1. S.
My lord, you have my voice to't; the fault's bloody;
'Tis necessary, he should dye:
Nothing emboldens sin so much as mercy.

2. S.
Most true; the law shall bruise 'em.

Alc.
Honour, health, ^note and compassion to the senate!

1. S.
Now, captain?

Alc.
I am an humble suitor to your virtues;
For pity is the virtue of the law,
And none but tyrants use it cruelly.
It pleases time, and fortune, to lye heavy
Upon a friend of mine, who, in hot blood,
Hath stept into the law, which is past depth
To those that, without heed, do plunge into't.
He is a man,14Q1157 setting his fault ^note aside,
Of comely virtues:
Nor did he soil the fact with cowardise;
(And honour in him, which buys out his fault)
But, with a noble fury, and fair spirit,
Seeing his reputation touch'd to death,
He did oppose his foe:
And with such sober and unnoted passion
He did behave ^note his anger, ere 'twas spent,
As if he had but prov'd an argument.

1. S.
You undergo too strict a paradox,
Striving to make an ugly deed look fair:
Your words have took such pains, as if ^note they labour'd

To bring man-slaughter ^note into form, set ^note quarrelling
Upon the head of valour; which, indeed,
Is valour misbegot, and came into the world
When sects and factions were newly born:
He's truly valiant, that can wisely suffer
The worst that man can breath; and make his wrongs
His outsides, wear ^note them, like his rayment, carelesly;
And ne'er prefer his injuries to his heart,
To bring it into danger.
If wrongs be evils, and enforce us kill,
What folly 'tis, to hazard life for ill?

Alc.
My lord,—

1. S.
You cannot make gross sins look clear;
To revenge is no valour, but to bear.

Alc.
My lords, then, under favour, pardon me,
If I speak like a captain.—
Why do fond men expose themselves to battle,
And not endure all threats? nay, sleep upon't,
And let the foes quietly cut their throats,
Without repugnancy? Or, if there be
Such valour in the bearing, what make we
Abroad? why then, sure, women are more valiant,
That stay at home, if bearing carry it;
The ass, more than the lion; and the fellow14Q1158
Loaden with irons, wiser than the judge,
If wisdom be in suffering. O my lords,
As you are great, be pitifully good:
Who cannot condemn rashness in cold blood?
To kill, I grant, is sin's extreamest gust;
But, in defence, by mercy, 'tis most just.
To be in anger, is impiety:
But who is man, that is not angry?

Weigh but the crime with this.

2. S.
You breath in vain.

Alc.
In vain? his service done
At Lacedæmon, and Byzantium,
Were a sufficient briber for his life.

1. S.
What's that?

Alc.
Why, I ^note say, my lords, he has done fair service,
And slain in fight many of our enemies:
How full of valour did he bear himself
In the last conflict, and made plenteous wounds?

2. S.
He has made too much plenty with 'em; ^note he
Is a sworn rioter: he has a sin
That often drowns him, takes ^note his valour prisoner;
And, if there were no foes, that were enough
To overcome him: in that beastly fury
He has been known to commit outrages,
And cherish factions: 'Tis infer'd to us,
His days are foul, and his drink dangerous.

1. S.
He dies.

Alc.
Hard fate! he might have dy'd in war.
My lords, if not for any parts in him,
(Though his right arm might purchase his own time,
And be in debt to none) yet, more to move you,
Take my deserts to his, and join 'em both:
And, for I know your reverend ages love
Security, I'll pawn my victories, all
My honours ^note to you, upon his good returns.
If by this crime he owes the law his life,
Why, let the war receive't in valiant gore;
For law is strict, and war is nothing more.

1. S.
We are for law, he dies; urge it no more,
On height of our displeasure: Friend, or brother,

He forfeits his own blood, that spills another.

Alc.
Must it be so? it must not be. My lords,
I do beseech you, know me.

2. S.
How?

Alc.
Call me
To your remembrance. ^note

3. S.
What?

Alc.
I cannot think, but your age has forgot me;
It could not else be, I should prove so base,
To sue, and be deny'd such common grace:
My wounds ake at you.

1. S.
Do you dare our anger?
'Tis in few ^note words, but spacious in effect;
We banish thee for ever.

Alc.
Banish me?
Banish your dotage; banish usury,
That makes the senate ugly.

1. S.
If after two days' shine Athens contain thee,
Attend our weightier judgment. And, not to swell your spirit ^note,
He shall be executed presently. [Exeunt Senate.

Alc.
Now the gods keep you old; that ^note you may live
Only in bone, that none may look on you!
I am worse than mad: I have kept back their foes,
While they have told their money, and let out
Their coin upon large interest; I my self
Rich only in large hurts; All those, for this?
Is this the balsam, that the usuring senate
Pours into captains' wounds? ha! ^note banishment?
It comes not ill; I hate not to be banish'd,
It is a cause worthy my spleen and fury,
That I may strike at Athens. I'll cheer up

My discontented troops, and lay for hearts.
'Tis honour, with most lands to be at odds:
Soldiers should brook as little wrongs, as gods. [Exit.

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