But let the law of Rome decide the matter;

  for now I have what's mine.

  SATURNINUS.

  'Tis good, sir. You are very short with us;

  But if we live we'll be as sharp with you.

  Very well, sir.You are very snappy with us;

  but as long as I live you might find I can snap at you.

  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,

  Is in opinion and in honour wrong'd,

  That, in the rescue of Lavinia,

  With his own hand did slay his youngest son,

  In zeal to you, and highly mov'd to wrath

  To be controll'd in that he frankly gave.

  Receive him then to favour, Saturnine,

  That hath express'd himself in all his deeds

  A father and a friend to thee and Rome.

  My lord, I will defend what I have done as

  well as I can, and I'm prepared to pay with my life.

  But I want to say this to your grace:

  by all the service I owe to Rome,

  this noble gentleman here, Lord Titus,

  has been wrongly accused of disloyalty,

  for he killed his youngest son himself

  when trying to recapture Lavinia,

  out of loyalty to you and because he was angry

  to be thwarted in what he freely gave you.

  So give him your goodwill, Saturnine,

  someone who has shown him in all his actions

  to be a father and a friend to you and to Rome.

  TITUS.

  Prince Bassianus, leave to plead my deeds.

  'Tis thou and those that have dishonoured me.

  Rome and the righteous heavens be my judge

  How I have lov'd and honoured Saturnine!

  Prince Bassanius, let me speak for myself.

  It's you and these others who have dishonoured me.

  Rome and the honest heavens can judge

  how I have loved and honoured Saturnine!

  TAMORA.

  My worthy lord, if ever Tamora

  Were gracious in those princely eyes of thine,

  Then hear me speak indifferently for all;

  And at my suit, sweet, pardon what is past.

  My worthy lord, if Tamora ever

  found any favour in your princely eyes,

  then let me speak impartially,

  and do as I ask, my sweet, and forgive the past.

  SATURNINUS.

  What, madam! be dishonoured openly,

  And basely put it up without revenge?

  What, madam! Be openly disrespected,

  and meekly put up with it without revenge?

  TAMORA.

  Not so, my lord; the gods of Rome forfend

  I should be author to dishonour you!

  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,

  Nor with sour looks afflict his gentle heart.

&nb
sp; [Aside to SATURNINUS] My lord, be rul'd 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,

  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,

  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.-

  Come, come, sweet Emperor; come, Andronicus.

  Take up this good old man, and cheer the heart

  That dies in tempest of thy angry frown.

  No, my lord. May the cause of Rome never allow

  need to show disrespect for you.

  But I'm prepared to swear

  for good Lord Titus' innocence in everything,

  whose genuine anger speaks of his sorrow.

  So at my request look kindly on him;

  don't lose such a noble friend through imagined wrongs,

  nor hurt his gentle heart with dirty looks.

  [Aside to Saturninus]

  My Lord, take my advice, be won over,

  hide all your sorrow and anger.

  You have only just gained your throne;

  in case the people, and the patricians too,

  when they think about it take Titus' side,

  and so overthrow you for ingratitude,

  which Rome regards as a terrible sin,

  give in to my requests–and then leave it to me:

  I'll choose a time to massacre them all,

  and destroy their party and their family,

  the cruel father and his traitorous sons

  whom I begged for my dear son's life,

  and I shall let them know the thing they've done

  in making a Queen kneel in the streets and beg for kindness in vain.

  [Aloud]

  Come, come, sweet Emperor–come, Andronicus–

  tell this good old man to get up, and cheer the heart

  that is dying in the storm of your angry frown.

  SATURNINUS.

  Rise, Titus, rise; my Empress hath prevail'd.

  Get up, Titus, get up; my Empress has won.

  TITUS.

  I thank your Majesty and her, my lord;

  These words, these looks, infuse new life in me.

  My Lord, I thank both you and her;

  these words and these looks give me new life.

  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;

  And let it be mine honour, good my lord,

  That I have reconcil'd your friends and you.

  For you, Prince Bassianus, I have pass'd

  My word and promise to the Emperor

  That you will be more mild and tractable.

  And fear not, lords- and you, Lavinia.

  By my advice, all humbled on your knees,

  You shall ask pardon of his Majesty.

  Titus, I have become part of Rome,

  now a happily naturalised Roman,

  and I must advise the Emperor for the best.

  All quarrels died today, Andronicus;

  and let it be my privilege, good my lord,

  to have reconciled your friends and you.

  For you, Prince Bassanius, I have given

  my word and promise to the Emperor

  that you will be milder and more obedient.

  And do not worry, Lords–nor you, Lavinia:

  I advise you all to go down on your knees

  and ask for his Majesty's pardon.

  LUCIUS.

  We do, and vow to heaven and to his Highness

  That what we did was mildly as we might,

  Tend'ring our sister's honour and our own.

  We do, and we vow to heaven and to his Highness

  that we only did the least that we could do

  to protect the honour of our sister and ourselves.

  MARCUS.

  That on mine honour here do I protest.

  I swear to that on my honour.

  SATURNINUS.

  Away, and talk not; trouble us no more.

  Go away, and don't talk; don't bother us any more.

  TAMORA.

  Nay, nay, sweet Emperor, we must all be friends.

  The Tribune and his nephews kneel for grace.

  I will not be denied. Sweet heart, look back.

  No, no, sweet Emperor, we must all be friends.

  The Tribune and his nephews kneel for forgiveness.

  I won't be denied. Sweetheart, turn around.

  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.

  They stand up.

  Lavinia, though you left me like a churl,

  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.

  Marcus, for your sake, and for the sake of your brother here,

  and at the pleading of my lovely Tamora,

  I forgive these young men's serious crimes.

  Lavinia, though you parted from me unkindly,

  I found someone else; and as sure as death I swore

  I would not walk away from the priest as a bachelor.

  Come, if the Emperor's court can hold two wedding breakfasts,

  you are my guest, Lavinia, and your friends.

  Today shall be a day of love, Tamora.

  TITUS.

  To-morrow, and it please your Majesty

  To hunt the panther and the hart with me,

  With horn and hound we'll give your Grace bonjour.

  Tomorrow, if your Majesty pleases, I should

  like to invite you to hunt panthers and deer with me,

  and we'll welcome your Grace with the horn and the dogs.

  SATURNINUS.

  Be it so, Titus, and gramercy too.

  Exeunt. Sound trumpets

  Let's do that Titus, and I thank you for it.

  Enter AARON

  AARON.

  Now climbeth Tamora Olympus' top,

  Safe out of Fortune's shot, and sits aloft,

  Secure of thunder's crack or lightning flash,

  Advanc'd above pale envy's threat'ning reach.

  As when the golden sun salutes the morn,

  And, having gilt the ocean with his beams,

  Gallops the zodiac in his glistening coach

  And overlooks the highest-peering hills,

  So Tamora.

  Upon her wit doth earthly honour wait,

  And virtue stoops and trembles at her frown.

  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, fett'red in amorous chains,

  And faster bound to Aaron's charming eyes

  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 emperess.

  To wait, said I? To wanton with this queen,

  This goddess, this Semiramis, this nymph,

  This siren that will charm Rome's Saturnine,

  And see h
is shipwreck and his commonweal's.

  Hullo! what storm is this?

  Enter CHIRON and DEMETRIUS, braving

  Now Tamora has reached the summit of Olympus,

  she can't be harmed by fortune, and sits on high,

  safe from the thunder and lightning,

  promoted beyond the reach of envious people.

  It's like when the golden sun comes in the morning

  and, having gilded the ocean with his beams,

  he gallops across the sky in his shining coach

  and looks down on the highest mountains,

  that's Tamora.

  Honourable men wait for her decisions,

  and goodness bows down and trembles when she frowns.

  So, Aaron, strengthen your heart and mind

  to climb up to your imperial mistress,

  join her at the top, the one whom you have

  kept prisoner for so long, bound by chains of love,

  tied more securely to Aaron's enchanting eyes

  than Prometheus is tied to his rock.

  No more slave's clothing and servant's thoughts!

  I will be bright, and shine with pearls and gold

  when I serve this newly made Empress.

  Serve, did I say?–To frolic with this Queen,

  this goddess, this Semiramis, this nymph,

  this siren that will charm Rome's Saturnine

  and cause him and his kingdom to be wrecked.

  Hello, what's this storm?

  DEMETRIUS.

  Chiron, thy years wants wit, thy wits wants edge

  And manners, to intrude where I am grac'd,

  And may, for aught thou knowest, affected be.

  Chiron, you need wit to match your age, and your wits

  lacking in sharpness and manners, as you are intruding where I am welcomed

  and for all you know am loved.

  CHIRON.

  Demetrius, thou dost over-ween in all;

  And so in this, to bear me down with braves.