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Act 1 Scene 1
1.1 Location: Rome (outside the senate house or Capitol) 1.1 Flourish trumpet fanfare accompanying the arrival or departure of a person or people of rank 1.1 Tribunes officials appointed to protect the interests and rights of the people 1.1 aloft i.e. on the upper staging level or gallery 1.1 Saturninus a name suggestive of a saturnine temperament, i.e. gloomy, sullen, sluggish 1.1 Drum and Colours drummers and flag bearers
1 patricians Roman noblemen
1 patrons protectors, supporters
4 successive hereditary
5 that of he who
6 diadem crown
7 honours respect due to rank/reputation/dignity
11 gracious popular/worthy of favor
12 Keep guard
12 Capitol hill on which the temple of Jupiter stood; used in the play as the location of the senate house (the seat of government) 13 suffer not do not permit
14 virtue consecrate worth consecrated
15 continence self-restraint
16 desert merit, worth
16 pure election free choice (as opposed to automatic inheritance by the eldest son) 19 empery status of emperor/absolute dominion
21 A special party i.e. elected representative (a tribune) 21 voice vote/consensus
23 surnamed given the honorary name
23 Pius i.e. dutiful, patriotic, just (embodying the virtues of Rome's legendary founder, Pius Aeneas) 24 deserts worthy deeds, actions deserving reward
27 accited summoned
29 That he who
30 yoked conquered
38 flourishing vigorous, thriving, eminent
39 honour ... succeed the honorable name of the candidate you wish to succeed worthily to the empery (i.e. "your own honor" as the speech is addressed to Saturninus and Bassianus, each of whom wants the empery) 42 pretend claim
44 suitors petitioners
45 deserts deservings, rights
46 fair courteously, in a balanced manner
47 affy trust
51 all entirely
56 forward in active in supporting
61 confident and kind trustful and well-disposed
63 competitor fellow candidate
65 Patron protector/pattern
65 champion defender
68 circumscribed confined
68.1 Tamora her name may be an allusion to Tomyris, Queen of the Massagetae, who carried out a bloody revenge on Cyrus of Persia after he had attacked her lands and killed her son; it perhaps suggests "amor" (Latin for "love") and the object of her desire, the "Moor"
68.1 Aaron "aron," which is how the name is spelled in the earliest (Quarto) text, is the name of a bitter herb 68.1 Moor person of either African or Middle Eastern origin; a term often used to refer to someone from Barbary, in north Africa 70 weeds garments
71 bark small ship
72 lading cargo (i.e. fresh goods picked up after the discharge of the original load) 73 anchorage anchors
77 Thou i.e. Jupiter Capitolinus, guardian of the city 78 Stand gracious to look favorably on
80 King Priam King of Troy and father of fifty sons, nearly all of whom were slain in the Trojan war 83 latest last
84 With i.e. let Rome reward with
85 given me leave allowed me (i.e. as they have been defeated) 86 unkind lacking in natural family feeling
86 careless negligent, having no care
88 Styx river forming the boundary to the classical underworld, which could only be crossed by souls whose bodies had been properly buried 90 wont accustomed
93 cell storehouse
95 more again
97 hew hack
98 Ad manus fratrum "to the hands of our brothers" (Latin) 100 That so so that
100 shadows ghosts
101 prodigies ill omens/unnatural events
104 gracious favored/merciful
105 rue feel pity for
106 passion grief
109 Sufficeth not is it not enough
110 triumphs victorious processions into Rome
121 Patient calm
127 straight straight away
129 clean totally
131 Scythia ancient region extending over much of eastern Europe and Asiatic Russia, notorious for its barbarous inhabitants 132 Oppose compare
135 withal as well
136 Queen ... tent Hecuba, the wife of King Priam of Troy, took revenge for the death of her son Polydorus by blinding his murderer, the Thracian King Polymestor 137 sharp severe/merciless
141 quit requite, repay
144 entrails bowels, intestines
147 'larums trumpet calls
149 latest final
153 envy malice
158 fame honor/renown
159 tributary paid as a tribute/like tributary rivers
160 obsequies commemorative rites
166 cordial medicine which invigorates the heart
168 And ... praise i.e. may you outlive even eternal fame, on account of your virtue 171 gentle kind/noble
174 your ... all i.e. the living and the dead share the same honor 176 triumph ceremonial victory celebration
177 aspired risen
177 Solon's happiness the ancient Greek philosopher and lawgiver Solon observed that man is only securely happy when dead 178 bed i.e. the grave
181 tribune ... trust trusted representative
182 palliament candidate's gown (George Peele is the only writer in English to use this word, evidence strongly suggesting his authorship of this scene) 185 candidatus "candidate" (literally "one clad in a white robe") 187 fits befits, suits
192 set abroad generate
197 right and service defending the just cause
201 obtain and ask obtain if you ask
206 would I wish
211 wean ... themselves reconcile them to not getting their own way 216 meed reward
218 voices ... suffrages votes
221 gratulate express joy at, salute
222 admits acknowledges (as lawful successor)
223 suit formal request
224 create appoint
226 Titan Roman sun god
236 in ... deserts as part-payment of the reward you deserve 237 gentleness kindness/nobility
238 an onset a start
242 Pantheon circular temple dedicated to all the gods
243 motion proposal
245 hold me consider myself
245 of by
252 ensigns symbols, tokens
256 unspeakable inexpressible
257 fealty obligation of allegiance
259 for because of
259 state high rank
260 use treat (with possible anticipatory play on the sense of "have sex with") 261 hue appearance/complexion
264 cheer facial expression
267 Rest rely
268 he comforts he who comforts
271 sith since
272 Warrants justifies/acts as a pledge for/authenticates
278 withal moreover
279 reason justified course of action
280 'Suum cuique' "to each his own" (Latin)
283 avaunt be gone
284 su
rprised ambushed, captured unexpectedly
293 Lucius, help Lucius may reenter or may have remained at the rear of Bassianus' party 295 quarrel (hostile) cause
296 Nor neither
303 by leisure barely (i.e. I will not be quick to)
306 Was none was there no one
306 stale laughingstock (especially a ridiculed lover)/person used as a tool for a sinister purpose 311 changing piece fickle woman (piece is derogatory) 312 flourished brandished
314 bandy brawl
315 ruffle fight
318 Phoebe or Diana, Roman goddess of the moon, chastity, and hunting 319 overshine outshine
319 gallant'st finest looking
326 tapers candles
327 Hymenaeus god of marriage
335 Pantheon to the Pantheon
338 Whose ... conquered i.e. who has wisely overcome her misfortune by accepting Saturninus 340 bid invited
341 wont accustomed
342 challenged accused
349 becomes is fitting
353 re-edified rebuilt, restored
354 servitors servants/soldiers
359 bretheren brothers
360 TITUS' TWO SONS i.e. Quintus and Martius, though the theater audience never hears their names 362 vouch maintain, assert
363 in my despite in contemptuous disregard of me/as an act of malice toward me 366 crest helmet (perhaps, anachronistically, with heraldic connotations) 368 repute consider
374 speed succeed/be satisfied
377 Suffer allow
381 The ... funerals the Greek warrior Ajax, in a frenzy of rage because the dead Achilles' armor had been awarded to Odysseus rather than himself, killed a flock of sheep in the maddened belief that they were Greek generals; he committed suicide in shame, but received a proper burial after Odysseus (Laertes' son) persuaded the Greeks that he deserved one 381 advice deliberation
387 dismall'st most ominous
391 trophies memorials to a military victory
394 dumps melancholy mood, dejection
395 subtle cunning, wily
397 is is so
398 device scheming
399 beholding beholden, indebted
402 played your prize won your bout (fencing term)
407 rape seizure (of Lavinia)
411 that that which
412 'Tis good very well
413 sharp curt, short, dismissive (but with sinister play on the sense of "violent") 415 Answer be answerable for (it)
419 opinion reputation
423 controlled checked, thwarted
423 frankly freely, unconditionally
427 leave to plead i.e. leave off pleading on behalf of 428 those i.e. Titus' sons and brother
433 indifferently impartially
436 put it up submit to it
437 forfend forbid
438 author to dishonour responsible for dishonoring
439 undertake vouch
441 fury ... griefs genuine fury attests to the truth of his grief 443 vain suppose needless supposition
446 Dissemble disguise
449 survey consideration, examination
452 at entreats to entreaty
452 let me alone leave it to me
454 raze erase, obliterate
456 sued pleaded
460 Take up bid to rise
465 incorporate in formally admitted to by legal procedure/part of the body of 466 happily fortunately, opportunely
471 For as for
479 Tend'ring while having regard for
480 protest declare, affirm
488 churl ungenerous person
489 friend (generous) patron/lover
493 love-day day for amicable reconciliation/day for lovemaking 494 an if
495 hart male deer
496 bonjour "good day" (French)
497 gramercy "great thanks" (from the French grand merci) Act 2 Scene 1
1 Olympus the mountain home of the Greek gods
3 of from
6 gilt covered with gold, i.e. shone over
7 Gallops gallops through
7 glistering glittering
8 overlooks looks down on
10 wit intelligence/ingenuity; it also has sexual connotations of "genitals" in certain contexts 14 mount her pitch rise to the highest point of her flight (falconry term; mount has sexual connotations) 14 in triumph as a victorious conqueror (who would return to Rome leading his chained prisoners behind his chariot) 16 charming spell-casting
17 Prometheus ... Caucasus in punishment for stealing fire from the gods, Prometheus was chained to a rock in the Caucasus mountains where he had his liver perpetually gnawed by an eagle 18 weeds garments
18 idle worthless/weary
21 wanton frolic lasciviously
21 queen puns on "quean" (i.e. prostitute)
22 Semiramis Assyrian queen famed for beauty, cruelty, and lust 23 siren bewitching creature (part-woman, part-bird, though often confused with the mermaid); her enchanting singing lured sailors to shipwreck 23 braving challenging one another, behaving with bravado 26 want lack
26 edge sharpness; there seems to be a sexual play around "wit" here 27 graced favored
28 aught anything
28 affected loved
29 overween presume
30 bear me down subdue me
30 braves bravado, boasts
34 serve plays on the sense of "have sex"
35 approve prove
37 Clubs, clubs! rallying cry to summon apprentices armed with clubs to suppress a riot 38 unadvised ill-advisedly
39 dancing-rapier sword worn only for ornament when dancing
40 friends relatives
41 Go to expression of impatient dismissal
41 lath stage sword made of wood
45 brave defiant, insolent
47 near ... draw in Elizabethan England, it was illegal to draw weapons near a royal residence 49 wot know
54 put up sheathe your swords
64 brabble brawl, quarrel
64 undo ruin
66 jet encroach
67 loose unchaste, promiscuous
70 controlment restraint
72 ground basis (puns on the musical sense of "base melody, on which variations are developed") 73 knew she if she knew
75 meaner humbler, lower-ranking
79 brook tolerate
81 device scheme, intention
82 deaths perhaps plays on secondary meaning of death as "sexual orgasm"
82 propose be ready to meet
85 mak'st ... strange do you find it so odd
91 shive slice
93 Vulcan's badge i.e. the cuckold's horns traditionally supposed to be worn by a man with an unfaithful wife (Vulcan's wife Venus slept with Mars) 95 court it play the courtier/woo
97 struck ... nose killed a deer and smuggled it away without the gamekeeper noticing (struck a doe plays on the sense of "had sex with a woman or whore"; doe female fallow deer) 99 snatch seizure of the prey/hasty sexual act (the modern "quickie") 100 serve your turns serve your purposes/render sexual service (Chiron plays on this sense in his reply) 102 hit it hit the point exactly/shot the prey (in his reply, Aaron shifts the sense to "penetrated the vagina") 104 ado fuss/copulating
106 square for quarrel over
109 so provided that
110 join ... jar join forces to obtain what you quarrel over 111 policy cunning/strategy
112 affect aim at
113 as ... may achieve in the way you would like you must accomplish any way you can 115 Lucrece virtuous Roman wife who killed herself after being raped by Tarquin 117 ling'ring languishment protracted love-sorrow
119 solemn ceremonial
120 troop gather, assemble
122 plots spots (perhaps suggestive of the sense of "schemes") 123 kind nature
124 Single select, isolate (an animal from the herd)
124 dainty choice/pleasing to the palate/delicately pretty 125 strike her home fatally wound the deer/penetrate the vagi
nal target 126 stand perhaps with connotations of penile erection
127 sacred devoted (to villainy)/ accursed
130 file our engines sharpen our stratagems
131 square yourselves thwart yourselves with quarreling
133 house of Fame house of whispering, gossip, and rumor (described in Ovid's Metamorphoses and Chaucer's House of Fame) 135 dreadful inspiring awe and fear
136 strike take action/attack/penetrate sexually
136 turns plays on the sense of "sexual acts"
138 treasury with the slang sense of "vagina"
140 Sit ... nefas "be it right or wrong" (Latin)
142 Per ... vehor "I am carried through the Stygian regions, through the realm of the shades"--i.e. "I am in hell" (Latin, adapted from Seneca's Hippolytus) Act 2 Scene 2
2.2 Location: Rome (outside the emperor's palace). Hitherto, the style of the play has been mainly that of Peele; henceforth, it is mainly that of Shakespeare
1 up afoot
3 Uncouple release the hounds (who were fastened in couples)
3 bay deep prolonged barking of hunting hounds
5 hunter's peal horn-blowing to rouse the hounds
7 charge responsibility
7 Wind blow a blast on
14 lustily heartily
16 how what
23 chase royal hunting grounds
24 promontory mountain ridge
Act 2 Scene 3
2.3 Location: a forest near Rome
3 inherit possess
5 coin create (literally, stamp metal to form a coin)
6 beget conceive, create
9 alms ... chest i.e. this gold from Tamora's treasury
10 wherefore why
11 boast show
21 conflict sex
22 wand'ring ... Dido while on his sea-wanderings after the fall of Troy, Aeneas landed in Carthage and fell in love with Queen Dido; when out hunting they were caught in a storm and took refuge in a cave where they made love (celebrated in Virgil's Aeneid) 23 happy fortuitous
24 counsel-keeping secret-keeping
30 Venus Roman goddess of love
31 Saturn the planet's influence was supposed to make men sullen and melancholy 31 dominator dominant planet
32 deadly-standing death-dealing
37 venereal erotic, lustful (from Venus)
41 hopes hopes for
43 Philomel Tereus raped Philomel and cut her tongue out to prevent her naming him as the perpetrator; she revealed his identity by weaving an account of what had happened 46 Take it up take it
49 parcel part
49 hopeful hoped-for/promising
53 cross antagonistic, quarrelsome
56 unfurnished ... troop not equipped with a suitable escort
57 Dian Diana, Roman goddess of hunting and chastity
57 habited dressed
59 general participated in by all
60 Saucy insolent
60 controller critic/official responsible for household finances (i.e. one of lower status) 62 presently immediately
63 Actaeon having seen Diana bathing naked, Actaeon was punished by being turned into a stag and hunted by his own hounds
64 drive rush