Tread on me, buffet me, heap wrongs on wrongs On my poor head; I'll bear it all with patience: Lie at thy feet and kifs 'em, though they fpurn me, And raife me to thy arms with dear forgiveness. PIER. Art thou not JAFF. What? PIER. A traitor? JAFF. Yes. PIER. A villain? JAFF. Granted. PIER. A coward, a moft fcandalous coward, Spiritlefs, void of honour, one who has fold Thy everlafting fame for fhameless life? JAFF. All, all, and more, much more my faults are numberlefs. PIER. And would'fthou have me live on terms like thine: Bafe as thou'rt falfe JAFF. No; 'tis to me that's granted: PIER. Ifcorn it more, becaufe preferv'd by thee : All I receiv'd, in furety for thy truth, Were unregarded oaths, and this, this dagger, Given with a worthless pledge thou fince hast stol'n: Swearing by all thofe powers which thou haft violated, PIER. For my life, difpofe of it Juft as wilt thou, because 'tis what I'm tir'd with. PIER. No more. JAFF. My eyes won't lofe the fight of thee, But languish after thine, and ache with gazing. PIER. Leave me.- -Nay, then thus, thus I throw thee from me ; And curfes, great as is thy falfehood, catch thee. VENICE PRESERV'D. EDW. CHAP. XI. EDWARD AND WARWICK, LET me have no intruders; above all, Keep Warwick from my fight Enter WARWICK. WAR. Behold him here; No welcome guest, it seems, unless I ask My lord of Suffolk's leave-there was a time- Admiffion here. EDW. There was a time, perhaps, When Warwick more defir'd and more -deferv'd it. WAR. Never; I've been a foolish, faithful slave; All my best years, the morning of my life, Hath Hath been devoted to your service: what EDW. I thought, my lord, I had full well repay'd : Guided in fecret ev'ry latent wheel Of government, and mov'd the whole machine : WAR. Who gave that cypher worth, and feated thee On England's throne? Thy undiftinguish'd name Had rotted in the duft from whence it sprang, And moulder'd in oblivion, had not Warwick Dug from its fordid mine the useless ore And ftamp'd it with a diadem. Thou know'st This wretched country, doom'd, perhaps, like Rome, Toft for fo many years in the rough fea In that diftrefsful hour I feiz'd the helm, Bade the rough waves fubfide in peace, and steer'd Your. fhatter'd veffel fafe into the harbour. You may defpife, perhaps, that ufelefs aid Which you no longer want; but know, proud youth! He who forgets a friend, deferves a foe. EDW. Know too, reproach for benefits receiv'd Pays ev'ry debt, and cancels obligation. WAR. Why, that indeed is frugal honesty, A thrifty faving knowledge: when the debt, Which I have done you : let me know them all, And I will make you ample fatisfaction. WAR. Thou canst not; thou haft robb'd me of a jewel It is not in thy power to reftcre: I was the firft, fhall future annals fay, That haunt your court, could none be found but Warwick, EDw. And wouldst thou turn the vile reproach on me WAR. I have been abus'd, infulted, and betray'd; EDW. Thefe gufts of paffion Will but inflame them; if I have been right As As deep, tho' not fo fatal: fuch perhaps As none but fair Elizabeth can cure. WAR. Elizabeth ! EDw. Nay, ftart not, I have caufe But I have difcover'd all. WAR. And fo have I; Too well I know thy breach of friendship there,' EDW. I fcorn it, Sir,- -Elizabeth hath charms, WAR. By Heav'n 'tis false! You knew it all, and meanly took occafion, I had a right, nor will I tamely yield To choose the partner of my throne and bed ; may, WAR. Prerogative! what's that? the boaft of tyrants; A borrow'd jewel, glitt'ring in the crown R 5 With |