Page 1632 - Shakespeare - Vol. 2

And on his more advice we pardon him.

SCROPE
That’s mercy, but too much security:
Let him be punish’d, sovereign, lest example [45]
Breed, by his sufferance, more of such a kind.

KING HENRY
O, let us yet be merciful.

CAMBRIDGE
So may your highness, and yet punish too.

GREY
Sir,
You show great mercy, if you give him life, [50]
After the taste of much correction.

KING HENRY
Alas, your too much love and care of me

Are heavy orisons ’gainst this poor wretch!
If little faults, proceeding on distemper,
Shall not be wink’d at, how shall we stretch our eye [55]
When capital crimes, chew’d, swallow’d, and digested,
Appear before us? We’ll yet enlarge that man,

Though Cambridge, Scrope, and Grey, in their dear care
And tender preservation of our person,
Would have him punish’d. And now to our French causes: [60]

Who are the late commissioners?

CAMBRIDGE

I one, my lord:
Your highness bade me ask for it to-day.

SCROPE
So did you me, my liege.