Omn. And, as he saith, so say we all with him. Luc. I humbly thank him, and I thank you all. But who comes here, led by a lusty Goth? Enter a Goth, leading AARON, with his Child in his Arms. 21 Goth. Renowned Lucius, from our troops I stray'd, To gaze upon a ruinous monastery; And as I earnestly did fix mine eye Upon the wasted Building, suddenly I heard a child cry underneath a wall : I made unto the noise; when soon I heard The crying babe control'd with this discourse : Peace, tawny slave; half me, and half thy dam! Did not thy hue bewray whose brat thou art, Had nature lent thee but thy mother's look, Villain thou might’st have been an emperor : ༢༠ But where the bull and cow are both milk-white, Peace, villain, peace!-even thus he rates the babe,~ For I must bear thee to a trusty Goth; Who, when he knows thou art the emperess' babe, Will hold thee dearly for thy mother's sake. With this, my weapon drawn, I rush'd upon him, Surpris'd' him suddenly; and brought him hither, To use as you think needful of the man. Luc. O worthy Goth! this is the incarnate devil, That robb'd Andronicus of his good hand : This is the pearl that pleas'd your emperess' eye; And here's the base fruit of his burning lust. 41 Say, wall-ey'd slave, whither would'st thou convey This growing image of thy fiend-like face? Why dost not speak? What! deaf? No! not a word? A halter, soldiers; hang him on this tree, Aar. Touch not the boy, he is of royal blood. Aar. Lucius, save the child, And bear it from me to the emperess. If thou do this, I'll show thee wondrous things, I'll speak no more; But vengeance rot you all! speak'st, Thy child shall live, and I will see it nourish'd. Aar. An if it please thee? why, assure thee, "Twill vex thy soul to hear what I shall speak; Unless thou swear to me, my child shall live. 69 Luc. Tell on thy mind; I say, thy child shall live. Aar. Swear, that he shall, and then I will begin. Luc. Who should I swear by thou believ'st no god; That granted, how can'st thou believe an oath ? And hast a thing within thee, called conscience; 80 And keeps the oath, which by that god he swears; Luc. Even by my god, I swear to thee, I will. Aar. First, know thou, I begot him on the em peress. Luc. O most insatiate, luxurious woman! Aar. Tut, Lucius! this was but a deed of charity, To that which thou shalt hear of me anon. 'Twas her two sons, that murder'd Bassianus: They cut thy sister's tongue, and ravish'd her, 91 And cut her hands off; and trimm'd her as thou saw'st. Luc. O, detestable villain ! call'st thou that trimming? Aar. Aar. Why, she was wash'd, and out, and trimm'd; and 'twas Trim sport for them that had the doing of it. Luc. O, barbarous beastly villains, like thyself! Aar. Indeed, I was the tutor to instruct them: That codding spirit had they from their mother, 100 As sure a card as ever won the set; That bloody mind, I think, they learn'd of me, I play'd the cheater for thy father's hand; And almost broke my heart with extreme laughter, blush? Aar. Ay, like a black dog, as the saying is. 120 Luc. Art thou not sorry for these heinous deeds? Aar. Ay, that I had not done a thousand more. Even now I curse the day (and yet, I think, Few come within the compass of my curse), Wherein I did not some notorious ill : As kill a man, or else devise his death; 130 Luc. Bring down the devil; for he must not die So sweet a death, as hanging presently. Aar. If there be devils, 'would I were a devil, To live and burn in everlasting fire; So I might have your company in hell, But to torment you with my bitter tongue! 140 150 Luc. Sirs, stop his mouth, and let him speak no more. Enter |