Inheritance that all men share alike,

And chain’d him—chain’d him!—like a wild beast’s whelp,

Among as savage mountains, to this hour?

Answer if this be thus.

King. Oh, Segismund,

In all that I have done that seems to you,

And, without further hearing, fairly seems,

Unnatural and cruel—’twas not I,

But One who writes His order in the sky

I dared not misinterpret nor neglect,