“Stay!” he cried. “Look, now, here's hangman did but hang since hang he must; must he hang therefore?”
ROBIN: Aye, marry, since hanging shall his hanging end!
JOCELYN: But if to hang his duty is, must he for duty hang? Moreover, if ye hang this hangman, unhanged hangmen shall hang still, and since ye may not all hangmen hang, wherefore should this hangman hang?
ROBIN: Brother, an this hangman hang, fewer hangmen shall there be to hang, forsooth.
JOCELYN: Not so, Robin, for hangman dead begetteth hangman new; this hangman hanged, hangman in his place shall hang men after him. Shall this hangman hang for hanging as in duty bound, whiles other hangmen, unhanged, hang still? Here, methinks, is small wisdom, little reason, and less of justice, Robin.
ROBIN: Beshrew me, brother—but here's so much of hanging hanging on hanging plaguy hangman that hang me if I get the hang on't—
JOCELYN: Plainly, Robin—wilt hang a man for doing his duty?
ROBIN: Plainly, brother—no. But—
JOCELYN: Then canst not hang this hangman, since hanging his duty is—
ROBIN: Yet 'tis base, vile duty—