The best of us being unfit to die, what an unexpressible absurdity to put the worst to death.

The best of us being unfit to die, what an unexpressible absurdity to put the worst to death.

See they suffer death,
But in their deaths remember they are men,
Strain not the laws to read more

See they suffer death,
But in their deaths remember they are men,
Strain not the laws to make their tortures grievous.

If punishment makes not the will supple it hardens the offender.

If punishment makes not the will supple it hardens the offender.

Distrust all in whom the impulse to punish is powerful.

Distrust all in whom the impulse to punish is powerful.

And thine eye shall not pity; but life shall go for life, eye for
eye, tooth for tooth, hand read more

And thine eye shall not pity; but life shall go for life, eye for
eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.

Send them into everlasting Coventry.

Send them into everlasting Coventry.

When the gods wish to punish us, they answer our prayers.

When the gods wish to punish us, they answer our prayers.

Fear follows crime, and is its punishment

Fear follows crime, and is its punishment

And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee
to enter into life maimed, read more

And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee
to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell,
into the fire that never shall be quenched:
Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.