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: Mercy is not thine to give; wilt thou steal another's privilege? Or send abroad, among thy neighbours, a felon whom impunity hath hardened? Remember the Roman father, strong in his stern integrity, And let not thy slothful self-indulgence make thee a conniver at the crime. Also, if the knife of the murderer be raised against thee or thine, And through good providence and courage, thou slay him that would have slain thee, Thou losest not a tittle of thy rectitude, having executed sudden justice; Still mayst thou walk among the blessed, though thy hands be red with blood. For thyself, thou art neither worse nor better; but thy fellows should count thee their creditor: Thou hast manfully protected the right, and the right is stronger for thy deed. Also, in the rescuing of innocence, fear not to smite the ravisher; What though he die at thy hand? for a good name is better than the life; And if Phineas had everlasting praise in the matter of Salu's son, With how much greater honour standeth such a rescuer acquitted? Uphold the laws of thy country, and fear not to fight in their defence: But first be convinced in thy mind; for herein the doubter sinneth. Above all things, look thou well around, if indeed stern duty forceth thee To draw the sword of justice, and stain it with the slaughter of thy fellows.