Page 1953 - Shakespeare - Vol. 1

An heir, and near allied unto the Duke.

SECOND OUTLAW

And I from Mantua, for a gentleman [50]
Who, in my mood, I stabbed unto the heart.

FIRST OUTLAW

And I for such like petty crimes as these.
But to the purpose - for we cite our faults
That they may hold excused our lawless lives;
And partly, seeing you are beautified [55]
With goodly shape, and by your own report
A linguist, and a man of such perfection
As we do in our quality much want -

SECOND OUTLAW

Indeed, because you are a banished man,
Therefore, above the rest, we parley to you. [60]
Are you content to be our general?
To make a virtue of necessity,
And live as we do in this wilderness?

THIRD OUTLAW

What sayst thou? Wilt thou be of our consort?
Say ‘ay’, and be the captain of us all. [65]
We’ll do thee homage, and be ruled by thee,
Love thee as our commander and our king.

FIRST OUTLAW

But if thou scorn our courtesy, thou diest.

SECOND OUTLAW

Thou shalt not live to brag what we have offered.

VALENT INE

I take your offer, and will live with you, [70]
Provided that you do no outrages
On silly women or poor passengers.

THIRD OUTLAW