ACT 1
Scene 1
Flourish. Enter the Tribunes (including Marcus Andronicus) and Senators aloft. And then enter, below, Saturninus and his followers at one door, and Bassianus and his followers at another door, with other Romans, Drums, and Trumpets.

...with this indignity.
Romans, friends, followers, favorers of my right,
If ever Bassianus, Caesar’s son,
Were gracious in the eyes of royal Rome,
Keep, then, this passage to the Capitol,
And suffer not dishonor to approach
The imperial seat, to virtue consecrate,
To justice, continence, and nobility;
But let desert in pure election shine,
And, Romans, fight for freedom in your choice.

...calm my thoughts!
Marcus Andronicus, so I do affy
In thy uprightness and integrity,
And so I love and honor thee and thine,
Thy noble brother Titus and his sons,
And her to whom my thoughts are humbled all,
Gracious Lavinia, Rome’s rich ornament,
That I will here dismiss my loving friends,
And to my fortunes and the people’s favor
Commit my cause in balance to be weighed.

...let me in.
Tribunes, and me, a poor competitor.
Flourish. They exit to go up into the Senate House. The Tribunes and Senators exit from the upper stage.

...praise. Lavinia rises.
Enter Marcus Andronicus, carrying a white robe. Enter aloft Saturninus, Bassianus, Tribunes, Senators, and Guards.

...them from themselves.
Andronicus, I do not flatter thee,
But honor 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 honorable meed.

...our Emperor Saturnine.”
A long flourish till Saturninus, Bassianus, and Guards come down.

...trump and drum.
Lord Titus, by your leave, this maid is mine.

...then, my lord?
Ay, noble Titus, and resolved withal
To do myself this reason and this right.
Bassianus takes Lavinia by the arm.

...Surprised? By whom?
By him that justly may
Bear his betrothed from all the world away.

...this door safe.
Bassianus, Lavinia, Marcus, Lucius, Quintus, and Martius exit.

...nobly him remunerate.
Flourish. Enter the Emperor Saturninus, Tamora and her two sons, with Aaron the Moor, Drums and Trumpets, at one door. Enter at the other door Bassianus and Lavinia, with Lucius, Martius, and Quintus, and others.

...your gallant bride.
And you of yours, my lord. I say no more,
Nor wish no less, and so I take my leave.

...repent this rape.
“Rape” call you it, my lord, to seize my own,
My true betrothèd love and now my wife?
But let the laws of Rome determine all.
Meanwhile am I possessed of that is mine.

...sharp with you.
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 honor wronged,
That in the rescue of Lavinia
With his own hand did slay his youngest son,
In zeal to you, and highly moved to wrath
To be controlled in that he frankly gave.
Receive him then to favor, Saturnine,
That hath expressed himself in all his deeds
A father and a friend to thee and Rome.

...and gramercy too.
Sound trumpets. All but Aaron exit.

ACT 2
Scene 2

...comfort hath inspired.
Then enter Saturninus, Tamora, Bassianus, Lavinia, Chiron, Demetrius, and their Attendants.

...for new-married ladies.
Lavinia, how say you?

...doe to ground.
They exit.

Scene 3

...their lives’ destruction.
Enter Bassianus and Lavinia.

...whatsoe’er they be.
Who have we here? Rome’s royal empress,
Unfurnished of her well-beseeming troop?
Or is it Dian, habited like her,
Who hath abandonèd her holy groves
To see the general hunting in this forest?

...for a stag.
Believe me, queen, your swarthy Cimmerian
Doth make your honor of his body’s hue,
Spotted, detested, and abominable.
Why are you sequestered from all your train,
Dismounted from your snow-white goodly steed,
And wandered hither to an obscure plot,
Accompanied but with a barbarous Moor,
If foul desire had not conducted you?

...purpose passing well.
The King my brother shall have notice of this.

...show my strength.
They stab Bassianus.

...us hide him.
They put Bassianus’ body in the pit and exit, carrying off Lavinia.

...murder is discoverèd.
Attendants pull Quintus, Martius, and the body of Bassianus from the pit.

...talk with them.
They exit, with Attendants leading Martius and Quintus and bearing the body of Bassianus.