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TITUS ANDRONICUS
SATURNINUS。 But he will not entreat his son for us。 TAMORA。 If
Tamora entreat him； then he will； For I can smooth and fill his aged ears
With golden promises； that； were his heart Almost impregnable； his old
ears deaf； Yet should both ear and heart obey my tongue。 ＇To AEMILIUS＇
Go thou before to be our ambassador； Say that the Emperor requests a
parley Of warlike Lucius； and appoint the meeting Even at his father's
house； the old Andronicus。 SATURNINUS。 Aemilius； do this message
honourably； And if he stand on hostage for his safety； Bid him demand
what pledge will please him best。 AEMILIUS。 Your bidding shall I do
effectually。 Exit TAMORA。 Now will I to that old Andronicus； And
temper him with all the 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； and plead to him。
Exeunt
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ACT V。
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SCENE I。 Plains near Rome
Enter LUCIUS with an army of GOTHS with drums and colours
LUCIUS。 Approved warriors and my faithful friends； I have received
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； 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； Whose name was
once our terror； now our comfort； Whose high exploits and honourable
deeds Ingrateful Rome requites with foul contempt； Be bold in us： we'll
follow where thou lead'st； Like stinging bees in hottest summer's day； Led
by their master to the flow'red fields； And be aveng'd on cursed 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
Goth？
Enter a GOTH； leading AARON with his CHILD in his arms
SECOND GOTH。 Renowned Lucius； from our troops I stray'd To
gaze upon a ruinous monastery； And as I earnestly 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 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； 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； 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。 LUCIUS。 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 her 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！
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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 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 brought； which
AARON is made to climb＇ 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
nourish'd。 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； treason； villainies； Ruthful to hear； yet piteously perform'd； And
this shall all be buried in 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 believest no god； That granted； how canst thou believe an oath？
AARON。 What if I do not？ as indeed I do not； Yet； for I know thou art
religious And hast a thing within thee called conscience； With twenty
popish tricks and ceremonies Which I have seen thee careful to observe；
Therefore I urge thy oath。 For that I know An idiot holds his bauble for a
god； And keeps the oath which by that god he swears； To that I'll urge him。
Therefore thou shalt vow By that same god… what god soe'er it be That
thou adorest and hast in reverence… To save my boy； to nourish and bring
him up； Or else I will discover nought to thee。 LUCIUS。 Even by my god I
swear to thee I will。 AARON。 First know thou； I begot him on the
Empress。 LUCIUS。 O most insatiate and luxurious woman！ AARON。 Tut；
Lucius； this was but a deed of charity To that which thou shalt hear of me
anon。 'Twas her two sons that murdered Bassianus； They cut thy sister's
tongue； and ravish'd her； And cut her hands； and trimm'd her as thou
sawest。 LUCIUS。 O detestable villain！ Call'st thou that trimming？
AARON。 Why； she was wash'd； and cut； and trimm'd； and 'twas Trim sport
for them which had the doing of it。 LUCIUS。 O barbarous beastly villains
like thyself！ AARON。 Indeed； I was their tutor to instruct them。 That
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codding spirit had they from their mother； As sure a card as ever won the
set； That bloody mind； I think； they learn'd of me； As true a dog as ever
fought at head。 Well； let my deeds be witness of my worth。 I train'd thy
brethren to that guileful hole Where the dead corpse of Bassianus lay； I
wrote the letter that thy father found； And hid the gold within that letter