Titus Andronicus: Act 2, Scene 2 Translation

A side-by-side translation of Act 2, Scene 2 of Titus Andronicus from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

Original Text	Translated Text
Source: Folger Shakespeare Library
Enter Titus Andronicus and his three sons, and Marcus, making a noise with hounds and horns.	The next morning Titus and his sons wait outside the emperor's palace and prepare for a day of hunting.
TITUS The hunt is up, the moon is bright and gray, 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, 5 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. 10	Titus says he didn't sleep well last night but he has a feeling it's going to be a good day.
Here a cry of hounds, and wind horns in a peal. Then enter Saturninus, Tamora, Bassianus, Lavinia, Chiron, Demetrius, and their Attendants. TITUS Many good morrows to your Majesty;— Madam, to you as many, and as good.— I promisèd your Grace a hunter’s peal.	Saturninus, Tamora, Bassianus, Lavinia, Chiron, Demetrius, and a bunch of attendants enter and Titus greets them.
SATURNINUS And you have rung it lustily, my lords— Somewhat too early for new-married ladies. 15	Saturninus cracks a joke about how it's way too early in the morning for newly married ladies to be awake (since they're probably exhausted from the all the previous night's steamy activities).
BASSIANUS Lavinia, how say you? LAVINIA I say no. I have been broad awake two hours and more.	Lavinia announces that she's not tired at all – in fact, she's been awake for hours.
SATURNINUS Come on, then. Horse and chariots let us have, And to our sport. (To Tamora) Madam, now shall 20 you see Our Roman hunting. MARCUS I have dogs, my lord, Will rouse the proudest panther in the chase And climb the highest promontory top. 25 TITUS And I have horse will follow where the game Makes way and runs like swallows o’er the plain. DEMETRIUS, aside to Chiron Chiron, we hunt not, we, with horse nor hound, But hope to pluck a dainty doe to ground. They exit.	As everyone talks excitedly about the big panther hunt, Chiron and Demetrius snicker that they're hoping to "pluck a dainty doe to the ground," which is a crude metaphor for their plan to rape Lavinia while everyone else is hunting for panther.