Titus Andronicus

Titus, his three sons, and Marcus enter, ready for the hunt. Saturninus, Tamora, Bassianus, Lavinia, Chiron, and Demetrius all join them, with attendants. Saturninus says they’ve rung the bells too early for the newly-wedded woman. At Bassianus’s prompting, Lavinia disagrees. Titus and Marcus brag about their horses and dogs. Demetrius privately reminds Chiron of their plan to rape Lavinia.

Aaron buries a bag of gold beneath a tree, saying that it will play a role in a stratagem. Tamora enters and questions why he looks sad when the day is bright. She propositions him, suggesting they use the time while the others hunt to have sex and sleep. Aaron tells her that he cannot be happy while she is with Saturninus, and he longs for bloody revenge on the Romans. He tells her that Chiron and Demetrius plan to kill Bassianus and rape Lavinia. He gives her a letter to give to Saturninus as part of the plot. Tamora approves.

Bassianus and Lavinia enter. Aaron tells Tamora to pick a quarrel with Bassianus while he fetches Chiron and Demetrius. Tamora scolds Bassianus and Lavinia for intruding on her, treating them as her inferiors.