Nic. I shall find it quickly; here's an index. [He reads.] Imprimis. For murder of all kinds, of a clergyman, of a layman, of father, mother, son, brother, sister, wife——
King. Read till you come at perjury.
Nic. Item, for impoisoning, enchantments, witchcraft, sacrilege, simony, and their kind and branches.
Item, pro lapsu carnis, fornication, adultery, incest without any exception or distinction; for sodomy, brutality, or any of that kind.
King. My heart shakes with horror
To hear the names of such detested sins.
Can these be bought for any price of money?
Or do these merchants but deceive the world
With their false wares? No more of that foul book;
I will not now know what I came to know.
I would not for the world redeem my oath
By such a course as this. No more, Nicanor,
Unless thou find a price for atheism.
Well, this is not the way to help, I see;
I have thought of another that may prove
And both discharge my oath, and save his life.
Nicanor, run presently, call Matho hither—
Matho the lawyer: command him to make haste;
I long to be resolv'd.
Nic. I run, sir.
King. He is a subtle lawyer, and may find
Some point, that in the law's obscurity
Lies hid from us—some point may do us good.
I have seen some of his profession
Out of a case as plain, as clear as day
To our weak judgments, and no doubt at first
Meant like our thoughts by those that made the law,
Pick out such hard, inextricable doubts,
That they have spun a suit of seven years long,
And led their hood-wink['d] clients in a wood,
A most irremeable labyrinth,
Till they have quite consum'd them. This they can do
In other cases: why not as well in this?
I have seen others could extend the law
Upon the rack, or cut it short again
To their own private profits, as that thief,
Cruel Procrustes, serv'd his hapless guests,
To fit them to his bed. Well, I shall see.
I would Nicanor were return'd again,
I would fain ease my conscience of that oath,
That rash and inconsiderate oath I took.
But see! here they are coming.
Enter Matho and Nicanor.
Matho. Health to my sovereign!
King. Matho, welcome.
I sent for thee about a business
I would entreat thy help in.