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Authors: William Shakespeare
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art I have,
To pluck proud Lucius from the warlike Goths.
And now, sweet emperor, be blithe again,
And bury all thy fear in my devices.
SATURNINUS Then go successantly 112 , and plead to him.
Exeunt
Act 5 [Scene 1]
running scene 9
Flourish. Enter Lucius with an army of Goths with Drum and Soldiers
LUCIUS Approvèd 1 warriors and my faithful friends,
I have receivèd letters from great Rome
Which signifies what hate they bear their emperor,
And how desirous of our sight they are.
Therefore, great lords, be, as your titles witness, 5
Imperious and impatient of your wrongs,
And wherein Rome hath done you any scathe 7
Let him make treble satisfaction.
FIRST GOTH Brave slip 9 sprung from the great Andronicus,
Whose name was once our terror, now our comfort,
Whose high exploits and honourable deeds
Ingrateful Rome requites with foul contempt,
Be bold 13 in us. We’ll follow where thou lead’st,
Like stinging bees in hottest summer’s day
Led by their master 15 to the flowered fields,
And be avenged on cursèd Tamora.
ALL THE GOTHS And as he saith, so say we all with him.
LUCIUS I humbly thank him, and I thank you all.
But who comes here, led by a lusty 19 Goth?
Enter a Goth, leading of Aaron with his child in his arms
SECOND GOTH Renownèd Lucius, from our troops I strayed
To gaze upon a ruinous monastery,
And as I earnestly 22 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 26 with this discourse:
‘Peace, tawny 27 slave, half me and half thy dam!
Did not thy hue bewray whose brat 28 thou art,
Had nature lent thee but thy mother’s look,
Villain, thou mightst have been an emperor.
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 33 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. 39
LUCIUS O worthy Goth, this is the incarnate devil
That robbed Andronicus of his good hand,
This is the pearl that pleased your empress’ eye, 42
And here’s the base fruit 43 of his burning lust.—
To Aaron
Say, wall-eyed 44 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 50 for ever being good.
First hang the child, that he may see it sprawl: 51
A sight to vex the father’s soul withal. 52
Get me a ladder.
A ladder is brought, which Aaron is made to climb
A Goth takes the child
AARON Lucius, save the child,
And bear it from me to the emperess.
If thou do this, I’ll show thee wondrous things
That highly may advantage thee to hear.
If thou wilt not, befall what may befall,
I’ll speak no more but ‘Vengeance rot you all!’
LUCIUS Say on, an if it please me which thou speak’st,
Thy child shall live and I will see it nourished.
AARON An if it please thee? Why, assure thee, Lucius,
’Twill vex thy soul to hear what I shall speak,
For I must talk of murders, rapes and massacres,
Acts of black night, abominable deeds,
Complots of mischief 66 , treason, villainies
Ruthful to hear yet piteously performed: 67
And this shall all be buried by my death
Unless thou swear to me my child shall live.
LUCIUS Tell on thy mind, I say thy child shall live.
AARON Swear that he shall and then I will begin.
LUCIUS Who should I swear by? Thou
To pluck proud Lucius from the warlike Goths.
And now, sweet emperor, be blithe again,
And bury all thy fear in my devices.
SATURNINUS Then go successantly 112 , and plead to him.
Exeunt
Act 5 [Scene 1]
running scene 9
Flourish. Enter Lucius with an army of Goths with Drum and Soldiers
LUCIUS Approvèd 1 warriors and my faithful friends,
I have receivèd letters from great Rome
Which signifies what hate they bear their emperor,
And how desirous of our sight they are.
Therefore, great lords, be, as your titles witness, 5
Imperious and impatient of your wrongs,
And wherein Rome hath done you any scathe 7
Let him make treble satisfaction.
FIRST GOTH Brave slip 9 sprung from the great Andronicus,
Whose name was once our terror, now our comfort,
Whose high exploits and honourable deeds
Ingrateful Rome requites with foul contempt,
Be bold 13 in us. We’ll follow where thou lead’st,
Like stinging bees in hottest summer’s day
Led by their master 15 to the flowered fields,
And be avenged on cursèd Tamora.
ALL THE GOTHS And as he saith, so say we all with him.
LUCIUS I humbly thank him, and I thank you all.
But who comes here, led by a lusty 19 Goth?
Enter a Goth, leading of Aaron with his child in his arms
SECOND GOTH Renownèd Lucius, from our troops I strayed
To gaze upon a ruinous monastery,
And as I earnestly 22 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 26 with this discourse:
‘Peace, tawny 27 slave, half me and half thy dam!
Did not thy hue bewray whose brat 28 thou art,
Had nature lent thee but thy mother’s look,
Villain, thou mightst have been an emperor.
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 33 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. 39
LUCIUS O worthy Goth, this is the incarnate devil
That robbed Andronicus of his good hand,
This is the pearl that pleased your empress’ eye, 42
And here’s the base fruit 43 of his burning lust.—
To Aaron
Say, wall-eyed 44 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 50 for ever being good.
First hang the child, that he may see it sprawl: 51
A sight to vex the father’s soul withal. 52
Get me a ladder.
A ladder is brought, which Aaron is made to climb
A Goth takes the child
AARON Lucius, save the child,
And bear it from me to the emperess.
If thou do this, I’ll show thee wondrous things
That highly may advantage thee to hear.
If thou wilt not, befall what may befall,
I’ll speak no more but ‘Vengeance rot you all!’
LUCIUS Say on, an if it please me which thou speak’st,
Thy child shall live and I will see it nourished.
AARON An if it please thee? Why, assure thee, Lucius,
’Twill vex thy soul to hear what I shall speak,
For I must talk of murders, rapes and massacres,
Acts of black night, abominable deeds,
Complots of mischief 66 , treason, villainies
Ruthful to hear yet piteously performed: 67
And this shall all be buried by my death
Unless thou swear to me my child shall live.
LUCIUS Tell on thy mind, I say thy child shall live.
AARON Swear that he shall and then I will begin.
LUCIUS Who should I swear by? Thou
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