Page 2177 - Shakespeare - Vol. 1
P. 2177
Shall seize this prey out of his father’s hands.
What, what, ye sanguine, shallow-hearted boys!
Ye white-limed walls! ye alehouse painted signs!
Coal-black is better than another hue
In that it scorns to bear another hue; [100]
For all the water in the ocean
Can never turn the swan’s black legs to white,
Although she lave them hourly in the flood.
Tell the empress from me, I am of age
To keep mine own, excuse it how she can.
DEMET RIUS
Wilt thou betray thy noble mistress thus?
AARON
My mistress is my mistress, this my self,
The vigour and the picture of my youth:
This before all the world do I prefer;
This maugre all the world will I keep safe, [110]
Or some of you shall smoke for it in Rome.
DEMET RIUS
By this our mother is for ever shamed.
CHIRON
Rome will despise her for this foul escape.
NURSE
The emperor in his rage will doom her death.
CHIRON
I blush to think upon this ignomy.
AARON
Why, there’s the privilege your beauty bears.
Fie, treacherous hue! that will betray with blushing
The, close enacts and counsels of thy heart!
Here’s a young lad framed of another leer:
Look how the black slave smiles upon the father, [120]
As who should say, ‘Old lad, I am thine own’
