Luc. I humbly thank him, and I thank you all. But who comes here led by a lufty Goth. Enter a Goth leading Aaron, with his child in his arms, Goth. Renowned Lucius, from our troops I stray'd Το gaze upon a ruinous monastery; And as I earneftly did fix mine eye Upon the wafted building, fuddenly 1 heard a child cry underneath a wall; I made unto the noise, when foon I heard The crying babe controul'd with this discourse; "Peace, tawny flave, half me and half thy dam, "Did not thy hue bewray whofe brat thou art, "Had nature lent thee but thy mother's look, "Villain, thou might'ft have been an Emperor: "But where the bull and cow are both milk-white, "They never do beget a cole-black calf; "Peace, villain, peace! (even thus he rates the babe) "For I must bear thee to a trufty Goth; "Who, when he knows thou art the Emprefs' babe, Luc. O worthy Goth, this is th' incarnate devil, Aar. Touch not the boy, he is of royal blood. Firft, hang the child that he may fee it sprawl, Aar. (25) Aar. Get me a ladder, Lucius, fave the child.] All the printed editions have given this whole verfe to Aaron. But why fhould the Moor Aar. Lucius, fave the child, And bear it from me to the Emperefs; Luc. Say on, and if it please me which thou fpeak'st, Thy child fhall live, and I will fee it nourish'd. Aar. And if it pleafe thee? why, affure thee, Lucius, 'Twill vex thy foul to hear what I fhall speak: For I must talk of murders, rapes and maffacres, Acts of black night, abominable deeds, Complots of mischief, treafon, villanies, Ruthful to hear, yet piteously perform'd: And this fhall all be buried by my death, Unless thou fwear to me my child shall live. Luc. Tell on thy mind; I fay, thy child fhall live. Aar. Swear, that he fhall; and then I will begin. Luc. Who fhould I swear by? thou believ'ft no god:" That granted, how can't thou believe an oath ? Aar. What if I do not! as, indeed, I do not; And haft a thing within thee called confcience, And keeps the oath, which by that god he fwears, That thou ador'ft and haft in reverence, To fave my boy, nourish and bring him up; Moor here afk for a ladder, who earneftly wanted to have his child fav'd? Unless the poet is fuppos'd to mean for Aaron, that, if they would get him a ladder, he would refolutely hang himself out of the way, fo they would fpare the child. But I much rather fufpect, there is an old error in prefixing the names of the perfons; and that Lucius ought to call for the ladder, and then Aaron very properly entreats of Lucius to fave the child. I ventur'd to make this regulation in my SHAKESPEARE restored, and Mr. Pope has embrac'd it in his last edition, Or elfe I will discover nought to thee. Luc. Even by my god I fwear to thee, I will. Aar. Tut, Lucius, this was but a deed of charity, That bloody mind, I think, they learn'd of me, I play'd the cheater for thy father's hand, Goth. What! can't thou fay all this, and never blush! Luc. Art thou not forry for these heinous deeds? Aar. Ay, that I had not done a thousand more. Ev'n now I curfe the day (and yet I think, Luc. Bring down the devil, for he must not die 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! Luc. Sirs, ftop his mouth, and let him fpeak no more, Enter Emilius. Goth. My Lord, there is a meffenger from Rome Defires to be admitted to your prefence. Luc. Let him come near. Welcome, Æmilius, what's the news from Rome? The Roman Emperor greets you all by me; M 3 Luc. Æmilius, let the Emperor give his pledges Unto my father and my uncle Marcus, And we will come: march away. [Exeunt. SCENE changes to Titus's Palace in Rome. Enter Tamora, Chiron and Demetrius, difguis'd. Tam. T Hus, in these ftrange and fad habiliments, I will encounter with Andronicus : And fay, I am Revenge fent from below, To join with him, and right his heinous wrongs: [They knock, and Titus appears abovsi You are deceiv'd; for what I mean to do, Tam. Titus, I am come to talk with thee. Thou haft the odds of me, therefore no more. Tam. If thou did'ft know me, thou wouldst talk with me Tit. I am not mad; I know thee well enough; Witness this wretched ftump, these crimson lines, Witness these trenches, made by grief and care, Witness the tiring day and heavy night; Witnefs all forrow, that I know thee well For our proud Emprefs, mighty Tamora: Is not thy coming for my other hand? Tam. Know thou, fad man, I am not Tamora: I am Revenge, fent from th' infernal kingdom, Come |