PHILARCHUS. Most gracious prince, vouchsafe to hear me speak. I cannot but confess, most gracious sovereign, That I have err'd in being obstinate In wilful disobedience to my sire Wherein I have wrong'd nature and your majesty. But I am not the first, whom oversight Hath made forgetful of a father's love. But father's love shall never be forgot, If he but deign to pardon my amiss: But if your wrath will noways be appeased, Rip up this breast, where is enclos'd that heart, That bleeds with grief to think on my amiss. Ah, father! pardon, sweet father, pardon me. FATHER. No, graceless imp, degenerate and unkind, Thou art no son of mine, but tiger's whelp, That hast been fost'red by some lion's pap: But as the tall'st ash is cut down, because It yields no fruit, and an unprofitable cow, Yielding no milk, is slaughtered, and the idle drone, Gathering no honey, is contemned; So ungrateful children, that Will yield no natural obedience, must be Cut off, as unfit to bear the name [of] Christians, Whose lives digress both from reason and humanity. But as thou hast dealt unnaturally with me, So I resolve to pull my heart from thee. Therefore, dread prince, vouchsafe to pity me, And grant I may have justice on my son. KING. Dunstan, how counsellest thou the king in this? I promise thee, I am sorry for the youth, Because in heart I ever wish'd him well. DUNSTAN. My gracious lord, if I might counsel you, I would counsel you to judge as he deserves. He that disdains his father in his want, And wilfully will disobey his sire, Deserves, my lord, by God's and nature's laws, To be rewarded with extremest ills: Then, as your grace hath 'stablish'd laws for government, So let offenders feel the penalties. KING. Ay, Dunstan; now thou speakest as fits a councillor, But not as friend to him whom Edgar loves. Father, what wouldest thou have me do in this? Thou seest thy son is sorry for his fault, And I am sure thou would not wish his death, Because a father's care commands the contrary. Then, gentle father, let me plead for him, And be his pledge for shunning wilful ills. FATHER. Will Edgar now be found a partial judge, In pleading pardon for a graceless child? Is it not true, That one coal of fire will burn many houses, And one small brack in finest cloth that is, Will both disgrace and blemish the whole piece? So wilful children, spotted with one ill, Are apt to fall to twenty thousand more; And therefore, mighty sovereign, leave to speak, And pass just sentence on Philarchus' life.