if he were to save the girl from the almost certain death

To catch contagion of the greedy plague,-

As though but woolly flocks and horned herds;

And this in chief would heap the dead on dead:

For who forbore to look to their own sick,

O these (too eager of life, of death afeard)

Would then, soon after, slaughtering Neglect

Visit with vengeance of evil death and base-

Themselves deserted and forlorn of help.