Or do I forsake myself because I do enjoy myself?
Or do I overthrow my fortunes, because I build not a fortune of paper walls, which every puff of wind bloweth down?
Or do I ruinate mine honor, because I leave following the pursuit, or wearing the false badge or mark of the shadow of honor?
Do I give courage or comfort to the foreign foe, because I reserve myself to encounter with him?
or because I keep my heart from business, though I cannot keep my fortune from declining?
No, no, my good lord; I give every one of these considerations its due weight; and the more I weigh them, the more I find myself justified from offending in any of them.

As for the two last objections, that I forsake my country when it hath most need of me, and fail in that indissoluble duty which I owe to my sovereign, I answer, that if my country had at this time any need of my public service, her majesty, that governeth it, would not have driven me to a private life.

I am tied to my country by two bonds; One public, to discharge carefully and industriously that trust which is committed to me; the other private, to sacrifice for it my life and carcass, which hath been nourished in it Of the first I am free, being dismissed, discharged, and disabled by her majesty.

Of the other, nothing can free me but death; and, therefore, no occasion of my performance shall sooner offer itself but I shall meet it half way.
The indissoluble duty which I owe unto her majesty is only the duty of allegiance, which Imnever have nor never can fail in.

The duty of attendance is no indissoluble duty.