Page 2294 - Shakespeare - Vol. 4

For princes are the glass, the school, the book, [615]
Where subjects’ eyes do learn, do read, do look.

«And wilt thou be the school where lust shall learn?
Must he in thee read lectures of such shame?
Will thou be glass wherein it shall discern

Authority for sin, warrant for blame? [620]
To privilege dishonour in thy name,
Thou back’st reproach against long-living laud,

And mak’st fair reputation but a bawd.

«Hast thou command? by him that gave it thee,

From a pure heart command thy rebel will. [625]
Draw not thy sword to guard iniquity,
For it was lent thee all that brood to kill.

Thy princely office how canst thou fulfil,
When pattern’d by thy fault, foul sin may say
He learn’d to sin, and thou didst teach the way? [630]

«Think but how vile a spectacle it were,
To view thy present trespass in another.

Men’s faults do seldom to themselves appear;
Their own transgressions partially they smother.
This guilt would seem death-worthy in thy brother. [635]
O how are they wrapp’d in with infamies,

That from their own misdeeds askance their eyes!

«To thee, to thee, my heav’d-up hands appeal,
Not to seducing lust, thy rash relier.
I sue for exil’d majesty’s repeal: [640]
Let him return, and flatt’ring thoughts retire;

His true respect will prison false desire,
And wipe the dim mist from thy doting eyne,
That thou shalt see thy state, and pity mine».

«Have done», quoth he, «my uncontrolled tide [645]
Turns not, but swells the higher by this let.