Twere

Who is the happiest of men? He who values the merits of others, and in their pleasure takes joy, even as though 'twere his own.

If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well / It were done quickly: if the assassination / Could trammel up the consequence, and catch / With his surcease success; that but this blow / Might be the be-all and the end-all here, / But here, upon this bank and shoal of time, / We'd jump the life to come.

"Beware... / Yet first 'twere best these billows to allay. / Far other coin hereafter ye shall pay / for crimes like these."

"Father, in thy charge remain / Troy's gods; for me, red-handed with the smear / of blood, and fresh from slaughter, 'twere profane / to touch them, ere the stream hath cleansed me of the stain."