Act 4, Scene 4 — Titus Andronicus

The argument Saturninus rages at Titus's arrow-letters — public mockery of imperial justice — and announces he will drag Titus to punishment. Tamora soothes him with a public speech of mercy while privately noting she has everything under control. The Clown arrives with pigeons and Titus's knife-laden letter; Saturninus reads it and orders the Clown hanged on the spot. Aemilius enters with alarming news: Lucius has raised a Gothic army and is marching on Rome. Saturninus panics. Tamora reassures him and sends Aemilius to negotiate a parley with Lucius — to be held, cleverly, at Titus's own house.

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 ≋ verse [outraged, demanding acknowledgment of his authority]

Why, lords, what wrongs are these! Was ever seen

An emperor in Rome thus overborne,

Troubled, confronted thus; and, for the extent

Of legal justice, used in such contempt?

My lords, you know, as know the mightful gods,

However these disturbers of our peace

Buzz in the people’s ears, there naught hath passed

But even with law against the wilful sons

Of old Andronicus. And what an if

His sorrows have so overwhelmed his wits?

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.

Sweet scrolls to fly about the streets of Rome!

What’s this but libelling against the senate,

And blazoning our injustice everywhere?

A goodly humour, is it not, my lords?

As who would say, in Rome no justice were.

But if I live, his feigned ecstasies

Shall be no shelter to these outrages;

But he and his shall know that justice lives

In Saturninus’ health; whom, if she sleep,

He’ll so awake as he in fury shall

Cut off the proud’st conspirator that lives.

What wrongs are these, my lords? Was ever an emperor in Rome treated this way—troubled, confronted, and mocked? For all our legal justice, we have been treated with contempt. My lords, you know as well as the mighty gods do that these disturbers of peace have troubled us, yet nothing we did exceeded law in our action against Andronicus's willful sons. But what if his sorrows have destroyed his mind? Shall we be tormented by his mad outbursts, his fits, his frenzy? And now he writes to heaven itself for redress! See these letters—to Jove, to Mercury, Apollo, the god of war! Beautiful scrolls flying through Rome's streets! Is this not libel against the senate? Is this not broadcasting our injustice everywhere? Is this not an amusing trick, my lords—suggesting Rome has no justice? But if I live, his pretended madness will be no protection for these outrages. He and his shall know that justice lives in me, Saturninus. And if she sleeps in me, I shall wake such justice as the proudest conspirator alive shall feel my fury.

What's going on, lords? Has Rome ever seen an emperor treated like this—confronted, mocked, shown contempt for the law itself? Listen, these troublemakers buzz in people's ears, but we only did what the law required with Titus's sons. And what if grief has driven the old man mad? Should we let his tantrums, his fits, his madness rule us? Now he's writing to the gods! Letters to Jupiter, Mercury, Apollo, Mars—flying around Rome like pamphlets! This is slander against the Senate, spreading lies about justice in Rome. If I live, his fake craziness won't protect him. He'll learn that justice lives in me. And I'll wake justice so sharp that even the proudest rebel will bleed from it.

what is this disrespect? letter to jupiter? to mercury? to the gods? this is libel. this is saying rome has no justice. i will show him justice. with blood.

"" Overpowered, overwhelmed — the sense of being capsized by events.

"" Outbursts of vengeance or passion; the word is related to 'wreak' (to inflict). Saturninus uses it dismissively.

"" Pretended fits of madness. 'Ecstasy' in Elizabethan English meant mental alienation, being out of one's mind. Saturninus believes — or affects to believe — that Titus is faking.

Why it matters Saturninus's speech is self-justifying and brittle. He protests legality while everyone knows he framed and executed Titus's sons. His insistence that everything was done 'with law' is the tyrant's standard excuse. But he also spots something real: 'feigned ecstasies' — the madness may be strategic.

TAMORA ≋ verse [soothing, calculating, speaking publicly while revealing true intent aside]

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,

Whose loss hath pierced him deep and scarred his heart;

And rather comfort his distressed plight

Than prosecute the meanest or the best

For these contempts. [_Aside_.] Why, thus it shall become

High-witted Tamora to gloze with all.

But, Titus, I have touched thee to the quick;

Thy life-blood out, if Aaron now be wise,

Then is all safe, the anchor in the port.

My gracious lord, my lovely Saturnine, lord of my life, master of my thoughts—calm yourself. Bear with Titus's age, the effects of his grief for his noble sons, whose loss has cut him deep and scarred his heart. Comfort his distressed condition rather than punish even the least or greatest of these insults. [Aside: Yes, this is how High-minded Tamora must flatter and manage everyone. But Titus, I have wounded you to the heart. Your life-blood will flow if Aaron is wise. Then all is safe, the ship anchored in port.]

My lord, my beautiful Saturnine—lord of my life, master of my mind—relax. Have mercy on Titus. He's an old man grieving his sons, and grief has destroyed him. Don't punish him or anyone for these insults. Just comfort him. [Aside: Smart Tamora knows how to smooth things over for everyone. But Titus—I've cut you to the heart. If Aaron plays it right, you're finished. Everything's secure.

my lord. my love. calm down. he's an old man grieving. have mercy. [aside: titus is dying. if aaron is smart. we win.]

"" To talk smoothly over difficulties, to flatter, to make palatable. From 'gloss' — to put a fair face on something.

"" Cut to the living tissue beneath the nail — a proverbial expression for wounding deeply. Tamora believes she has mortally damaged Titus.

Why it matters This speech is Tamora's self-portrait. In public she performs perfect wifely compassion; in private she congratulates herself on her own manipulation. The aside shows the audience her complete contempt for everyone around her — including Saturninus. But the conditional 'if Aaron now be wise' contains the seeds of her destruction.

🎭 Dramatic irony

Enter Clown.

How now, good fellow, wouldst thou speak with us?

CLOWN [clown eagerly agreeing]

Yes, forsooth, an your mistresship be emperial.

Yes, if you're the empress.

Yes, if that's you being the empress.

yes, ma'am.

Why it matters The Clown arrives in the wrong scene at the wrong time with the wrong package. His politeness is the last ordinary, unhurried thing in the play.

TAMORA [tamora pointing]

Empress I am, but yonder sits the emperor.

I am the empress, but the emperor sits there.

I'm the empress. He's the emperor—right there.

i'm the empress. he's the emperor.

CLOWN [clown cheerful and formal]

’Tis he. God and Saint Stephen give you good e’en. I have brought you a

letter and a couple of pigeons here.

That's him. God and Saint Stephen bless you both. I've brought you a letter and a couple of pigeons.

That's him. God and Saint Stephen bless you. I brought you a letter and two pigeons.

god bless you. i brought you a letter. and pigeons.

Why it matters The Clown's greeting to the Emperor is perfectly friendly and completely oblivious. He has no idea whose presence he's in or what he's carrying.

[_Saturninus reads the letter._]

SATURNINUS [saturninus instant, cold command]

Go take him away, and hang him presently.

Take him away and hang him immediately.

Take him away. Hang him now.

hang him. now.

Why it matters One of the most casual death sentences in Shakespeare. No hearing, no charge, no procedure. Saturninus reads the letter (which contains a knife) and instantly executes the messenger. The Clown, who has done nothing wrong, is dead because he was convenient.

CLOWN [clown realizing too late]

How much money must I have?

Wait—how much do I get paid?

how much money?

Why it matters The Clown still expects his reward. He hears 'take him away' as 'take him to collect his payment'. The misunderstanding is the cruellest comedy in the play.

🎭 Dramatic irony

TAMORA [tamora mockingly formal]

Come, sirrah, you must be hanged.

Come here, fellow. You must be hanged.

Come on. You're being hanged.

you're being hanged.

CLOWN [clown darkly joking, accepting fate]

Hanged! by’r Lady, then I have brought up a neck to a fair end.

Hanged! By Mary, then I've raised up my neck for a fair execution.

Hanged! Well, I guess my neck came to a good end.

hanged. guess i raised my neck for this.

Why it matters The Clown's exit line is his most characteristic: a wry, literal observation about his own death. He is not defiant, not afraid — just observational. It is the play's darkest small joke.

[_Exit guarded._]

SATURNINUS ≋ verse [saturninus enraged, connecting the arrows to larger betrayal]

Despiteful and intolerable wrongs!

Shall I endure this monstrous villainy?

I know from whence this same device proceeds.

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 honour shall shape privilege.

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.

Shameful, intolerable wrongs! Shall I endure this monstrous evil? I know where this insult comes from. Does he think that because his traitorous sons died by law for our brother's murder, that they were wrongfully butchered by me? Go, drag this villain here by the hair. Neither age nor honor shall protect him. For this proud mockery, I will be his executioner—sly madman, who helped make me emperor in hopes you'd rule Rome yourself!

This is shameful and intolerable! Should I put up with this? I know what's happening—he thinks I murdered his sons unjustly, and now he's attacking me. Go, drag him here by the hair. I don't care if he's old or honorable—no protection. I'll be the executioner myself. This crazy fool helped me to power, hoping he'd end up ruling Rome instead of me.

shameful wrongs. i know where this comes from. he thinks i murdered his sons. go drag him here. i'll kill him myself. he tried to use me.

"" Executioner; literally one who slaughters. Saturninus is announcing he will personally kill Titus.

Why it matters Saturninus is fully out of control. His plan — drag Titus by the hair, execute him personally — is politically suicidal. He's about to get even worse news.

Enter Aemilius.

What news with thee, Aemilius?

AEMILIUS ≋ verse [aemilius urgent, delivering crisis]

Arm, my lord! Rome never had more cause.

The Goths have gathered head, and with a power

Of high-resolved 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

As much as ever Coriolanus did.

Take up arms, my lord! Rome was never in greater danger. The Goths have gathered strength—a powerful army of determined men, ready for war and destruction, marching here fast under Lucius, son of old Andronicus. He threatens to do in his revenge what even Coriolanus did.

Arm yourself, my lord! This is Rome's darkest hour. The Goths have mobilized—a huge army of hardened soldiers ready to attack, marching here now under Lucius, Titus's son. He's promising revenge as total as Coriolanus's conquest.

arm yourself. the goths are coming. lucius is leading them. a huge army. ready to destroy.

"" To 'gather head' is to assemble forces, like water building up pressure behind a dam. The Goths have been building toward this.

"" The Roman general who was exiled and then led an enemy army against Rome — the ultimate act of treasonous revenge. The comparison perfectly frames Lucius's position.

Why it matters The Coriolanus comparison is precisely right: Lucius has been banished (1-1), gone to an enemy nation, raised an army, and is returning to destroy the city that exiled him. This is not metaphor — it is the play's political situation in classical precedent.

SATURNINUS ≋ verse [saturninus panicking, understanding the threat]

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.

’Tis he the common people love so much;

Myself hath often overheard them say,

When I have walked like a private man,

That Lucius’ banishment was wrongfully,

And they have wished that Lucius were their emperor.

Is Lucius the general of the Goths? These tidings freeze me—I hang my head like flowers in frost or grass beaten by storms. Now our sorrows begin. He's the man the common people love most. I've overheard them say when I walked unrecognized that Lucius's banishment was wrong, and they wished he were emperor instead of me.

Lucius commands the Goths? That destroys me. I'm drooping like flowers in frost, grass bent by wind. This is how it all falls apart. The people love him—I've heard them say his exile was unjust and they wish he ruled Rome instead of me.

lucius commands the goths? the people love him. they wish he was emperor. not me. it's over.

Why it matters This is Saturninus's most honest moment in the play. His fear is real, his unpopularity is real, and he knows it. The people want Lucius. This admission is politically fatal — and he says it in front of witnesses.

TAMORA [tamora questioning confidently]

Why should you fear? Is not your city strong?

Why are you afraid? Isn't Rome strong?

why are you afraid? isn't rome strong?

Why it matters Tamora moves immediately to managing Saturninus's fear. She asks the practical question — walls — to redirect him from the political one: the citizens.

SATURNINUS ≋ verse [saturninus bitterly realistic]

Ay, but the citizens favour Lucius,

And will revolt from me to succour him.

Yes, but the citizens favor Lucius and will turn to support him instead of me.

Rome's strong, but the people are on Lucius's side. They'll revolt and join him.

they'll turn on me. they'll join lucius.

Why it matters Saturninus names the real threat: internal collapse. This is the insight that will shape Act 5 — when the citizens do exactly what he predicts.

TAMORA ≋ verse [tamora confident, offering strategic vision]

King, be thy thoughts imperious like thy name.

Is the sun dimmed, that gnats do fly in it?

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 mayest thou the giddy men of Rome.

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,

The other rotted with delicious feed.

Emperor, let your thoughts be as mighty as your title. Does the sun dim because gnats fly near it? The eagle lets small birds sing but cares not what they mean—knowing his wings' shadow can silence them at pleasure. Even so may you rule Rome's scattered men. Cheer up—I tell you, I will enchant old Andronicus with words sweeter and more dangerous than fish-bait or honey-stalks for sheep. When one is hooked by the bait, the other rots from the sweet food. I'll work him the same way.

Think like an emperor. The sun doesn't dim because flies buzz near it. An eagle doesn't worry about songbirds—he knows his wing-shadow silences them whenever he wants. Control Rome the same way—don't let little people matter. Listen: I'll charm Titus with words sweeter and more dangerous than bait or honey. I'll work him like a caught fish or a poisoned sheep. He won't know what hit him.

think like an emperor. don't care about gnats. the eagle has his way. i will enchant titus. with dangerous words. sweet words. he won't escape.

"" Clover or similar sweet plants that, when grazed excessively, can poison and kill sheep. The image is of pleasure that destroys.

"" To stop, check, or suppress their singing. The eagle can silence birds with his shadow alone — without effort.

Why it matters Tamora's eagle-and-gnats speech is magnificent political rhetoric — and it is all performance. She has no plan yet for Titus. She is generating confidence to keep Saturninus from collapsing. The 'sweet and dangerous' words she promises are still to be invented.

SATURNINUS [saturninus doubting]

But he will not entreat his son for us.

But he won't ask his son to stop for us.

But he won't convince his son to stop.

he won't stop lucius.

Why it matters Saturninus correctly identifies the obstacle: Titus has to want Lucius to stop. Why would he?

TAMORA ≋ verse [tamora supremely confident]

If Tamora entreat him, then he will,

For I can smooth and fill his aged ears

With golden promises, that, were his heart

Almost impregnable, his old ears deaf,

Yet should both ear and heart obey my tongue.

If I entreat him, he will. I can smooth and fill his aged ears with golden promises that, even if his heart were almost impregnable and his old ears deaf, both ear and heart would obey my tongue.

If I ask him, he'll do it. I can sweet-talk his old ears with golden promises—even if his heart were locked and his hearing gone, my voice would make both ear and heart obey.

if i ask him he will. i have the words. golden promises. even his deaf ears will obey me.

Why it matters Tamora's confidence is her defining quality — and her downfall. She has succeeded every time so far. She cannot imagine Titus seeing through her. She is wrong.

[_to Aemilius_] Go thou before, be our ambassador.

Say that the emperor requests a parley

Of warlike Lucius, and appoint the meeting

Even at his father’s house, the old Andronicus.

SATURNINUS ≋ verse [saturninus regal, instructing]

Aemilius, do this message honourably,

And if he stand on hostage for his safety,

Bid him demand what pledge will please him best.

Aemilius, carry this message with honor. And if he demands hostages for safety, tell him to name what pledge he wants.

Aemilius, go with honor. If he wants hostages for safety, let him ask for whatever he wants.

go with honor. if he wants hostages, let him choose.

Why it matters Saturninus will offer hostages — a sign that he has no leverage and knows it. He is negotiating from weakness.

AEMILIUS [aemilius formally agreeing]

Your bidding shall I do effectually.

I will execute your orders faithfully.

I'll do it exactly as you say.

yes, my lord.

[_Exit._]

TAMORA ≋ verse [tamora resolute, ready for action]

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.

Now I will go to old Andronicus and temper him with all the skill I have, to pull proud Lucius from the warlike Goths. And now, sweet emperor, be happy again—bury all your fear in my plans.

I'll go to Titus and work him with everything I've got—make him pull Lucius back from the Goths. And you, my emperor—be happy again. Forget your fear. Leave it all to me.

i'll go to titus. i'll work him. i'll stop lucius. be happy. forget the fear. i've got this.

"" To work on, to manipulate — as a smith tempers metal. Tamora sees her relationship with Titus as a craft.

Why it matters Tamora's exit line is her plan in one sentence: go to Titus, charm him, separate Lucius from his army. It sounds simple. In 5-2 we will see how wrong she is about Titus's susceptibility.

SATURNINUS [saturninus hopeful, sending her off]

Then go successantly, and plead to him.

Then go swiftly and persuade him.

Go quickly. Persuade him.

go. persuade him.

"" Immediately, in succession — some editors suggest this is a coinage for 'successfully' or simply 'at once'. Either way, Saturninus's urgency is clear.

Why it matters Saturninus's final word is a plea, not a command. He has handed Tamora everything. The irony is that she will fail.

[_Exeunt._]

The Reckoning

The power dynamic has reversed. Saturninus, who terrified everyone in Act 1, is now visibly afraid — 'These tidings nip me, and I hang the head / As flowers with frost.' Tamora is still managing him, still calm, still scheming. But for the first time she sounds slightly desperate: 'bury all thy fear in my devices.' She has no device yet; she is buying time. The Clown's casual execution is the scene's darkest moment — a completely innocent man hanged without trial because the emperor is in a rage.

If this happened today…

An authoritarian leader, humiliated by public protests, kills a random bystander while the real opposition leader raises an army he can't stop. His chief advisor keeps reassuring him while privately planning a con that she's making up as she goes along. The advisor's confidence is the only thing keeping the operation together — and it is, as we'll see, not enough.

Continue to 5.1 →