Was generous, honest, faithful, just, and valliant, Noble in mind, and in his person lovely, Dear to my eyes, and tender to my heart: But thou a wretched, base, false, worthless coward, Poor even in soul, and loathsome in thy aspect : All eyes must shun thee, and all hearts detest thee. Pr'ythee avoid, no longer cling thus round me, Like something baneful, that my nature's chill'd at. Jaff. I have not wrong'd thee; by these tears I have not But still am honest, true, and hope too, valiant: My mind still full of thee, therefore still noble. Let not thy eyes then shun me, nor thy heart Detest me utterly: Oh! look upon me, Look back and see my sad, sincere submission! How my heart swells, as e'en 'twould burst my bosom : Fond of its goal, and labouring to be at thee; What shall I do! what say to make thee hear me? Pier. Hast thou not wrong'd me? dar'st thou call thyself That once lov'd valu'd friend of mine, And swear thou hast not wrong'd me? Whence these chains? Whence the vile death which I may meet this moment? Whence this dishonour, but from thee, thou false one ? Jaff. All's true; yet grant one thing, And I've done asking. Pier. What's that? Jaff. To take thy life on such condition's The council have propos'd: thou and thy friend May yet live long, and to be better treated. Pier. Life! ask my life! confess! record myself A villain for the privilege to breathe And carry up and down this cursed city A discontented and repining spirit, Burdensome to itself, a few years longer Book viij. To lose it, may be at last, in a lewd quarrel For some new friend, treacherous and false as thou art? No, this vile world and I have long been jangling, Pier. Swear by some other powers, For thou hast broken that sacred oath too lately. Jaff. Then by that hell I merit, I'll not leave thee, Till to thyself at least thou'rt reconcil'd, Jaff. No: thou shalt not force me from thee; me, Till wounded by my sufferings thou relent, And raise me to thy arms with dear forgiveness. Pier. Art thou not Jaff. What? Pier. A traitor? Pier. A villain? Jaff. Granted. Pier. A coward, a most scandalous coward, Spiritless, void of honour, one who has sold Thy everlasting fame for shameless life? Thy ever all, and more, much more: my faults Jaff: All, all, are numberless. Pier. And would'st thou have me live on terms like thine: Base as thou'rt false Jaff. No; 'tis to me that's granted: The safety of thy life was all I aim'd at, Pier. I scorn it more, because preserv'd by thee: And as when first my foolish heart took pity To rank thee in my list of noble friends: So I restore it back to thee again; Swearing by all those powers which thou hast violated. Never from this curs'd hour to hold communion Friendship, or interest with thee, tho' our years Were to exceed those limited the world. Take it Farewel, for now I owe thee nothing. Jaff. Say thou wilt live then. Pier. For my life dispose of it Just as thou wilt, because 'tis what I'm tir'd with, Jaff. Oh, Pierre! Pier. No more. Jaff. My eyes won't lose the sight of thee, But languish after thine, and ache with gazing. Pier. Leave me.-Nay, then thus, thus I throw thee from me; And curses, great as is thy falsehood, catch thee. VENICE PRESERV'D, С НА Р. X I. Edward and Warwick. LET me have no intruders! above all, Keep Warwick from my sight Enter WARWICK. War. Behold him here; No welcome guest, it seems, unless I ask Admission here. Edw. There was a time, perhaps, When Warwick more desir'd and more— -deserv'd it. War. Never; I've been a foolish, faithful slave; All my best years, the morning of my life, Hath been devoted to your service: what Are now the fruits? Disgrace and infamy! My spotless name, which never yet the breath Of calumny had tainted, made the mock For foreign fools to carp at: but 'tis fit Who trust in princes, should be thus rewarded. Edw. I thought, my lord, I had full well repay'd Your services with honours, wealth, and pow'r Unlimited: thy all-directing hand Guided in secret ev'ry latent wheel Of government, and mov'd the whole machine: Warwick was all in all, and pow'rless Edward Stood like a cypher in the great account. War. Who gave that cypher worth, and seated thee On England's throne? Thy undistinguish'd name Rome, and steer'd To fall by its own self-destroying hand, proud He who forgets a friend, deserves a foe, War. Why, that indeed is frugal honesty, A thrifty saving knowledge: when the debt, Grows burthensome and cannot be discharg'd, A sponge will wipe out all, and cost you nothing. Edw. When you have counted o'er the num❜rous train Of mighty gifts your bounty lavish'd on me, Which I have done you : let me know them all, War. Thou canst not; thou hast rob'd me of a jewel It is not in thy power to restore : I was the first, shall future annals say, That haunt your court, could none be found but To be the shameless herald of a lie? Edw. And would'st thou turn the vile reproach If I have broke my faith, and stain'd the name My injur'd honour cries aloud for vengeance Edw. These gusts of passion Will but inflame them: if I have been right Inform'd my lord, besides these dangerous scars Of bleeding honour, you have other wounds As deep, tho' not so fatal: such perhaps As none but fair Elizabeth can cure. War. Elizabeth! |