 | The Law of Lombardy |  |
SCENE I.
A Hall.BIRENO
alone.
Her death must be the means. If these be crimes,
Thou bright Ambition, whose rare alchimy,
Like Midas' palm, turns all it grasps to gold,
Give them thy glorious splendor! What a coil
Does puny Conscience make in little minds,
Ere they o'erleap obstruction! Fear, not virtue,
Keeps mankind honest. Each inordinate wish
Is guilt unacted, and the canon points
More 'gainst the coward heart, that wou'd and dare not,
Than the bold deed, that braves the penalty.
| The Law of Lombardy | |