Gustav Klimt Painting

Gustav Klimt Painting
"Oh, my lord the king, an thou canst pity the lost, have pity upon me! I am innocent-neither hath that wherewith I am charged been more than but lamely proved-yet I speak not of that; the judgment is gone forth against me and may not suffer alteration; yet in mine extremity I beg a boon, for my doom is more than I can bear. A grace, a grace, my lord the king! in thy royal compassion grant my prayer-give commandment that I be hanged!"
Tom was amazed. This was not the outcome he had looked for.
Gustav Klimt Painting
Odds my life, a strange boon! Was it not the fate intended thee?"
"Oh, good my liege, not so! It is ordered that I be boiled alive!"
The hideous surprise of these words almost made Tom spring from his chair. As soon as he could recover his wits he cried out:
"Have thy wish, poor soul! an thou had poisoned a hundred men thou shouldst not suffer so miserable a death."
Gustav Klimt Painting