Page 2173 - Shakespeare - Vol. 1

And so I leave you both - like bloody villains. Exit.

DEMET RIUS

What’s here? a scroll, and written round about?
Let’s see:
Integer vitæ, scelerisque purus, [20]
Non eget Mauri jaculis, nec arcu.

CHIRON

O, ’tis a verse in Horace; I know it well:
I read it in the grammar long ago.

AARON

Ay, just; a verse in Horace; right, you have it.
[Aside] Now, what a thing it is to be an ass!
Here’s no sound jest! the old man bath found their guilt
And sends them weapons wrapped about with lines
That wound, beyond their feeling, to the quick:
But were our witty empress well afoot,
She would applaud Andronicus’ conceit; [30]
But let her rest in her unrest awhile. -
And now, young lords, was’t not a happy star
Led us to Rome, strangers, and more than so,
Captives, to be advancèd to this height?
It did me good before the palace gate
To brave the tribune in his brother’s bearing.

DEMET RIUS

But me more good, to see so great a lord
Basely insinuate and send us gifts.

AARON

Had be not reason, lord Demetrius?
Did you not use his daughter very friendly? [40]

DEMET RIUS

I would we had a thousand Roman dames
At such a bay, by turn to serve our lust.