Page:Henry V (1918) Yale.djvu/85

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Henry the Fifth, IV. i
73

rawly left. I am afeard there are few die well 149
that die in a battle; for how can they charitably
dispose of anything when blood is their argu-
ment
? Now, if these men do not die well, it
will be a black matter for the king that led them
to it, who to disobey were against all propor-
tion of subjection
. 155

K. Hen. So, if a son that is by his father sent
about merchandise do sinfully miscarry upon
the sea, the imputation of his wickedness, by
your rule, should be imposed upon his father
that sent him: or if a servant, under his master's
command transporting a sum of money, be as-
sailed by robbers and die in many irreconciled 162
iniquities, you may call the business of the master
the author of the servant's damnation. But this
is not so: the king is not bound to answer the
particular endings of his soldiers, the father of
his son, nor the master of his servant; for they
purpose not their death when they purpose their
services. Besides, there is no king, be his cause
never so spotless, if it come to the arbitrement 170
of swords, can try it out with all unspotted sol-
diers. Some, peradventure, have on them the
guilt of premeditated and contrived murder;
some, of beguiling virgins with the broken seals
of perjury; some, making the wars their bul-
wark, that have before gored the gentle bosom
of peace with pillage and robbery. Now, if these
men have defeated the law and outrun native 178
punishment, though they can outstrip men, they

149 rawly: without due provision
151 argument: business
154, 155 all . . . subjection: all that is reasonably demanded of a subject
157 miscarry: perish
162 irreconciled: unatoned for
170 arbitrement: decision
173 contrived: plotted
178 native: in their home country