''It was public could I help hearing it. It was not God’s proclamation. That final Justice 

That rules the world below makes no such laws. 

Your edict, King, was strong, 

But all your strength is weakness itself against 

The immortal unrecorded laws of God. 

They are not merely now: they were, and shall be, 

Operative forever, beyond man utterly. 

I knew I must die, even without your decree: 

I am only mortal. And if I must die 

Now, before it is my time to die.''

"Then I beg you: kill me. 

This talking is a great weariness: your words 

Are distasteful to me, and I am sure that mine 

Seem so to you. And yet they should not seem so: 

I should have praise and honor for what I have done. 

All these men here would praise me 

Were their lips not frozen shut with fear of you."