_Pier._ That's rank falsehood. Fear'st not thou death! Fie, there's a knavish itch in that salt blood, an utter foe to smarting. Had Jaffier's wife proved kind, he'd still been true. Faugh, how that stinks! thou die, thou kill my friend! Or thou! or thou! with that lean wither'd face. Away, disperse all to your several charges, and meet to-morrow where your honour calls you. I'll bring that man, whose blood you so much thirst for, and you shall see him venture for you fairly--Hence! hence, I say. [_exit Renault, angrily._
_Spin._ I fear we've been to blame, and done too much.
_Theo._ 'Twas too far urged against the man you loved.
_Rev._ Here, take our swords, and crush them with your feet.
_Spin._ Forgive us, gallant friend.
_Pier._ Nay, now you've found the way to melt, and cast me as you will. Whence rose all this discord? Oh, what a dangerous precipice have we 'scaped! How near a fall was all we'd long been building! What an eternal blot had stained our glories, if one, the bravest and the best of men, had fallen a sacrifice to rash suspicion, butchered by those, whose cause he came to cherish! Come but to-morrow, all your doubts shall end, and to your loves, me better recommend, that I've preserved your fame, and saved my friend. [_exeunt._
ACT THE FOURTH.
SCENE I. THE RIALTO.
_Enter Jaffier and Belvidera._
_Jaf._ Where dost thou lead me? Every step I move, methinks I tread upon some mangled limb of a racked friend. O, my charming ruin! Where are we wandering?
_Bel._ To eternal honour. To do a deed shall chronicle thy name among the glorious legends of those few that have saved sinking nations. Thy renown shall be the future song of all the virgins, who by thy piety have been preserved from horrid violation. Every street shall be adorned with statues to thy honour; and at thy feet this great inscription written, Remember him that propped the fall of Venice.Jaf. Rather, remember him, who, after all the sacred bonds of oaths, and holier friendship, in fond compassion to a woman's tears, forgot his manhood, virtue, truth, and honor, to sacrifice the bosom that relieved him. Why wilt thou damn me? 

Bel. Oh, inconstant man! How will you promise; how will you deceive! Do, return back, replace me in my bondage, tell all my friends how dangerously thou lov'st me, and let thy dagger do its bloody office. Or, if thou think'st it nobler, let me live, till I'm a victim to the hateful lust of that infernal devil. 

Last night, my love! 

Jaf. Name it not again; it shows a beastly image to my fancy, will wake me into madness. Destruction, swift destruction, fall on my coward head. 

 Prev. P 21/31 next