Venice Preserved | Page 7

in his walk. Sure I'm so cursed, that, though of Heav'n
forsaken, No minister of darkness cares to tempt me. Hell! hell! why
sleep'st thou? [Turns, L.
Enter Pierre, R. S. E.
Pierre. Sure I've staid too long: [Coming forward. The clock has struck,
and I may lose my proselyte. Speak, [Seeing Jaffier,] who goes there?

Jaf. (L.) A dog, that comes to howl At yonder moon. What's he, that
asks the question?
Pierre. A friend to dogs, for they are honest creatures, And ne'er betray
their masters; never fawn On any that they love not. Well met, friend.
[Advancing toward, R. C.]
Jaffier!
Jaf. The same.
Pierre. (R. C.) Where's Belvidera?
Jaf.For a day or two, I've lodged her privately, till I see farther What
fortune will do with me. Pry'thee, friend, If thou wouldst have me fit to
hear good counsel, Speak not of Belvidera--
Pierre. (C.) Speak not of her?
Jaf. Oh, no! nor name her?
Pierre. May be, I wish her well.
Jaf.Whom well?
Pierre. Thy wife; thy lovely Belvidera! I hope a man may wish his
friend's wife well, And no harm done?
Jaf. [Retiring, L.] You're merry, Pierre.
Pierre. [Following.] I am so: Thou shalt smile, too, and Belvidera
smile: We'll all rejoice, Here's something to buy pins; Marriage is
chargeable. [Gives him a purse.
Jaf. (L.) I but half wished To see the devil, and he's here already! Well!
What must this buy? Rebellion, murder, treason? Tell me [Turning R.]
which way I must be damned for this.

Pierre. (L. C.) When last we parted, we'd no qualms like these, But
entertained each other's thoughts, like men Whose souls were well
acquainted. Is the world Reformed since our last meeting? What new
miracles Have happened? Has Priuli's heart relented? Can he be
honest?
Jaf. Kind Heaven, let heavy curses Gall his old age, till life become his
burden; Let him groan under't long, linger an age In the worst agonies
and pangs of death And find its ease, but late!
Pierre. Nay, couldst thou not As well, my friend, have stretched the
curse to all The senate round, as to one single villain?
Jaf. But curses stick not; could I kill with cursing, By Heaven, I know
not thirty heads in Venice Should not be blasted! Senators should rot,
Like dogs, on dunghills. Oh, for a curse To kill with! [Crosses, R.
Pierre. Daggers, daggers are much better.
Jaf. (R. C.) Ha!
Pierre. Daggers.
Jaf. But where are they?
Pierre. Oh! a thousand May be disposed, in honest hands, in Venice.
Jaf. Thou talk'st in clouds.
Pierre. But yet a heart, half wronged As thine has been, would find the
meaning, Jaffier!
Jaf. A thousand daggers, all in honest hands! And have not I a friend
will stick one here?
Pierre. (C.)Yes, if I thought thou wert not to be cherished To a nobler
purpose, I would be that friend:
[Lays his hand on Jaffier's arm But thou hast better friends; friends,

whom thy wrongs Have made thy friends; friends, worthy to be called
so. I'll trust thee with a secret. There are spies This hour at work. But,
as thou art a man, Whom I have picked and chosen from the world,
Swear that thou wilt be true to what I utter; And when I've told thee
that, which only gods, And men like gods, are privy to, then swear, No
chance, or change, shall wrest it from thy bosom.
Jaf. (R.) When thou wouldst bind me, is there need of oaths? Is coward,
fool, or villain, in my face? If I seem none of these, I dare believe Thou
wouldst not use me in a little cause; For I am fit for honour's toughest
task, Nor ever yet found fooling was my province: And, for a villainous,
inglorious enterprize, I know thy heart so well, I dare lay mine Before
thee, set it to what point thou wilt.
Pierre. Nay, 'tis a cause thou wilt be fond of, Jaffier For it is founded
on the noblest basis; Our liberties, our natural inheritance! We'll do the
business, and ne'er fast and pray for't; Openly act a deed, the world
shall gaze With wonder at, and envy when 'tis done.
Jaf. For liberty!
Pierre. For liberty, my friend. [Jaffier crosses, L.
Thou shalt be freed from base Priuli's tyranny, And thy sequestered
fortunes healed again; I shall be free from those opprobrious wrongs
That press me now, and bend my spirit downward; All Venice free, and
every growing merit Succeed to its just right; fools shall be pulled
From wisdom's seat; those baleful unclean birds, Those lazy owls, who,
perched near fortune's top, Sit only watchful with their heavy wings To
cuff down new-fledged virtues, that would rise To nobler heights, and
make the grove harmonious.