Lucius, Lucullus, and Sempronius; all: I'll once more feast the rascals. Flav. O my lord, You only speak from your distracted soul; There is not so much left, to furnish out A moderate table. Tim. Be't not in thy care; go, I charge thee; invite them all: let in the tide of knaves once more; my cook and I'll provide. [Exeunt. SCENE V. The same. The Senate-House. The Senate sitting. Enter ALCIBIADES, attended. 1 Sen. My lord, you have my voice to it; the fault's Bloody; 'tis necessary he should die : Nothing emboldens sin so much as mercy. 2 Sen. Most true; the law shall bruise him. Alcib. Honour, health, and compassion to the senate! 1.Sen. Now, captain? Alcib. 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 lie heavy 9 i. e. Putting this action of his, which was predetermined by fate, out of the question. Of comely virtues : Nor did he soil the fact with cowardice; (An honour in him which buys out his fault,) And with such sober and unnoted passion 1 Sen. You undergo too strict a paradox,3 Striving to make an ugly deed look fair: Your words have took such pains, as if they labour'd Is valour misbegot, and came into the world The worst that man can breathe; and make his wrongs His outsides; wear them like his raiment, care lessly; 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? 1 Sen. You cannot make gross sins look clear; To revenge is no valour, but to bear. Alcib. My lords, then, under favour, pardon me, 1i. e. Passion so subdued that no spectator could note its operation. 2 Manage, govern. 3 You undertake a paradox too hard. If I speak like a captain.— Why do fond men expose themselves to battle, And th' ass, more captain than the lion; the felon, If wisdom be in suffering. O my lords, As you are great, be pitifully good : Who cannot condemn rashness in cold blood? But who is man, that is not angry? Weigh but the crime with this. 2 Sen. You breathe in vain. Alcib. 6 In vain his service done At Lacedæmon, and Byzantium, 1 Sen. What's that? Alcib. Why, I say, my lords, h'as done fair service, And slain in fight many of your enemies : How full of valour did he bear himself In the last conflict, and made plenteous wounds? 2 Sen. He has made too much plenty with 'em, he Is a sworn rioter: h'as a sin that often 4 What have we to do in the field? 5 For aggravation. 6" Homicide in our own defence, by a merciful interpretation of the law is considered justifiable."' Drowns him, and takes his valour prisoner: Alcib. Hard fate! he might have died in war. My lords, if not for any parts in him, (Though his right arm might purchase his own time, My honour to you, upon his good returns.. 1 Sen. 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. Alcib. Must it be so? it must not be. My lords, I do beseech you, know me. 2 Sen. How? Alcib. Call me to your remembrances. 3.Sen. What? Alcib. I cannot think, but your age has forgot me; It could not else be, I should prove so base, 7 To sue, and be denied such common grace: My wounds ache at you. VOL. VIII. F 7 For dishonoured. 1 Sen. Do you dare our anger? 'Tis in few words, but spacious in effect; We banish thee for ever. Alcib. Banish me? Banish your dotage; banish usury, That makes the senate ugly. 1 Sen. If, after two days' shine, Athens contain thee, Attend our weightier judgment. And, not to swell our spirit, He shall be executed presently. [Exeunt Senators. Alcib. Now the gods keep you old enough; that you may live Only in bone, that none may look on you! I am worse than mad: I have kept back their foes, 8 i. e. Not to put ourselves in any tumour of rage. 9 We should now say-to lay out for hearts, i. e. the affections of the people. |