_Butler._ Such is his evil destiny! _Gordon._ Your General! The sacred person of your General! 25 _Butler._ My General he has been. _Gordon._ That 'tis only A '_has been_' washes out no villainy. And without judgment passed? _Butler._ The execution Is here instead of judgment. _Gordon._ This were murder, Not justice. The most guilty should be heard. 30 _Butler._ His guilt is clear, the Emperor has passed judgment, And we but execute his will. _Gordon._ We should not Hurry to realize a bloody sentence. A word may be recalled, a life can never be. _Butler._ Dispatch in service pleases sovereigns. 35 _Gordon._ No honest man's ambitious to press forward To the hangman's service. _Butler._ And no brave man loses His colour at a daring enterprize. _Gordon._ A brave man hazards life, but not his conscience. _Butler._ What then? Shall he go forth anew to kindle 40 The unextinguishable flame of war? _Gordon._ Seize him, and hold him prisoner--do not kill him. _Butler._ Had not the Emperor's army been defeated, I might have done so.--But 'tis now past by. _Gordon._ O, wherefore opened I the strong hold to him! 45 _Butler._ His destiny and not the place destroys him. _Gordon._ Upon these ramparts, as beseemed a soldier, I had fallen, defending the Emperor's citadel! _Butler._ Yes! and a thousand gallant men have perished. _Gordon._ Doing their duty--that adorns the man! 50 But murder's a black deed, and nature curses it. _Butler (brings out a paper)._ Here is the manifesto which commands us To gain possession of his person. See-- It is addressed to you as well as me. Are you content to take the consequences, 55 If through our fault he escape to the enemy? _Gordon._ I?--Gracious God! _Butler._ Take it on yourself. Let come of it what may, on you I lay it. _Gordon._ O God in heaven! _Butler._ Can you advise aught else Wherewith to execute the Emperor's purpose? 60 Say if you can. For I desire his fall, Not his destruction. _Gordon._ Merciful heaven! what must be I see as clear as you. Yet still the heart Within my bosom beats with other feelings! _Butler._ Mine is of harder stuff! Necessity 65 In her rough school hath steeled me. And this Illo And Tertsky likewise, they must not survive him.