Bathe in the husband’s blood her murd’rous hands,

And should th’ avenging son the mother slay,

His son retaliate by deed of blood,

What bound shall the progressive mischief know?

The wisdom of our ancestors ordained

That he who had the guilt of blood upon him

Be not allowed the sight, the walks of men,

By banishment atoning, not by death:

Else one must always be to death devote

Who hath the last pollution on his hands.