GORDON.

And _you_ can do the deed!

BUTLER.

Either you or I. This morning was his last.

GORDON.

You would a.s.sa.s.sinate him!

BUTLER.

'Tis my purpose.

GORDON.

Who leans with his whole confidence upon you!

BUTLER.

Such is his evil destiny!

GORDON.

Your General!

The sacred person of your General!

BUTLER.

My General he _has been_.

GORDON.

That 'tis only A "_has been_" washes out no villiany.

And without judgment pa.s.s'd?

BUTLER.

The execution Is here instead of judgment.

GORDON.

This were murder, Not justice. The most guilty should be heard.

BUTLER.

His guilt is clear, the Emperor has pa.s.s'd judgment, And we but execute his will.

GORDON.

We should not Hurry to realize a b.l.o.o.d.y sentence; A word may be recall'd, a life can never be.

BUTLER.

Dispatch in service pleases sovereigns.

GORDON.

No honest man's ambitious to press forward To the hangman's service.

BUTLER.

And no brave man loses His color at a daring enterprise.

GORDON.

A brave man hazards life, but not his conscience.

BUTLER.

What then? Shall he go forth anew to kindle The unextinguishable flame of war?

GORDON.

Seize him, and hold him prisoner--do not kill him.

BUTLER.

Had not the Emperor's army been defeated, I might have done so.--But 'tis now past by.

GORDON.

O, wherefore open'd I the stronghold to him?

BUTLER.

His destiny and not the place destroys him.

GORDON.

Upon these ramparts, as beseem'd a soldier, I had fallen, defending the Emperor's citadel!

BUTLER.

Yes, and a thousand gallant men have perish'd.

GORDON.