Page:Titus Andronicus (1926) Yale.djvu/89

Titus Andronicus, V. i

'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 rush'd upon him,

Surpris'd him suddenly, and brought him hither,

To use as you think needful of the man.

Luc. O worthy Goth, this is the incarnate devil

That robb'd Andronicus of his good hand:

This is the pearl that pleas'd your empress' eye,

And here's the base fruit of his burning lust.

Say, wall-ey'd 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.

Aar. Touch not the boy; he is of royal blood.

Luc. Too like the sire for ever being good.

First hang the child, that he may see it sprawl;

A sight to vex the father's soul withal.

Get me a ladder.

[''A ladder is brought, which Aaron is made to ascend''.]

Aar. Lucius, save the child;

And bear it from me to the empress.

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!'

Luc. Say on; and if it please me which thou speak'st,

Thy child shall live, and I will see it nourish'd.

Aar. And if it please thee! why, assure thee, Lucius,

 42 pearl eye; cf. n.

44 wall-ey'd: white-eyed

50 for ever being: ever to be

