Page:The robbers - a tragedy (IA robberstragedy00schiiala).pdf/123

even if you conquer, but execration, infamy, and persecution—You have the grace of heaven offer'd to you, and at present you are in a state of reprobation—Not a hair of your heads but must blaze in everlasting flames!—How now, still in doubt? Is it so difficult to make a choice between heaven and hell?—Help me to persuade them, Mr Commissary.

What can be that devil's name that speaks out of his mouth?—he makes me all quiver.

What! have you no answer? Do you hope to gain your liberty by your swords? Look around you—look well, my friends—'tis impossible to think so—'twere to think like children, if you did.—Perhaps you flatter yourself with an honourable death, that you'll fight like men, and die like heroes—You think so, because you have seen Moor exult in a scene of carnage and of horror—O, never dream it—there's none of you a Moor—you are a set of miserable thieves—poor instruments of my great designs—despicable as the rope in the hands of the hangman!—No, no,—a thief cannot die like a hero—a thief may be allowed to quake at the sight of death.—Hark, how those trumpets