Original: Princes, that strive by factions and by friends
Modern: Princes, you who compete using political groups and allies

Original: Ambitiously for rule and empery,
Modern: Ambitiously to gain power and control of the empire,

Original: Know that the people of Rome, for whom we stand
Modern: You should know that the Roman people, whom we represent

Original: A special party, have, by common voice,
Modern: As their special representatives, have by popular vote,

Original: In election for the Roman empery,
Modern: In the election for emperor of Rome,

Original: Chosen Andronicus, surnamed Pius
Modern: Chosen Andronicus, nicknamed “the Pious”

Original: For many good and great deserts to Rome:
Modern: Because of his many good and great services to Rome:

Original: A nobler man, a braver warrior,
Modern: A more honorable man, a more courageous warrior,

Original: Lives not this day within the city walls:
Modern: Does not live today within the walls of this city:

Original: He by the senate is accit’d home
Modern: He has been summoned home by the senate

Original: From weary wars against the barbarous Goths;
Modern: From exhausting wars against the savage Goths;

Original: That, with his sons, a terror to our foes,
Modern: Who, fighting alongside his sons and terrifying our enemies,

Original: Hath yoked a nation strong, train’d up in arms.
Modern: Has conquered a powerful nation trained in warfare.

Original: Ten years are spent since first he undertook
Modern: Ten years have passed since he first took on

Original: This cause of Rome and chastised with arms
Modern: This mission for Rome and punished with military force

Original: Our enemies’ pride: five times he hath return’d
Modern: Our enemies’ arrogance: five times he has returned

Original: Bleeding to Rome, bearing his valiant sons
Modern: Wounded to Rome, carrying his brave sons

Original: In coffins from the field;
Modern: In coffins from the battlefield;

Original: And now at last, laden with horror’s spoils,
Modern: And now finally, loaded down with the prizes of terrible war,

Original: Returns the good Andronicus to Rome,
Modern: The good Andronicus returns to Rome,

Original: Renowned Titus, flourishing in arms.
Modern: The famous Titus, triumphant in battle.

Original: Let us entreat, by honour of his name,
Modern: Let us beg you, by the honor of his name,

Original: Whom worthily you would have now succeed.
Modern: Who you would rightfully want to succeed as emperor.

Original: And in the Capitol and senate’s right,
Modern: And in respect to the Capitol building and the senate’s authority,

Original: Whom you pretend to honour and adore,
Modern: Which you claim to honor and respect,

Original: That you withdraw you and abate your strength;
Modern: That you back down and reduce your show of force;

Original: Dismiss your followers and, as suitors should,
Modern: Send away your supporters and, as candidates should,

Original: Plead your deserts in peace and humbleness.
Modern: Make your case for why you deserve to rule peacefully and humbly.

The scene opens with Saturninus and Bassianus, sons of the late Roman Emperor, arriving at the Capitol with their respective followers, each claiming the right to succeed their father on the throne. Saturninus, as the eldest, argues for primogeniture, while Bassianus asserts his own virtues and fitness to rule. Marcus Andronicus, Tribune of the People, interrupts their dispute to announce that the people of Rome have chosen his brother Titus Andronicus, who is returning victorious from a ten-year war against the Goths, to be their new emperor. Before Titus arrives, Marcus asks the two brothers to cease their quarrel and dismiss their followers.

Titus enters in triumph with his surviving sons, prisoners from the war including Tamora (Queen of the Goths), her sons Alarbus, Demetrius, and Chiron, and Aaron the Moor. The procession also includes a coffin bearing Titus’s son who died in the recent battle. Titus’s son Lucius demands that the “proudest prisoner of the Goths” be sacrificed according to Roman ritual to appease the spirits of their dead brothers. Despite Tamora’s pleas for mercy and her appeal to Titus’s sense of paternal feeling, Titus allows his sons to take Alarbus away to be sacrificed. After the sacrifice is completed and Titus has interred his dead sons in the family tomb, Marcus informs him of the people’s desire to make him emperor, but Titus declines the honor, citing his age and weariness, and instead recommends Saturninus for the throne.

Titus Andronicus opens with the Roman general Titus returning victorious from war against the Goths, bringing with him prisoners including Tamora, Queen of the Goths, and her three sons. Despite Tamora’s pleas, Titus sacrifices her eldest son Alarbus in revenge for his own sons killed in battle. The Emperor Saturninus chooses Tamora as his bride, and she secretly plots revenge against Titus. Meanwhile, Titus’s daughter Lavinia is betrothed to Bassianus, the Emperor’s brother, though Saturninus had wanted to marry her himself.

Tamora’s sons Demetrius and Chiron, aided by the villainous Aaron the Moor, murder Bassianus and brutally assault Lavinia, cutting off her hands and tongue to prevent her from identifying them. Aaron tricks two of Titus’s sons, Quintus and Martius, into falling into the pit where Bassianus’s body lies, and they are arrested for his murder. Aaron then deceives Titus into believing that if he cuts off his own hand and sends it to the Emperor, his sons will be spared. Titus complies, but receives back his severed hand along with the heads of his executed sons.

Lavinia manages to reveal her attackers’ identities by writing in the dirt with a stick held in her mouth. Titus feigns madness while plotting revenge and sends weapons with threatening messages to Tamora’s sons. When Tamora gives birth to Aaron’s child, Aaron flees with the baby but is eventually captured. In the final act, Titus kills Tamora’s sons and serves them to her baked in a pie at a banquet. He then kills Lavinia to end her suffering, murders Tamora, and is immediately killed by Saturninus. Titus’s surviving son Lucius kills Saturninus and is proclaimed the new Emperor, ordering Aaron to be buried alive and vowing to restore order to Rome.