In iudicando criminosa est celeritas

TO cut off life by Law of such whose Crimes
Fall out as euill, from an hopefull good
May proue, though iust, iniurious to the Times
Wherein they liue, in deed, or likelihood:
For, Iustice though she equall be to all
Yet, by aduice of Prudence she doth spare
Hopefull Delinquents though they fowly fall
Only because they oft most hopefull are:
For had Miltiades at first bin slaine
When he in Chersonesus tyranizd,
Where had the Battaile bin got on the Plaine
Of Marrathon, that's so immortalizd?
Or els had Cimon, or Themistocles
Bin done to death for their lasciuious life
(For which proscribd was Alibiades)
How had the Athenians conquest been so rise?
The Battailes neere the flood Eurimedon
Had not bin gaind to their past, gaineful good;
Nor from the Mountaine Artemision
Had they sent streaming downe their Foe-mens Bloud:
For, royall Mynds, greate Harts, and actiue Hads
(With nimble Wit among) can nought effect
But what with wonder (if not glory) stands
Sith meane Attempts they do (as base) reiect.
Nor can their Natures motion idle be
That is so restlesse quick, and violent,
(Still working like a Billow of the Sea)
Til it bee staid in some moode premanent.
But as vnskilfull Husbandmen reiect,
The fattest Grounds sith they beare Weeds, or wose:
When expert'st Husbands those in chiefe ellect
Sith well they wott, fatt Grounds make fatt their Purse.
So do, at first, greate Witts, and haughtie Sprights
Produce strange fruits that feede butleane Decay
Which wee detesting weene they had their rights
To bee cut off, and ridd out of the way:
Which doth proceede from iudgment most deprau'd,
Though in desire that Iustice might take place,
Sith if those Men had bin in mercie saud
They for that mercie might their Countrie grace:
For when with Iudgments best-discerning Eye
Wee see good matter in an euill Man,
As Courage, Witt, and great actiuitie
Wee long must hope, he will do wel, that can:
For, Age with Vertue is Cooperatiue.
Youths prone to Vice, sith Vice doth cocker it:
So they, in time, great matters may achiue
That may their King, and Kingdome benefit:
Then each wise Iudges iudgment hath this scope
To spare the hopelesse Felon full of hope.