Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood
Clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather
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Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood
Clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather
The multitudinous seas incarnadine,
Making the green one red.

Blood hath been shed ere now, i' th' olden time,
Ere humane stature purged the gentle weal;
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Blood hath been shed ere now, i' th' olden time,
Ere humane stature purged the gentle weal;
Ay, and since too, murders have been performed
Too terrible for the ear. The time has been
That, when the brains were out, the man would die,
And there an end. But now they rise again,
With twenty mortal murders on their crowns,
And push us from our stools. This is more strange
Than such a murder is.

Blood, though it sleep a time, yet never dies.
The gods on murtherers fix revengeful eyes.

Blood, though it sleep a time, yet never dies.
The gods on murtherers fix revengeful eyes.

One murder made a villain,
Millions a hero.--Princes were privileg'd
To kill, and numbers sanctified the crime.
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One murder made a villain,
Millions a hero.--Princes were privileg'd
To kill, and numbers sanctified the crime.
Ah! why will kings forget that they are men,
And men that they are brethren?

Erroneous vassals! the great King of Kings
Hath in the table of his law commanded
That thou read more

Erroneous vassals! the great King of Kings
Hath in the table of his law commanded
That thou shalt do no murder. Will you then
Spurn at his edict, and fulfil a man's?

Nor is there any law more just, than that he who has plotted
death shall perish by his own read more

Nor is there any law more just, than that he who has plotted
death shall perish by his own plot.
[Lat., Neque enim lex est aequior ulla,
Quam necis artifices arte perire sua.]

No place indeed should murder sanctuarize;
Revenge should have no bounds.

No place indeed should murder sanctuarize;
Revenge should have no bounds.

Murder most foul, as in the best it is,
But this most foul, strange, and unnatural.

Murder most foul, as in the best it is,
But this most foul, strange, and unnatural.

For murder, though it have no tongue, will speak
With most miraculous organ.

For murder, though it have no tongue, will speak
With most miraculous organ.