Philip Massinger

What can innocence hope for,
When such as sit her judges are corrupted!

What can innocence hope for,
When such as sit her judges are corrupted!

Nor custom, nor example, nor cast numbers
Of such as do offend, make less the sin.

Nor custom, nor example, nor cast numbers
Of such as do offend, make less the sin.

If you like not hanging, drown yourself;
Take some course for your reputation.

If you like not hanging, drown yourself;
Take some course for your reputation.

This is the Jew that Shakespeare drew.

This is the Jew that Shakespeare drew.

He
That kills himself to avoid misery, fears it,
And, at the best, shows but a bastard read more

He
That kills himself to avoid misery, fears it,
And, at the best, shows but a bastard valour.
This life's a fort committed to my trust,
Which I must not yield up, till it be forced:
Nor will I. He's not valiant that dares die,
But he that boldly bears calamity.