Raym. Heaven may forgive a crime to penitence,
For heaven can judge if penitence be true;
But man, who knows not hearts, should make examples
Which, like a warning piece, must be shot off,
To fright the rest from crimes.
Leo. Had I but known that Sancho was his father,
I would have poured a deluge of my blood,
To save one drop of his.
Tor. Mark that, inexorable Raymond, mark!
'Twas fatal ignorance, that caused his death.
Raym. What! if she did not know he was your father,
She knew he was a man, the best of men;
Heaven's image double-stamped, as man and king.
Leo. He was, he was, even more than you can say;
But yet—
Raym. But yet you barbarously murdered him.
Leo. He will not hear me out!
Tor. Was ever criminal forbid to plead?
Curb your ill-mannered zeal.
Raym. Sing to him, syren;
For I shall stop my ears: Now mince the sin,
And mollify damnation with a phrase;
Say, you consented not to Sancho's death,
But barely not forbade it.
Leo. Hard-hearted man, I yield my guilty cause;
But all my guilt was caused by too much love.
Had I, for jealousy of empire, sought
Good Sancho's death, Sancho had died before.
'Twas always in my power to take his life;
But interest never could my conscience blind,
475 Till love had cast a mist before my eyes,
And made me think his death the only means
Which could secure my throne to Torrismond.