Enter three SENATORS at one door, ALCIBIADES meeting them, with attendantsFIRST SENATOR. My lord, you have my voice to't: the fault's bloody. 'Tis necessary he should die: Nothing emboldens sin so much as mercy. SECOND SENATOR. Most true; the law shall bruise him. ALCIBIADES. Honour, health, and compassion, to the Senate! FIRST SENATOR. Now, Captain? ALCIBIADES. 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 Upon a friend of mine, who in hot blood Hath stepp'd into the law, which is past depth To those that without heed do plunge into't. He is a man, setting his fate aside, Of comely virtues; Nor did he soil the fact with cowardice- An 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 behove his anger ere 'twas spent, As if he had but prov'd an argument. FIRST SENATOR. You undergo too strict a paradox, Striving to make an ugly deed look fair; Your words have took such pains as if they labour'd To bring manslaughter into form and set 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 breathe, And make his wrongs his outsides, To wear them like his raiment, carelessly, 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! ALCIBIADES. My lord- FIRST SENATOR. You cannot make gross sins look clear: To revenge is no valour, but to bear. ALCIBIADES. 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? Sleep upon't, And let the foes quietly cut their throats, Without repugnancy? If there be Such valour in the bearing, what make we Abroad? Why, then, women are more valiant, That stay at home, if bearing carry it; And the ass more captain than the lion; the fellow Loaden with irons wiser than the judge, If wisdom be insuffering. O my lords, As you are great, be pitifully good. Who cannot condemn rashness in cold blood? To kill, I grant, is sin's extremest 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. SECOND SENATOR. You breathe in vain. ALCIBIADES. In vain! His service done At Lacedaemon and Byzantium Were a sufficient briber for his life. FIRST SENATOR. What's that? ALCIBIADES. Why, I say, my lords, has 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! SECOND SENATOR. He has made too much plenty with 'em. He's a sworn rioter; he has a sin that often Drowns him and takes his valour prisoner. 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 inferr'd to us His days are foul and his drink dangerous. FIRST SENATOR. He dies. ALCIBIADES. 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, 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 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. FIRST SENATOR. 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. ALCIBIADES. Must it be so? It must not be. My lords, I do beseech you, know me. SECOND SENATOR. How! ALCIBIADES. Call me to your remembrances. THIRD SENATOR. What! ALCIBIADES. I cannot think but your age has forgot me; It could not else be I should prove so base To sue, and be denied such common grace. My wounds ache at you. FIRST SENATOR. Do you dare our anger? 'Tis in few words, but spacious in effect: We banish thee for ever. ALCIBIADES. Banish me! Banish your dotage! Banish usury That makes the Senate ugly. FIRST SENATOR. 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 ALCIBIADES. Now the gods keep you old enough that youmay live Only in bone, that none may look on you! I'm worse than mad; I have kept back their foes, While they have told their money and let out Their coin upon large interest, I myself Rich only in large hurts. All those for this? Is this the balsam that the usuring Senate Pours into captains' wounds? 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
同类推荐
The Adventure of the Red Circle
本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
香蕉班(阳光宝宝系列)
本书介绍了宝宝在31-36个月时,应培养宝宝的音乐表现力。美妙的音乐能愉悦宝宝的情绪,陶冶宝宝的性情,音乐的节奏、旋律能有效地刺激宝宝的听觉神经,让宝宝更聪明;会唱、能表演,有助于宝宝充分展示自己,从而使宝宝更自信。后天有多远?通货危机、石油泡沫和气候变化
当今世界,气候危机、能源危机和金融危机三重危机叠加出现,三重危机的核心是能源,为了走出这三重危机的阴影,人们寄希望于低碳能源的新能源,希望通过它“毕其功于一役”,然而,现实是残酷的,至少在未来几十年内,没有一种能源形式能够替代以石油为代表的化石能源,那么,在三重危机之下,我们不禁要问:后天有多远?后天之后,我们又该去向何方?本书所讨论的正是这三种危机之间的深层次的相互关系。扎克伯格送给男孩最好的礼物
《扎克伯格送给男孩的最好礼物》全面揭示了扎克伯格成功的秘诀,深度剖析了扎克伯格式的智慧精髓和人生哲学。领悟扎克伯格给男孩的忠告,你将会发现一个全新的自我。就让我们追随扎克伯格的脚步,去寻找属于自己的那条成功之路吧!初中三年,男孩如何管教
升入初中后的男孩们处于青春叛逆期,他们会对生理、心理、学习、理想、人际交往等问题开始产生困惑,成年男子的责任感和使命感逐步觉醒,对家庭、学校、社会的事务产生自身的看法、思维异常活跃、质疑家长权威,如果不加强教育和引导,后果就是学习退步、脾气喜怒无常、做出过激行为、与老师、家长对立甚至接受不良诱惑而滑向犯罪的边缘。