_Jaf._ Hear this, ye heav'ns! and wonder how you made her: Reign, reign, ye monarchs that divide the world, Busy rebellion ne'er will let you know Tranquillity and happiness like mine!

Like gaudy ships th' obsequious billows fall, And rise again to lift you in your pride; They wait but for a storm, and then devour you; I, in my private bark already wreck'd, Like a poor merchant driven to unknown land, That had by chance pack'd up his choicest treasure In one dear casket, and sav'd only that; Since I must wander further on the sh.o.r.e, Thus hug my little, but my precious store, Resolv'd to scorn and trust my fate no more. [_exeunt._

ACT THE SECOND.

SCENE I. THE RIALTO.

_Enter Jaffier._

_Jaf._ I'm here; and thus, the shades of night around me, I look as if all h.e.l.l were in my heart, And I in h.e.l.l. Nay surely 'tis so with me!-- For every step I tread, methinks some fiend Knocks at my breast, and bids me not be quiet.

I've heard how desperate wretches, like myself, Have wander'd out at this dead time of night, To meet the foe of mankind in his walk.

Sure I'm so curs'd that, though of heaven forsaken, No minister of darkness cares to tempt me.

h.e.l.l, h.e.l.l! why sleep'st thou?

_Enter Pierre._

_Pier._ Sure I've staid too long: The clock has struck, and I may lose my proselyte.

Speak, who goes there?

_Jaf._ A dog, that comes to howl At yonder moon. What's he that asks the question?

_Pier._ 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: Jaffier!

_Jaf._ The same.

_Pier._ Where's Belvidera?--

_Jaf._ For a day or two I've lodg'd her privately, till I see further What fortune will do for me. Pr'ythee, friend, If thou wouldst have me fit to hear good counsel, Speak not of Belvidera--

_Pier._ Not of her!

_Jaf._ Oh, no!

_Pier._ Not name her! May be I wish her well.

_Jaf._ Whom well?

_Pier._ Thy wife; thy lovely Belvidera.

I hope a man may wish his friend's wife well, And no harm done?

_Jaf._ Y' are merry, Pierre.

_Pier._ 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._ I but half wish'd To see the devil, and he's here already. Well!

What must this buy? Rebellion, murder, treason?

Tell me, which way I must be d.a.m.n'd for this.

_Pier._ When last we parted, we'd no qualms like these, But entertain'd each other's thoughts like men Whose souls were well acquainted. Is the world Reform'd since our last meeting? What new miracles Have happen'd? Has Priuli's heart relented?

Can he be honest?

_Jaf._ Kind heav'n, let heavy curses Gall his old age; cramps, aches, rack his bones, And bitterest disquiet wring his heart.

Oh! let him live, 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.

_Pier._ Nay, couldst thou not As well, my friend, have stretch'd 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!

_Pier._ Daggers! daggers are much better.

_Jaf._ Ha!

_Pier._ Daggers.

_Jaf._ But where are they?

_Pier._ Oh! a thousand May be dispos'd of, in honest hands, in Venice.

_Jaf._ Thou talk'st in clouds.

_Pier._ But yet a heart, half wrong'd 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!

_Pier._ Yes, if I thought thou wert not cherish'd T' a n.o.bler purpose, I would be thy friend; But thou hast better friends; friends whom thy wrongs Have made thy friends; friends worthy to be call'd so.

I'll trust thee with a secret. There are spirits This hour at work.--But as thou art a man, Whom I have pick'd and chosen from the world, Swear that thou wilt be true to what I utter; And when I've told thee that which only G.o.ds, And men like G.o.ds, are privy to, then swear No chance or change shall wrest it from thy bosom.

_Jaf._ When thou wouldst bind me, is there need of oaths?

For thou'rt so near my heart, that thou may'st see Its bottom, sound its strength and firmness to thee.

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, enterprise, I know thy heart so well, I dare lay mine Before thee, set it to what point thou wilt.

_Pier._ Nay, 'tis a cause thou wilt be fond of, Jaffier; For it is founded on the n.o.blest basis; Our liberties, our natural inheritance.

There's no religion, no hypocrisy in't; 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!

_Pier._ For liberty, my friend.

Thou shalt be freed from base Priuli's tyranny, And thy sequester'd fortunes heal'd 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 pull'd From wisdom's seat; those baleful, unclean birds, Those lazy owls, who, perch'd near fortune's top, Sit only watchful with their heavy wings To cuff down new-fledg'd virtues, that would rise To n.o.bler heights, and make the grove harmonious.

_Jaf._ What can I do?

_Pier._ Canst thou not kill a senator?