ACT V.
Scene I. Plains near Rome.
Flourish. Enter Lucius and Goths, with drum and colours.[4677]
Luc. Approved warriors, and my faithful friends,
I have received letters from great Rome,
Which signify what hate they bear their emperor,[4678]
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 scath,
Let him make treble satisfaction.
First Goth. Brave slip, sprung from the great Andronicus,[4679]
Whose name was once our terror, now our comfort; 10
Whose high exploits and honourable deeds
Ingrateful Rome requites with foul contempt,
Be bold in us: we'll follow where thou lead'st,[4680]
Like stinging bees in hottest summer's day,
Led by their master to the flowered fields,[4681] 15
And be avenged on cursed Tamora.[4682]
All the Goths. And as he saith, so say we all with him.[4683]
Luc. I humbly thank him, and I thank you all.
But who comes here, led by a lusty Goth?
Enter a Goth, leading Aaron with his Child in his arms.[4684]
Sec. Goth. Renowned Lucius, from our troops I stray'd[4685] 20
To gaze upon a ruinous monastery;
And, as I earnestly did fix mine eye
Upon the wasted building, suddenly[4686]
I heard a child cry underneath a wall.
I made unto the noise; when soon I heard 25
The crying babe controll'd 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, 35
Will hold thee dearly for thy mother's sake.'
With this, my weapon drawn, I rush'd upon him,
Surprised him suddenly, and brought him hither,
To use as you think needful of the man.