CORNELIA. To 'scape the fears that follow Fortune's glances. CICERO. "A noble mind doth never fear mischances." CORNELIA. "A noble mind disdaineth servitude." CICERO. Can bondage true nobility exclude? CORNELIA. How, if I do or suffer that I would not? CICERO. "True noblesse never doth the thing it should not." CORNELIA. Then must I die. CICERO. Yet dying think this still; "No fear of death should force us to do ill." CORNELIA. If death be such, why is your fear so rife? CICERO. My works will show I never fear'd my life. CORNELIA. And yet you will not that (in our distress), We ask death's aid to end life's wretchedness. CICERO. "We neither ought to urge, nor ask a thing, Wherein we see so much assurance lies. But if perhaps some fierce, offended king, (To fright us) set pale death before our eyes, To force us do that goes against our heart; 'Twere more than base in us to dread his dart. But when, for fear of an ensuing ill, We seek to shorten our appointed race, Then 'tis for fear that we ourselves do kill, So fond we are to fear the world's disgrace." CORNELIA. 'Tis not for frailty or faint cowardice, That men (to shun mischances) seek for death; But rather he, that seeks it, shows himself Of certain courage 'gainst uncertain chance. "He that retires not at the threats of death, Is not, as are the vulgar, slightly fray'd.[352] For heaven itself, nor hell's infectious breath, The resolute at any time have stayed. And (sooth to say) why fear we, when we see The thing we fear less than the fear to be?" Then let me die, my liberty to save; For 'tis a death to live a tyrant's slave. CICERO. Daughter, beware how you provoke the heavens, Which in our bodies (as a tower of strength) Have plac'd our souls, and fortify'd the same; As discreet princes set their garrisons In strongest places of their provinces. "Now, as it is not lawful for a man, At such a king's departure or decease, To leave the place, and falsify his faith; So, in this case, we ought not to surrender That dearer part, till heaven itself command it: For as they lent us life to do us pleasure, So look they for return of such a treasure."