Thou art in a middle sphere, to render and receive honour;
If thy king commandeth, obey; and stand not in the way with rebels:
But if need be, lay thy hand upon thy sword, and fear not to smite a traitor,
For the universe acquitteth thee with honour, fighting in defence of thy king.
If a thief break thy dwelling, and thou take him, it were sin in thee to let him go;
Yea, though he pleadeth to thy mercy, thou canst not spare him and be blameless:
For his guilt is not only against thee, it is not thy moneys or thy merchandize,
But he hath done damage to the Law, which duty constraineth thee to sanction.
Feast not thine appetite of vengeance, remembering thou also art a man,
But weep for the sad compulsion, in which the chain of Providence hath bound thee: