The Whole Works of William Browne of Tavistock ... Now first collected and edited, with a memoir of the poet, and notes, by W. Carew Hazlitt, of the Inner Temple |
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 | The Whole Works of William Browne |  |
Amazement strucke the multitude. And now
They knew not which way to performe their vow.
If onely one should be depriu'd of breath,
They were not certaine of th' offenders death;
If both of them should dye for that offence,
They certainly should murder Innocence;
If none did suffer for it, then there ran
Vpon their heads the wrath and curse of Pan.
This much perplex'd and made them to defer
The deadly hand of th' Executioner,
Till they had sent an Officer to know
The Iudges wils (and those with Fates doe goe):
Who backe return'd, and thus with teares began:
The Substitutes on earth of mighty Pan
Haue thus decreed (although the one be free)
To cleare themselues from all impunitie,
If, who the offender is, no meanes procure,
Th' offence is certaine, be their death as sure.
This is their doome (which may all plagues preuent)
To haue the guilty kill the innocent.
They knew not which way to performe their vow.
If onely one should be depriu'd of breath,
They were not certaine of th' offenders death;
If both of them should dye for that offence,
They certainly should murder Innocence;
If none did suffer for it, then there ran
Vpon their heads the wrath and curse of Pan.
This much perplex'd and made them to defer
The deadly hand of th' Executioner,
Till they had sent an Officer to know
The Iudges wils (and those with Fates doe goe):
Who backe return'd, and thus with teares began:
The Substitutes on earth of mighty Pan
Haue thus decreed (although the one be free)
To cleare themselues from all impunitie,
If, who the offender is, no meanes procure,
Th' offence is certaine, be their death as sure.
This is their doome (which may all plagues preuent)
To haue the guilty kill the innocent.
| The Whole Works of William Browne | |