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 co.

ward,
Poor even in soul, and loathsome in thy aspect :
Alleyes 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 lovid 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 mo.

ment? 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, Rurdensome to itself, a few years longer,

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,
And cannot part on better terms than now
When only men like thee are fit to live in't.

Jaff. By all that's just

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, However thy resentment deal with me.

Pier. Not leave me!

Jaff. No: thou shalt not force me from thee; Use me reproachfully and like a slave ; Tread on me, buffet me, heap wrong on wrongs On my poor head; I'll bear it all with patience: I'll weary out thy most unfriendly cruelty : Lie at thy feet and kiss 'em , though they spurn

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 ?
Jaff. Yes.
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?
Jaff. All, ali, and more, much more: my faults

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,
In recompence for faith and trust so broken.

Pier. I scorn it more, because preserv'd by thee:

And as when first my foolish heart took pity
On thy misfortunes, sought thee in thy miseries,
Reliev'd thy wants, and rais'd thee from thy state
Of wretchedness, in which thy fate had plung'd

thee,
To rank thee in my list of noble friends :
All I receiv'd, in surety for thy truth,
Were unregarded oaths, and this, this dagger,
Given with a worthless pledge thou since hast

stol’n : So I restore it back to thee again; Swearing by all those powers which thou hast

violaied. 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 PRESERY’D,

CH A P. X I.
Edward and Warwick.

Edw. 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
My lord of Suffolk's leave-there was a time
When Warwick wanted not his aid to gain

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 get 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 re

payd Your services with honours, wealth, and pow's 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 Had rotted in the dust from whence it sprang, And moulder'd in oblivion, had not Warwick Dug from its sordid mine the useless ore And stamp'd it with a diadem. Thou know'st This wretched country , doom'd, perhaps , like To fall by its own self-destroying hand, Tost for so many years in the rough sea Of civil discord, but for me had perish'd. In that distressful hour I seiz'd the helm, Bade the rough waves subside in peace, and steer'd Your shatter'd vessel safe into the harbour. You may despise, perhaps, that useless aid Which you no longer want; but know, proud

youth! He who forgets a friend , deserves a foe. · Edw. Know too , reproach for benefits receiv'd Pays ev'ry debt, ani cincels obligation,

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, You may remember next the injuries Which I have done you : let me know them all, And I will make you ample satisfaction. 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 broke the sacred bond of public trust And mutual confidence ; ambassadors, In after-times, mere instruments, perhaps, Of venal statesmen shall recal my name To witness, that they want not an example, And plead my guilt, to sanctify their own. Amidst the herd of mercenary slaves That haunt your court, couid none be found but

Warwick ,. To be the shameless herald of a lie? Edw. And would'st thou turn the vile reproach

on me? If I have broke my faith, and staind the name Of England, thank thy own pernicious counsels That urged me to it, and extorted from me A cold consent to what my heart abhor'd. War. I have been abus'd, insulted, and bea

tray'd;
My injur'd honour cries aloud for vengeancement
Her wounds will never close! -

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!