As punishment for his moft wicked life.
Lucius, all hail, Rome's gracious governor!
Luc. Thanks, gentle Romans: may I govern fo,
To heal Rome's harm, and drive away her woe!
But, gentle people, give me aim awhile,
For nature puts me to a heavy task :
Stand all aloof; but, uncle, draw you near,
To shed obfequious tears upon this trunk :
Oh, take this warm kifs on thy pale cold lips,
These forrowful drops upon thy blood-ftain'd face;
The last true duties of thy noble son.
Mar. Ay, tear for tear, and loving kiss for kifs,
Thy brother Marcus tenders on thy lips:
O, were the fum of these that I should pay
Countless and infinite, yet would I pay them.
Luc. Come hither, boy; come, come, and learn of us
To melt in showers; thy grandfire lov'd thee well;
Many a time he danc'd thee on his knee;
Sung thee afleep, his loving breast thy pillow:
Many a matter hath he told to thee,
Meet and agreeing with thy infancy;
In that refpect then, like a loving child,
Shed yet fome small drops from thy tender fpring,
Because kind nature doth require it fo;
Friends fhould affociate friends, in grief and woe:
Bid him farewel, commit him to the grave;
Do him that kindness, and take leave of him.
Boy. O grandfire, grandfire! ev'n with all my heart,
Would I were dead, fo you did live again-
O Lord, I cannot fpeak to him for weeping-
My tears will choak me, if I ope my mouth.
Enter Romans with Aaron.
Rom. You fad Andronici, have done with woes:
Give sentence on this execrable wretch,
That hath been breeder of thefe dire events.
Luc. Set him breast-deep in earth, and famish him: There let him stand, and rave and cry for food: If any one relieves or pities him,
For the offence he dies: this is our doom.