Titus Andronicus: Act 2, Scene 2

tragedy

A forest near Rome. Horns and cry of hounds heard.

Scene Summary

The hunting party assembles at dawn in the forest outside Rome. Titus is in good spirits, greeting the emperor and empress cheerfully, with no idea what is being planned around him. The brief scene shows the contrast between Titus's loyalty and the scheming that surrounds him.

Enter TITUS ANDRONICUS, with Hunters, & c., MARCUS, LUCIUS, QUINTUS, and MARTIUS

TITUS ANDRONICUS

The hunt is up, the morn is bright and grey,

The fields are fragrant and the woods are green:

Uncouple here and let us make a bay

And wake the emperor and his lovely bride

And rouse the prince and ring a hunter's peal,

That all the court may echo with the noise.

Sons, let it be your charge, as it is ours,

To attend the emperor's person carefully:

I have been troubled in my sleep this night,

But dawning day new comfort hath inspired.

A cry of hounds and horns, winded in a peal. Enter SATURNINUS, TAMORA, BASSIANUS, LAVINIA, DEMETRIUS, CHIRON, and Attendants

Many good morrows to your majesty;

Madam, to you as many and as good:

I promised your grace a hunter's peal.

SATURNINUS

And you have rung it lustily, my lord;

Somewhat too early for new-married ladies.

BASSIANUS

Lavinia, how say you?

LAVINIA

I say, no;

I have been broad awake two hours and more.

SATURNINUS

Come on, then; horse and chariots let us have,

And to our sport.

To TAMORA

Madam, now shall ye see

Our Roman hunting.

MARCUS ANDRONICUS

I have dogs, my lord,

Will rouse the proudest panther in the chase,

And climb the highest promontory top.

TITUS ANDRONICUS

And I have horse will follow where the game

Makes way, and run like swallows o'er the plain.

DEMETRIUS

Chiron, we hunt not, we, with horse nor hound,

But hope to pluck a dainty doe to ground.

Exeunt