Approved warriors and my faithful friends,
I have received letters from great Rome
Which signifies what hate they bear their emperor
And how desirous of our sight they are.
Therefore, great lords, be, as your titles witness,
Imperious, and impatient of your wrongs;
And wherein Rome hath done you any scath,
Let him make treble satisfaction.
Brave warriors and my loyal friends, I have received letters from Rome which tell me how much they hate their emperor and how much they want to see me. So, noble lords, act like your titles say you should - be powerful and impatient with injustice. And wherever Rome has hurt you, make them pay triple compensation.
Brave soldiers, faithful friends - I got letters from Rome telling me how much they hate their emperor and how much they want me to lead them. So you nobles need to act like your important titles suggest - be strong, don't put up with any wrongs. And for every way Rome has hurt you and your people, make them pay back three times over.
got letters from rome they hate their emperor they want me to lead them act like ur titles be powerful and strong dont put up with injustice make rome pay triple for everything
Brave slip, sprung from the great Andronicus,
Whose name was once our terror, now our comfort,
Whose high exploits and honourable deeds
Ingrateful Rome requites with foul contempt,
Be bold in us. We’ll follow where thou lead’st,
Like stinging bees in hottest summer’s day
Led by their master to the flowered fields,
And be avenged on cursed Tamora.
Noble descendant, sprung from the great Andronicus, whose name was once our terror, now our comfort - whose great deeds and honor Rome repays with foul disrespect - be brave in us. We'll follow where you lead, like stinging bees in the hottest summer day led by their master to the flowering fields, and we will be revenged on cursed Tamora.
Brave young man, you're descended from great Titus Andronicus, the man whose name used to terrify our enemies and now is our hope. Rome treated him with nothing but contempt for all his great service, so we're with you. We'll follow you wherever you lead, like bees following their queen into the flowering fields in the heat of summer, and we're going to make Tamora pay for what she did.
ur descended from titus andronicus name used to terrify enemies now is our hope rome disrespected him we're with u well follow u anywhere like bees following the queen well make tamora pay
And as he saith, so say we all with him.
And as he says, so say we all.
We agree. All of us.
yes. we all agree.
I humbly thank him, and I thank you all.
But who comes here, led by a lusty Goth?
I humbly thank him and all of you. But who comes here, brought by this strong Goth?
I thank you all for your support. But who's arriving here with that Goth?
thank u all whos this coming w the goth
Renowned Lucius, from our troops I strayed
To gaze upon a ruinous monastery;
And as I earnestly did fix mine eye
Upon the wasted building, suddenly
I heard a child cry underneath a wall.
I made unto the noise, when soon I heard
The crying babe controlled with this discourse:
“Peace, tawny slave, half me and half thy dame!
Did not thy hue bewray whose brat thou art,
Had nature lent thee but thy mother’s look,
Villain, thou mightst have been an emperor.
But where the bull and cow are both milk-white,
They never do beget a coal-black calf.
Peace, villain, peace!” even thus he rates the babe,
“For I must bear thee to a trusty Goth,
Who, when he knows thou art the empress’ babe,
Will hold thee dearly for thy mother’s sake.”
With this, my weapon drawn, I rushed upon him,
Surprised him suddenly, and brought him hither
To use as you think needful of the man.
Renowned Lucius, I wandered away from our troops to look at an old broken monastery. As I stared at the ruined building, I suddenly heard a baby crying underneath a wall. I went toward the sound and heard the baby being controlled by this voice: 'Be quiet, dark baby, half me and half your mother! If your color didn't give away whose bastard you are, and if you just had your mother's looks, villain, you might have been emperor. But where the bull and cow are both white, they never make a black calf. Be quiet, villain, be quiet!' He was saying this: 'Because I must take you to a faithful Goth, who, when he knows you are the empress' baby, will keep you safe because of your mother.' With this, I drew my weapon and rushed at him, caught him by surprise, and brought him here for you to use as you see fit.
Lucius, I got separated from the troops because I wanted to look at this old ruined monastery. I was staring at it and suddenly heard a baby crying underneath a wall. I ran toward the sound and heard someone talking to the baby like this: 'Shut up, you dark baby, half me and half your mother! If your skin color didn't prove whose illegal child you are, if you just looked like your mother, you'd have been emperor by now, you villain. But when both the bull and cow are white, they never have a black calf. Shut up, villain!' He was saying: 'I have to take you to a loyal Goth, and when he finds out you're the empress' son, he'll protect you because of who your mother is.' I pulled my sword right then and attacked him, grabbed him before he knew what was happening, and brought him here to do whatever you want with him.
heard a baby crying underneath a wall guy was talking to baby shut up dark baby half me half ur mother u'd be emperor if u looked like her but black calfs dont come from white cattle he said hed take u to a goth whos loyal to the cause they'd protect u because of ur mom i pulled sword and grabbed him brought him here for u
O worthy Goth, this is the incarnate devil
That robbed Andronicus of his good hand;
This is the pearl that pleased your empress’ eye;
And here’s the base fruit of her burning lust.
Say, wall-eyed slave, whither wouldst thou convey
This growing image of thy fiend-like face?
Why dost not speak? What, deaf? Not a word?
A halter, soldiers, hang him on this tree,
And by his side his fruit of bastardy.
You worthy Goth - this is the devil incarnate who cut off Andronicus' good hand! This is the villain that pleased your empress' eye, and here's the vile result of her burning lust. Say, pale-eyed slave, where were you taking this growing image of your devil's face? Why don't you speak? What, are you deaf? Not a word? Bring rope, soldiers - hang him on this tree, and hang his bastard child next to him.
You did good work finding him - this is the monster who cut off Titus' hand! He's the one the empress wanted, and this is their bastard child - the ugly result of her lust. So where were you trying to take this kid, pale-eyed monster? Why aren't you answering? What, you can't talk? Nothing? Get rope, soldiers - we're hanging him from this tree, and we're hanging his bastard right next to him.
this is the devil who cut off titus hand he's who the empress wanted this is their bastard the ugly result of her lust where were u taking the kid why arent u answering get rope—were hanging him and his bastard next to him
Touch not the boy, he is of royal blood.
Lay no hand upon this child; his blood is royal.
Don't touch the child—he's royalty.
dont touch him hes royal
Too like the sire for ever being good.
First hang the child, that he may see it sprawl,
A sight to vex the father’s soul withal.
Get me a ladder.
He's too much like his father to ever be good. First hang the child so he has to watch it, a sight that will torture his soul. Get me a ladder.
He's exactly like his father - a complete villain. Hang the kid first so he has to watch. That'll break his heart. Get me a ladder.
hes just like his father completely evil hang the kid first so he has to watch that'll break him get me a ladder
Aaron's confession in 5-1 is not a dramatic reveal — the audience already knows everything he tells Lucius. Its function is not informational. It is characterological. Aaron delivers his crimes as a curriculum vitae: evidence of his worth, a catalogue of his art.
The speech distinguishes crimes he planned (the letter, the gold, the hand) from crimes of pleasure (digging up corpses, setting barns on fire, carving messages on dead skin). Some crimes served Tamora's political aims; others served only Aaron's appetite for causing pain. He doesn't distinguish between them morally.
The final clause — 'nothing grieves me heartily indeed / But that I cannot do ten thousand more' — is a formal statement of values. Aaron's regret is not about harm done but about a finite capacity to do harm. His only disappointment is limitation.
What makes the speech remarkable is its consistency with the rest of his character. He has been honest throughout: honest about his ambitions (2-1), honest about his contempt for Chiron and Demetrius (4-2), honest about his paternity (4-2), honest about his atheism (5-1). His confession is simply the last and most comprehensive installation of that honesty. He has never hidden what he is. The play just hasn't asked him to display it all at once until now.
Lucius, save the child;
And bear it from me to the empress.
If thou do this, I’ll show thee wondrous things
That highly may advantage thee to hear.
If thou wilt not, befall what may befall,
I’ll speak no more but “Vengeance rot you all!”
Lucius, spare the child and take him to the empress. If you do this, I'll reveal wondrous secrets that will greatly advantage you to hear.
Lucius, save the boy and give him to the empress. Do that, and I'll tell you things worth knowing—really important things.
save the boy. get him to the empress. i'll tell you secrets. important ones.
Say on, and if it please me which thou speak’st,
Thy child shall live, and I will see it nourished.
Speak on. If what you say pleases me, the child will live, and I will see him cared for.
Go ahead. If I like what I hear, the boy lives and I'll take care of him.
talk. if i like it, the kid lives.
And if it please thee? Why, assure thee, Lucius,
’Twill vex thy soul to hear what I shall speak;
For I must talk of murders, rapes, and massacres,
Acts of black night, abominable deeds,
Complots of mischief, treason, villainies,
Ruthful to hear, yet piteously performed.
And this shall all be buried in my death,
Unless thou swear to me my child shall live.
And if you're willing? Well, I assure you, Lucius, what I tell you will deeply disturb your soul. I must confess to murders, rapes, and massacres—dark deeds, abominable acts, plots of evil, treason, and crimes that are terrible to hear, yet were performed with cruel relish. All of this will die with me unless you swear to me that my child shall live.
And if you're interested? Listen, Lucius, I'm telling you—what I'm about to reveal will deeply upset you. I'm talking about murders, rapes, massacres—all the dark, abominable deeds, evil schemes, treason, and villainies I've committed. They're painful to hear about, but I did them with relish. But here's the thing: I'll take all of it to my grave unless you swear to me that my child will live.
if you're willing what i'll say will upset you murders rapes massacres evil deeds and treason swear my child lives or it dies with me
Tell on thy mind; I say thy child shall live.
Tell everything. The child will live.
Talk. The boy lives.
say it all. the kid stays alive.
Swear that he shall, and then I will begin.
Swear that he will, and then I'll begin.
Swear it. Then I'll talk.
swear it.
Who should I swear by? Thou believ’st no god.
That granted, how canst thou believe an oath?
Who should I swear by? You don't believe in God. If you don't believe in Him, how can you believe in an oath?
Who do I swear by? You don't believe in God, so how's an oath meaningful to you?
who do i swear by? you don't believe in god. an oath is meaningless to you.
What if I do not? As indeed I do not;
Yet, for I know thou art religious,
And hast a thing within thee called conscience,
With twenty popish tricks and ceremonies
Which I have seen thee careful to observe,
Therefore I urge thy oath; for that I know
An idiot holds his bauble for a god,
And keeps the oath which by that god he swears,
To that I’ll urge him. Therefore thou shalt vow
By that same god, what god soe’er it be
That thou adorest and hast in reverence,
To save my boy, to nourish and bring him up;
Or else I will discover naught to thee.
What if I refuse to swear? Indeed, I don't believe in God. Yet because I know you are religious and have a conscience, with all your religious practices that you carefully observe, I know that even a fool keeps an oath sworn by his god. Therefore I urge you to swear: You must vow by whatever god you worship and revere to save my boy and raise him, or I will tell you nothing.
What if I don't swear? I don't believe in God, that's true. But I know you're religious and you have a conscience, with all those religious practices you care so much about. I know that even an idiot will keep an oath sworn by his god. So I'm asking you to swear by whatever god you worship and respect to save my boy and raise him, or I won't tell you anything.
what if i don't swear? i don't believe in god but you do and you got a conscience so swear by your god to save my kid or i tell you nothing
Even by my god I swear to thee I will.
By my god I swear to you—the child will live.
I swear by God the boy will live.
i swear. by god. the kid lives.
First know thou, I begot him on the empress.
First, know that I fathered him on the empress.
First: the empress and I made this child together.
the empress. and me. this is our child.
Aaron's baby is the most structurally efficient device in the play. Consider what it accomplishes:
In 4-2, it reveals Aaron's only genuine human attachment, complicates his villainy, and drives the cover-up plot. In 4-3 and 4-4, it is indirectly present in Tamora's anxiety about Aaron being 'wise.' In 5-1, it provides the leverage Lucius needs to extract a full confession.
Without the baby, Aaron has no reason to bargain. He might simply refuse to speak, or speak only to taunt. The baby creates the one vulnerability a man with Aaron's psychology could have: not his life, not his safety, but his child's.
The baby also creates the play's most explicit moral inversion. Aaron, who has orchestrated more suffering than any other character, is caught because of love. The villainous characters who want to kill the baby — Tamora, Chiron, Demetrius, and in a way Lucius — are all, in that specific moment, behaving worse than Aaron. Shakespeare doesn't resolve this. He leaves it.
The baby's ultimate fate — saved, raised by Lucius's word — is the play's only successful act of mercy toward an innocent.
O most insatiate and luxurious woman!
Oh, what a lustful woman, whose appetite can never be satisfied!
God, that woman is a total sex addict. She's never had enough!
the empress?? she can never get enough so lustful. gross
Tut, Lucius, this was but a deed of charity
To that which thou shalt hear of me anon.
’Twas her two sons that murdered Bassianus;
They cut thy sister’s tongue, and ravished her,
And cut her hands, and trimmed her as thou sawest.
Nonsense, Lucius, that was merely charity compared to what I'll tell you now. It was her two sons who murdered Bassianus. They cut out your sister's tongue and raped her, and cut off her hands, and mutilated her just as you saw her.
Rubbish, Lucius, that was nothing compared to what's coming. It was Tamora's two sons who killed Bassianus. They tore out your sister's tongue and raped her, and they cut off her hands and mangled her exactly as you see her now.
that was charity compared to this her sons killed Bassianus they cut your sister's tongue raped her cut off her hands
O detestable villain, call’st thou that trimming?
O detestable villain, do you call that trimming?
Detestable villain—you call that 'trimming'?
trimming? they destroyed her.
Why, she was washed, and cut, and trimmed; and ’twas
Trim sport for them which had the doing of it.
Yes, she was washed, cut, and trimmed. It was fine sport for those who did it.
She was washed, cut, trimmed—fine entertainment for the boys.
washed. cut. trimmed. fun for them.
O barbarous beastly villains, like thyself!
O barbarous, beastly villains, like yourself!
Barbarous beasts! Like you!
monsters. like you.
Indeed, I was their tutor to instruct them.
That codding spirit had they from their mother,
As sure a card as ever won the set;
That bloody mind I think they learned of me,
As true a dog as ever fought at head.
Well, let my deeds be witness of my worth.
I trained thy brethren to that guileful hole
Where the dead corpse of Bassianus lay.
I wrote the letter that thy father found,
And hid the gold within that letter mentioned,
Confederate with the queen and her two sons.
And what not done, that thou hast cause to rue,
Wherein I had no stroke of mischief in’t?
I played the cheater for thy father’s hand,
And, when I had it, drew myself apart,
And almost broke my heart with extreme laughter.
I pried me through the crevice of a wall
When, for his hand, he had his two sons’ heads;
Beheld his tears, and laughed so heartily
That both mine eyes were rainy like to his.
And when I told the empress of this sport,
She sounded almost at my pleasing tale,
And for my tidings gave me twenty kisses.
Indeed, I was their tutor and taught them. That cowardly spirit they got from their mother, but their bloody mind - that I taught them, I think. Well, my deeds prove my worth. I guided your brothers to that treacherous place where Bassianus's dead body lay. I wrote the letter your father found and hid the gold in it, working with the queen and her two sons. What crime have you suffered that I didn't have a hand in? I tricked your father to get his hand, and when I had it, I stepped away and nearly died laughing. I watched through a crack in the wall when he traded his hand for his two sons' heads, saw his tears, and laughed so hard my own eyes filled with tears like his. And when I told the empress about this cruel sport, she nearly fainted from my pleasing tale, and gave me twenty kisses for my news.
Yeah, I was their teacher and I taught them well. Their weakness came from their mother, but that cruel streak - I taught them that. My actions prove who I am. I led your brothers to where Bassianus's body was hidden. I wrote the letter your father found with the gold hidden in it, and I worked with the queen and her sons on all of it. Is there any crime you suffered that I didn't help with? I tricked your father to get his hand, and when I did, I stepped back and nearly died laughing. I peeked through a wall when he traded his hand for his two sons' heads, watched him cry, and laughed so hard my eyes got just as wet as his. And when I told the empress about this, she almost fainted hearing it, and kissed me twenty times for the good news.
i was their teacher taught them the cruelty their weakness from mom but the cruelty from me guided them to where bassianus's body was wrote the letter with the gold tricked your dad to get his hand watched him cry when he realized what he'd done told the empress and she kissed me
What, canst thou say all this and never blush?
Can you say all this and not blush?
You can talk about this and not feel shame?
how are you not ashamed?
Ay, like a black dog, as the saying is.
Yes, like a black dog—that's the saying.
Yes, I'm shameless. Like a black dog.
shameless. like a black dog.
Art thou not sorry for these heinous deeds?
Are you not sorry for these heinous crimes?
Don't you regret any of this?
any regrets?
Ay, that I had not done a thousand more.
Even now I curse the day, and yet, I think,
Few come within the compass of my curse,
Wherein I did not some notorious ill,
As kill a man, or else devise his death;
Ravish a maid, or plot the way to do it;
Accuse some innocent, and forswear myself;
Set deadly enmity between two friends;
Make poor men’s cattle break their necks;
Set fire on barns and haystalks in the night,
And bid the owners quench them with their tears.
Oft have I digged up dead men from their graves,
And set them upright at their dear friends’ door,
Even when their sorrows almost was forgot,
And on their skins, as on the bark of trees,
Have with my knife carved in Roman letters,
“Let not your sorrow die, though I am dead.”
But I have done a thousand dreadful things
As willingly as one would kill a fly,
And nothing grieves me heartily indeed
But that I cannot do ten thousand more.
I wish I had done a thousand more evils. Every day of my life I've done countless terrible things - killed men, ravished maids, made false accusations, set deadly enemies between friends, made poor men's cattle break their necks, set fire to barns and haystacks at night and made the owners cry trying to put them out. I've dug up dead men from their graves and set them upright at their loved ones' doors, even when their grief had almost faded, and carved cruel messages on their skin like on tree bark: "Let not your sorrow die, though I am dead." But I've done a thousand dreadful things as willingly as one would kill a fly, and the only thing that truly grieves me is that I cannot do ten thousand more.
I wish I had done a thousand more crimes. My whole life has been full of evil - killing people, raping women, making false accusations, turning friends into deadly enemies, killing livestock, burning down barns and haystacks and making the owners cry trying to save them. I've dug up bodies and left them standing at people's doorsteps, even after they thought their grief was over, and carved cruel messages on their skin. I've committed thousands of horrible acts as easily as killing a fly, and the only thing that really bothers me is that I can't commit ten thousand more.
wish i'd done a thousand more crimes killed people, raped women, made false charges, burned things, dug up bodies left them at people's homes with cruel messages carved on done thousands of evil things easy as swatting a fly only thing that gets me is i can't do ten thousand more
Lucius is the play's designated survivor and new emperor. He is also a man who, in this scene, casually orders a newborn hanged 'that he may see it sprawl' as a torture device against the father. The line is not softened or apologised for.
Shakespeare gives Lucius the moral authority of the avenger while refusing to make him morally comfortable. He has banished Titus's sons (1-1), pursued revenge with a foreign army, and now threatens infanticide as an interrogation technique.
The ending of the play raises questions the text doesn't answer: What kind of Rome will Lucius build? He has Aaron — a man he made a promise to and will presumably keep — in custody. He has the baby. He is becoming emperor of a city whose streets have been poisoned by the Saturninus-Tamora regime.
The critical literature on Lucius is extensive and divided. Some scholars read him as a genuine restoration figure, others as a figure whose means contaminate his ends. The scene in which he threatens the baby is usually cited as the key piece of evidence for the latter reading. Shakespeare does not resolve it.
Bring down the devil, for he must not die
So sweet a death as hanging presently.
Bring down the devil. He must not die so sweetly as by hanging now.
Get him down. Hanging is too easy for him.
get him down. hanging is too sweet.
If there be devils, would I were a devil,
To live and burn in everlasting fire,
So I might have your company in hell
But to torment you with my bitter tongue!
If there are devils, I wish I were one—to live and burn in hell forever just to have your company there and torment you with my tongue.
If hell exists, I wish I were damned to burn there forever—just to be with you and torture you with my words.
if there's a hell i'd burn forever just to torment you with my words.
Sirs, stop his mouth, and let him speak no more.
Gag him. Let him speak no more.
Stop him. No more talking.
shut him up.
My lord, there is a messenger from Rome
Desires to be admitted to your presence.
My lord, there is a messenger from Rome requesting to see you.
My lord, Rome sent a messenger who wants to see you.
rome sent a messenger.
Let him come near.
Welcome, Aemilius. What’s the news from Rome?
Let him come. Welcome, Aemilius. What news from Rome?
Let him through. Aemilius—welcome. What's Rome saying?
welcome, aemilius. what news?
Lord Lucius, and you princes of the Goths,
The Roman emperor greets you all by me;
And, for he understands you are in arms,
He craves a parley at your father’s house,
Willing you to demand your hostages,
And they shall be immediately delivered.
Lord Lucius and you princes of the Goths, the Roman emperor greets you all through me. Knowing that you're armed for war, he requests a parley at your father's house. He's willing for you to demand your hostages, and they will be delivered immediately.
Lord Lucius and you leaders of the Goths, the emperor sends his greetings through me. He understands you're ready for war, so he wants to negotiate at your father's place. He's willing to let you demand the hostages and promises to deliver them right away.
the emperor greets you he knows you're armed for war he wants to negotiate demand your hostages he'll deliver them immediately
What says our general?
What does our general say?
What's your answer, sir?
what do you say?
Aemilius, let the emperor give his pledges
Unto my father and my uncle Marcus,
And we will come. March away.
Aemilius, the emperor must give his pledges to my father and uncle Marcus, and then we will come. March forward.
Aemilius, tell Saturnine to give hostages to my father and uncle. Then we'll come. Let's move.
he gives hostages. to my father and uncle. then we come. let's go.
The Reckoning
The scene's emotional centre is Aaron's confession — the most sustained piece of amoral self-disclosure in Shakespeare before Iago. He confesses to everything not in remorse but in pride. His list of crimes includes things never shown in the play — digging up corpses, carving messages on their skins, setting fire to haystacks — and the excess is deliberate: Aaron is performing the role of supervillain for an audience that would prefer a category. The baby complicates this. Aaron fought to save this child in 4-2; now the child is the leverage used against him. He bargains for it without hesitation. He is consistent: the child comes first.
If this happened today…
A person who has done terrible things is caught — not because of brilliant police work but because he refused to abandon the one person he loved. When interrogated, instead of minimising or expressing remorse, he catalogues every bad thing he's ever done with visible satisfaction. Then he bargains for his child's safety using that catalogue as currency. What do you do with a person like that?