KING. You pause? MAR. Sire, at the moment I am scarce prepar'd To speak, in phrases of a Spanish subject, What as a citizen o' th' world I've thought. Truth is, in parting from the Court forever, I held myself discharged from all necessity Of troubling it with reasons for my absence. KING. Are your reasons bad, then? Dare you not risk Disclosing them? MAR. My life, and joyfully, Were scope allow'd me to disclose them _all_. 'Tis not myself but Truth that I endanger, Should the King refuse me a full hearing. Your anger or contempt I fain would shun; But forced to choose between them, I had rather Seem to you a man deserving punishment Than pity. KING [_with a look of expectation_]. Well? MAR. The servant of a prince I cannot be. [_The King looks at him with astonishment._ I will not cheat my merchant: If you deign to take me as your servant, You expect, you wish, my actions only; You wish my arm in fight, my thought in counsel; Nothing more you will accept of: not my actions, Th' approval they might find at Court becomes The object of my acting. Now for me Right conduct has a value of its own: The happiness my king might cause me plant I would myself produce; and conscious joy, And free selection, not the force of duty, Should impel me. Is it thus your Majesty Requires it? Could you suffer new creators In your own creation? Or could I Consent with patience to become the chisel, When I hoped to be the statuary? I love mankind; and in a monarchy, Myself is all that I can love. KING. This fire Is laudable. You would do good to others; How you do it, patriots, wise men think Of little moment, so it be but done. Seek for yourself the office in my kingdoms That will give you scope to gratify This noble zeal. MAR. There is not such an office. KING. How? MAR. What the king desires to spread abroad Through these weak hands, is it the good of men? That good which my unfetter'd love would wish them? Pale majesty would tremble to behold it! No! Policy has fashioned in her courts Another sort of human good; a sort Which _she_ is rich enough to give away, Awakening with it in the hearts of men New cravings, such as _it_ can satisfy. Truth she keeps coining in her mints, such truth As she can tolerate; and every die Except her own she breaks and casts away. But is the royal bounty wide enough For me to wish and work in? Must the love I hear my brother pledge itself to be My brother's jailor? Can I call him happy When he dare not think? Sire, choose some other To dispense the good which _you_ have stamped for us. With me it tallies not; a prince's servant I cannot be. KING [_rather quickly_]. You are a Protestant.