Page 2191 - Shakespeare - Vol. 1

Renownèd Lucius, from our troops I strayed [20]
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 controlled 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 mightst have been an emperor: [30]
But where the bull and cow are both milk-white
They never do beget a coal-black calf.
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 empress’ babe,
Will hold thee dearly for thy, mother’s sake.’
With this, my weapon drawn, I rushed upon him,
Surprised him suddenly, and brought him hither,
To use as you think needful of the man.

LUCIUS

O worthy Goth, this is the incarnate devil [40]
That robbed Andronicus of his good hand;
This is the pearl that pleased your empress’ eye,
And here’s the base fruit of her burning lust.
Say, wall-eyed slave, whither wouldst thou convey
This growing image of thy fiend-like face?
Why dost not speak? What, deaf? not a word?
A halter, soldiers, hang him on this tree
And by his side his fruit of bastardy.

AARON

Touch not the boy, he is of royal blood.

LUCIUS

Too like the sire for ever being good. [50]
First hang the child, that he may see it sprawl -
A sight to vex the father’s soul withal.

AARON