(That mortified old withered winter rogue) I found him out for watering at my wife; Pier. He durst not wrong his trust? Jaf. Yes, faith, in virgin sheets, White as her bosom, Pierre, dished neatly up, Oh! how the old fox stunk, I warrant thee, Pier. Patience guide me! He used no violence? Jaf. No; no; out on it, violence! Played with her neck; brushed her with his grey beard; Struggled and touzed; tickled her, till she squeak ed a little, May be, or so-but not a jot of violence—— Juf. Ay, so say I: but hush, no more of it. Myself no monster yet, though no man knows What fate he is born to. Sure 'tis near the hour We all should meet for our concluding orders: Will the ambassador be here in person? Pier. No, he has sent commission to that vil- To give the executing charge: And keep thy temper; for a brave revenge Juf. Fear not, I am as cool as patience. Pier. He's yonder, coming this way through the hall; His thoughts seem full. Jaf. Prithee retire, and leave me With him alone; I'll put him to some trial; See how his rotten part will bear the touching. Pier. Be careful, then. [Exit. Jaf. Nay, never doubt, but trust me.What! be a devil, take a damning oath For shedding native blood! Can there be a sin In merciful repentance? Oh, this villain! Enter RENAULT. Ren. Perverse and peevish! What a slave is man, To let his itching flesh thus get the better of him! Dispatch the tool her husband-that were well. Who's there? Neither too hot nor cold? Ren. What means that question? Jaf. Oh, women have fantastic constitutions, Thy virtue! I have tried it, and declare, Jaf. Ay, know thee. There's no falsehood in thee; Thou look'st just as thou art. Let us embrace! Ren. How! Jaf. No more, 'Tis a base world, and must reform, that's all. Ren. Spinosa, Theodore! Ren. 'Tis a cold night, indeed, and I am aged; Full of decay and natural infirmities: [PIER. re-enters. We shall be warm, my friends, I hope, to mor row. Pier. 'Twas not well done; thou should'st have stroaked him, And not have galled him. Jaf. Damn him, let him chew on't. Heaven! Where am I? beset with cursed fiends, That wait to damn me! What a devil's man, When he forgets his nature-hush, my heart. Ren. My friends, 'tis late; are we assembled all? Where's Theodore? Theod. At hand. Ren. Bramveil. Bram. I'm ready. Ren. Durand and Brabe. Ren. Mezzano, Revillido, Ternon, Retrosi! Oh! you are men, I find, Fit to hold your fate, and meet her summons. Jaf. Oh! reverend cruelty! damned bloody Batter to ruin, But, above all, I charge you, Jaf. Merciless, horrid slave-Ay, blood enough! Shed blood enough, old Renault! how thou charm'st me! Ren. But one thing more, and then farewell, till fate Join us again, or separate us for ever: Wing ye together; but let's all remember, Those subtle tracks, which puzzled all suspicion.- Jaf. No; with most profound attention Are not the senate lulled in full security, VOL. I. Confounded the most subtle: for we live, Ren. Without the least remorse, then, let's resolve With fire and sword to exterminate these tyrants; The means are only in our hands to crown them. propitious To gallant minds, record this cause and bless it! Ren. Thus happy, thus secure of all we wish Ren. Let that be my lot, if, as here I stand, Listed by fate among her darling sons, Though I had one only brother, dear by all The strictest ties of nature; though one hour Had given us birth, one fortune fcd our wants, One only love, and that but of each other, Still filled our minds; could I have such a friend If I'd not hazard all my future peace, Pier. You've singled me, sir, out for this hard question, As if 'twere started only for my sake: friend Is little less. Come, sirs, 'tis now no time Ren. Nay, there is danger in him; I observed the blood, That's dear to me? is't you, or you, or you, sir? What, not one speak! how you stand, gaping all On your grave oracle, your wooden god there! Yet not a word! Then, sir, I'll tell you a secret; Suspicion's but at best a coward's virtue. [To REN. Ren. A coward!- [Handles his sword. Pier. Put up thy sword, old man; Thy hand shakes at it. Come, let's heal this breach; I am too hot, we yet may all live friends. Spin. Till we are safe, our friendship cannot be so. Pier. Again! Who's that? Spin. 'Twas I. Theo, And I. Ren. And I. Omnes. And all. Ren. Who are on my side? Spin. Every honest sword. Let's die like men, and not be sold like slaves. Pier. One such word more, by heaven I'll to the senate, And hang ye all, like dogs, in clusters. Why peep your coward swords half out their shells? Why do you not all brandish them like mine? You fear to die, and yet dare talk of killing! Ren. Go to the senate, and betray us! haste! Secure thy wretched life: we fear to die Rev. Here, take our swords, and crush them with your feet. Spin. Forgive us, gallant friend. Pier. Nay, now you've found The way to melt, and cast me as you will. Spin. No, may you both For ever live, and fill the world with fame. Pier. Now ye are too kind. Whence rose all this discord? Oh, what a dangerous precipice have we 'scaped! How near a fall was all we had long been build ing! What an eternal blot had stained our glories, rish! Oh! could you know him all, as I have known him; How good he is, how just, how true, how brave, You would not leave this place till you had seen him; | Humbled yourselves before him, kissed his feet, And gained remission for the worst of follies. Come but to-morrow, all your doubts shall end, And to your loves me better recommend, That I've preserved your fame, and saved my friend. [Exeunt. ACT IV. SCENE I.-The Rialto. Enter JAFFIER and BELVIDERA. Jaf. Where dost thou lead me? Every step I move, Methinks I tread upon some mangled limb Of a racked friend. Oh, my charming ruin! Where are we wandering? Bel. To eternal honour. To do a deed, shall chronicle thy name That have saved sinking nations. Thy renown Bel. Oh, inconstant man! How will you promise! how will you deceive! Whilst these poor dying eyes shall, with their tears, Jaf. Name it not again! tshews & beastly image to my fancy, Will wake me into madness. Oh, the villain! Save the poor tender lives thers, Kneeling before thy feet, and begging pity With torn dishevelled hair, and streaming eyes, Their naked mangled breasts besineared with blood, And even the milk, with which their fondled babes Softly they hushed, dropping in anguish from them; Think thou seest this, and then consult thy heart. Jaf. Oh! Bel. Think too, if you lose this present minute, What miseries the next day brings upon thee: Imagine all the horrors of that night; Murder and rapine, waste, and desolation, Confusedly raging: Think, what then may prove My lot; the ravisher may then come safe, And, 'midst the terror of the public ruin, Do a damn'd deed; perhaps may lay a train For every word thou speak'st strikes through my heart, Like a new light, and shews it how't has wandered. Just what thou'st made me, take me, Belvidera, Bel. Hast thou a friend more dear than Belvidera? Jaf. No: thou'rt my soul itself; wealth, friendship, honour, All present joys, and earnest of all future, arms, Thus leaning on thy breast, one minute's more Come, lead me forward, now, like a tame lamb plays, Trots by the enticing flattering priestess' side, Enter Officer and Six Guards. Jaf. Friends, Belvidera! Hide me from my friends! By Heaven, I would rather see the face of hell, Than meet the man I love. Offi. But what friends are you? Bel. Friends to the senate, and the state of Venice. Offi. My orders are to seize on all I find At this late hour, and bring them to the council, Who are now sitting. Juf. Sir, you shall be obeyed.Hold, brute, stand off! none of your paws upon me. Now, the lot's east, and, Fate, do what thou wilt. [Exeunt guarded. SCENE II. The Senate-House, where appear sitting the Duke of VENICE, PRIULI, ANTONIO, and eight other Senators. Duke. Antony, Priuli, senators of Venice, Speak, why are we assembled here this night! What have you to inform us of, concerns Fathers, these tears were useless; these sad tears, All Sen. How! Pri. Nay, we stand Upon the very brink of gaping ruin. And the wild waste begun. From unknown hands Enter Officer and Guards. Duke. Speak, there. What disturbance? the street, Who say, they come to inform this reverend senate About the present danger. Enter JAFFIER and Officer. Into confessions: but a steady mind Duke. Name your conditions. Now, Fate, thou hast caught me. Ant. Why, what a dreadful catalogue of c ting throats is here! I'll warrant you, not one d All. Give them entrance-Well, who are you? these fellows but has a face like a lion. I de Jaf. A villain. Ant. Short and pithy. The man speaks well. Jaf. Would every man, that hears me, Would deal so honestly, and own his title. Duke. 'Tis rumoured, that a plot has been contrived Against this state; and you've a share in't too. If you're a villain, to redeem your honour Unfold the truth, and be restored with mercy. Jaf. Think not, that I to save my life came hi ther; I know its value better; but in pity To all those wretches, whose unhappy dooms Duke. The slave capitulates !— Give him the torture! Jaf. That you dare not do': Your fears wont let you, nor the longing itch Cowards are scared with threatenings; boys are whipt not so much as read their names over. Duke. Give order, that all diligent search b made To seize these men: their characters are pubin Jaf. Would the chains of death Lead me, where my own thoughts themselves may lose me; Where I may doze out what I've left of life, Offi. [Without.] More traitors; room, room |