Timon of Athens by William Shakespeare

Author:William Shakespeare
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Publisher: ManyBooks.net

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Scene V. The Same. The Senate House. The Senate Sitting. FIRST SENATOR. My lord, you have my voice to it: 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.

[Enter ALCIBIADES, attended.]

ALCIBIADES. Honour, health, and compassion to the senate!

FIRST SENATOR. Now, captain.

ALCIBIADES. I am a 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 behave 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 felon 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 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. 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.

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