Pet. If you do love me, kill me; ask me not why:
I would be kill’d, and by you.

Jun. Mercy on me!
What ails this man? Petillius!

Pet. Pray you dispatch me:
You are not safe whilst I live: I am dangerous,
Troubled extremely, even to mischief, Junius,
An enemy to all good men. Fear not; ’tis justice;
I shall kill you else.

Jun. Tell me but the cause,
And I will do it,

Pet. I am disgraced, my service
Slighted and unrewarded by the general,
My hopes left wild and naked; besides these,
I am grown ridiculous, an ass, a folly,
I dare not trust myself with: Pr’ythee, kill me!

Jun. All these may be redeem’d as easily
As you would heal your finger.

Pet. Nay—

Jun. Stay, I’ll do it;
You shall not need your anger. But first, Petillius.
You shall unarm yourself; I dare not trust
A man so bent to mischief.

Pet. There’s my sword,

[Gives up his sword.

Jun. Yes, I will kill you,
Believe that certain; but first I’ll lay before you
The most extreme fool you have play’d in this,
The honour purposed for you, the great honour
The general intended you.

Pet. How?

Jun. And then I’ll kill you,
Because you shall die miserable. Know, sir,
The regiment was given me, but till time
Call’d you to do some worthy deed, might stop
The people’s ill thoughts of you for lord Penius,
I mean his death. How soon this time’s come to you,
And hasted by Suetonius! “Go,” says he,
“Junius and Decius, and go thou, Petillius,”
(Distinctly, thou, Petillius), “and draw up,
To take stout Caratach:” There’s the deed purposed,
A deed to take off all faults, of all natures:
“And thou, Petillius,” mark it! there’s the honour;
And that done, all made even.

Pet. Stay!

Jun. No, I’ll kill you.
He knew thee absolute, and full in soldier,
Daring beyond all dangers, found thee out,
According to the boldness of thy spirit,
A subject, such a subject—

Pet. Hark you, Junius!
I will live now.

Jun. By no means.—Woo’d thy worth,
Held thee by the chin up, as thou sunk’st, and showed thee
How Honour held her arms out. Come, make ready,
Since you will die an ass.

Pet. Thou wilt not kill me?

Jun. By Heaven, but I will, sir. I’ll have no man dangerous
Live to destroy me afterward. Besides, you have gotten
Honour enough; let young men rise now. Nay,
I do perceive too by the general (which is
One main cause you shall die, howe’er he carry it)
Such a strong doting on you, that I fear
You shall command in chief: how are we paid then?
Come, if you’ll pray, dispatch it.

Pet. Is there no way?

Jun. Not any way to live.