Enter Aaron, Chiron, and Demetrius at one door; and at another door, young Lucius and an Attendant, with a bundle of weapons, and verses writ upon them.[4501]
Chi. Demetrius, here's the son of Lucius;
He hath some message to deliver us.
Aar. Ay, some mad message from his mad grandfather.
Boy. My lords, with all the humbleness I may,
I greet your honours from Andronicus. 5
[Aside] And pray the Roman gods confound you both![4502]
Dem. Gramercy, lovely Lucius: what's the news?[4503]
Boy. [Aside] That you are both decipher'd, that's the news,[4502][4504]
For villains mark'd with rape.—May it please you,[4505]
My grandsire, well advised, hath sent by me 10
The goodliest weapons of his armoury
To gratify your honourable youth,
The hope of Rome; for so he bid me say;[4506]
And so I do, and with his gifts present
Your lordships, that, whenever you have need,[4507] 15
You may be armed and appointed well:
And so I leave you both, [Aside] like bloody villains.[4502]
[Exeunt Boy and Attendant.[4508]
Dem. What's here? A scroll, and written round about!
Let's see:
[Reads] 'Integer vitæ, scelerisque purus, 20
Non eget Mauri jaculis, nec arcu.'[4509]
Chi. O, 'tis a verse in Horace; I know it well:
I read it in the grammar long ago.
Aar. Ay, just; a verse in Horace; right, you have it.
[Aside] Now, what a thing it is to be an ass![4510] 25
Here's no sound jest: the old man hath found their guilt,[4510][4511]
And sends them weapons wrapp'd about with lines,[4510][4512]
That wound, beyond their feeling, to the quick.[4510]
But were our witty empress well afoot,[4510]
She would applaud Andronicus' conceit:[4510] 30
But let her rest in her unrest awhile.—[4510]
And now, young lords, was't not a happy star
Led us to Rome, strangers, and more than so,
Captives, to be advanced to this height?
It did me good, before the palace gate 35
To brave the tribune in his brother's hearing.[4513]