Page:Works of Sir John Suckling.djvu/263

] Mens. Were, sir, the question simply war or peace,

It were no more than shortly to be ask'd,

Whether we would be well or ill;

Since war the sickness of the kingdom is,

And peace the health. But here I do conceive

'Twill rather lie, whether we had not better

Endure sharp sickness for a time, to enjoy

A perfect strength, than have it languish on us;

For peace and war in an incestuous line

Have still begot each other.

Those men that highly now have broke all laws,—

The great one only 'tis 'twixt man and man—

What safety can they promise, though you give it?

Will they not still suspect, and justly too,

That all those civil bonds new-made should be

Broken again to them? So, being still

In fears and jealousies themselves, you must

Infect the people; 'for in such a case

The private safety is the public trouble.'

Nor will they ever want pretext; 'since he

That will maintain it with his sword he's injur'd,

May say't at any time.'

Then, sir, as terrible as war appears,

My vote is for't; nor shall I ever care,

How ugly my physician's face shall be,

So he can do the cure.

Lord. In vent'ring physic, I think, sir, none so much

Considers the doctor's face as his own body.

To keep on foot the war with all your wants

Is to let blood, and take strong potions

In dangerous sickness.

King. I see, and wonder not to find, my lords,

This difference in opinion: the subject's large;

Nor can we there too much dispute, where, when

We err, 'tis at a kingdom's charges. Peace

And war are in themselves indifferent;

And time doth stamp them either good or bad:

But here the place is much considerable.

'War in our own is like to too much heat

Within, it makes the body sick: when in

Another country, 'tis but exercise;

Conveys that heat abroad, and gives it health.'

To that I bend my thoughts, but leave it to

Our greater council, which we now assemble: