Nothing Emboldens Sin So Much As Mercy

Some week. Riotously busy after a subdued opening to the month, as the days unfold in such a manner as to see me relieved that the credit card bookings for flights to Paris and London over this weekend or Thanksgiving were not followed through to conclusion. Lady Fortune keeping overenthusiasm in check but with adequate reward, since the impossibilities of the present only embolden a final week of holidays at November's end. To that effect, late Monday night the gauntlet was thrown down and a return to the Thames inevitable. Then mid-week, confirmation of plans to stay at legendary Binion's in Vegas, followed by the desert drive to Scottsdale and the Gongshow wedding, and back via the Grandest of Canyons. And today, at the office at an ungodly early hour for a Friday, deciding to let the credit card take one more speculative expedition across the world wide web to secure easyjet tickets to fair Constantinople. The prices were offered on sale for the ridiculous fare of 45 pounds all-in (I declined the 5 pound rider to offset the carbon emissions) so how could I refuse? Now to confirm with the other proposed passenger and the Turkish native that this spending is not in vain. Surely.

First Senator
You cannot make gross sins look clear:
To revenge is no valour, but to bear.

ALCIBIADES
My lords, then, under favour, pardon me,
If I speak like a captain.
Why do fond men expose themselves to battle,
And not endure all threats? sleep upon't,
And let the foes quietly cut their throats,
Without repugnancy? If there be
Such valour in the bearing, what make we
Abroad? why then, women are more valiant
That stay at home, if bearing carry it,
And the ass more captain than the lion, the felon
Loaden with irons wiser than the judge,
If wisdom be in suffering. O my lords,
As you are great, be pitifully good:
Who cannot condemn rashness in cold blood?
To kill, I grant, is sin's extremest gust;
But, in defence, by mercy, 'tis most just.
To be in anger is impiety;
But who is man that is not angry?
Weigh but the crime with this.

Second Senator
You breathe in vain.

ALCIBIADES
In vain! his service done
At Lacedaemon and Byzantium
Were a sufficient briber for his life.

First Senator
What's that?

ALCIBIADES
I say, my lords, he has done fair service,
And slain in fight many of your enemies:
How full of valour did he bear himself
In the last conflict, and made plenteous wounds!

Second Senator
He has made too much plenty with 'em;
He's a sworn rioter: he has a sin that often
Drowns him, and takes his valour prisoner:
If there were no foes, that were enough
To overcome him: in that beastly fury
He has been known to commit outrages,
And cherish factions: 'tis inferr'd to us,
His days are foul and his drink dangerous.

First Senator
He dies.

To service done in Byzantium, then. How could one not be heroic, in such a place as that? And with the mandatory pilgrimage to Millenium Bridge and time enough for Chancery Lane revels, we have the makings of another epic voyage. A wonderful way to end that most cursed of November months and herald in December. My oh my has 2007 receded quickly into ancient memory. Cheers to it, and to my claiming the benefit of each and every online purchase made this memorable week. For not many days in one's life do you buy a ticket to Asia. Today is my first. The second will likely be in inevitable 2009. Raise a glass to that tonight. Raise your glass to that.