Venice Preserved: A Tragedy
_Ren._ You are welcome.
_Spin._ You are trembling, sir.
_Ren._ 'Tis a cold night, indeed, and I am aged; full of decay and natural infirmities.
_Re-enter Pierre._
_We shall be warm, my friends, I hope, to-morrow._
_Pier._ 'Twas not well done; thou shouldst have stroked him, and not have galled him.
_Jaf._ Damn him, let him chew on't. Heav'n! 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? Tomorrow's rising sun must see you all decked in your honours. Are the soldiers ready?
_Pier._ All, all.
_Ren._ You, Durand, with your thousand, must possess St. Mark's; you, captain, know your charge already. 'Tis to secure the ducal palace. Be all this done with the least tumult possible, till in each place you post sufficient guards; then sheathe your swords in every breast you meet.
_Jaf._ Oh! reverend cruelty! damn'd bloody villain!
_Ren._ During this execution, Durand, you must in the midst keep your battalions fast; and, Theodore, be sure to plant the cannon that they may command the streets; this done, we'll give the general alarm, apply petards, and force the arsenal gates; then fire the city round in several places, or with our cannon (if it dare resist) batter to ruin. But above all I charge you, shed blood enough; spare neither sex nor age, name nor condition; if there live a senator after to-morrow, though the dullest rogue that e'er said nothing, we have lost our ends. If possible, let's kill the very name of senator, and bury it in blood.
_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 forever. First let's embrace. Heav'n knows who next shall thus wing ye together; but let's all remember, we wear no common cause upon our swords: let each man think that on his single virtue depends the good and fame of all the rest; eternal honour, or perpetual infamy. You droop, sir.
_Jaf._ No; with most profound attention I've heard it all, and wonder at thy virtue. Oh, Belvidera! take me to thy arms, and show me where's my peace, for I have lost it. [_exit._
_Ren._ Without the least remorse then, let's resolve with fire and sword t' exterminate these tyrants, under whose weight this wretched country labours; the means are only in our hands to crown them.
_Pier._ And may those powers above that are propitious to gallant minds, record this cause and bless it.
_Ren._ Thus happy, thus secure of all we wish. Should there, my friends, be found among us one false to this glorious enterprise, what fate, what vengeance, were enough for such a villain?
_Ell._ Death here without repentance, hell 
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