Aar. Ay, like a black dog, as the saying is.[4718]
Luc. Art thou not sorry for these heinous deeds?
Aar. Ay, that I had not done a thousand more.
Even now I curse the day—and yet, I think, 125
Few come within the compass of my curse—[4719]
Wherein I did not some notorious ill:
As kill a man, or else devise his death;
Ravish a maid, or plot the way to do it;
Accuse some innocent, and forswear myself;[4720] 130
Set deadly enmity between two friends;
Make poor men's cattle break their necks;[4721]
Set fire on barns and hay-stacks in the night
And bid the owners quench them with their tears.[4722]
Oft have I digg'd up dead men from their graves, 135
And set them upright at their dear friends' doors,[4723]
Even when their sorrows almost were forgot;[4724]
And on their skins, as on the bark of trees,
Have with my knife carved in Roman letters
'Let not your sorrow die, though I am dead.' 140
Tut, I have done a thousand dreadful things
As willingly as one would kill a fly;
And nothing grieves me heartily indeed,
But that I cannot do ten thousand more.
Luc. Bring down the devil; for he must not die 145
So sweet a death as hanging presently.
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! 150
Luc. Sirs, stop his mouth, and let him speak no more.
Enter a Goth.[4725]
Third Goth. My lord, there is a messenger from Rome[4726]
Desires to be admitted to your presence.
Luc. Let him come near.
Enter Æmilius.[4727]