well,
     And no harm done?

     Jaf. [Retiring, L.] You're merry, Pierre.

     Pierre. [Following.] I am so:
     Thou shalt smile, too, and Belvidera smile:
     We'll all rejoice, Here's something to buy pins;
     Marriage is chargeable. [Gives him a purse.
     Jaf. (L.) I but half wished
     To see the devil, and he's here already! Well!
     What must this buy? Rebellion, murder, treason?
     Tell me [Turning R.] which way I must be damned for
     this.

     Pierre. (L. C.) When last we parted, we'd no qualms
     like these,
     But entertained each other's thoughts, like men
     Whose souls were well acquainted. Is the world
     Reformed since our last meeting? What new miracles
     Have happened? Has Priuli's heart relented?
     Can he be honest?

     Jaf. Kind Heaven, let heavy curses
     Gall his old age, till life become his burden;
     Let him groan under't long, linger an age
     In the worst agonies and pangs of death
     And find its ease, but late!

     Pierre. Nay, couldst thou not
     As well, my friend, have stretched the curse to all
     The senate round, as to one single villain?

     Jaf. But curses stick not; could I kill with cursing,
     By Heaven, I know not thirty heads in Venice
     Should not be blasted! Senators should rot,
     Like dogs, on dunghills. Oh, for a curse
     To kill with!  [Crosses, R.
     Pierre. Daggers, daggers are much better.

     Jaf. (R. C.) Ha!

     Pierre. Daggers.

     Jaf. But where are they?

     Pierre. Oh! a thousand
     May be disposed, in honest hands, in Venice.

     Jaf. Thou talk'st in clouds.

     Pierre. But yet a heart, half wronged
     As thine has been, would find the meaning, Jaffier!

     Jaf. A thousand daggers, all in honest hands!
     And have not I a friend will stick one here?

     Pierre. (C.)Yes, if I thought thou wert not to be cherished
     To a nobler purpose, I would be that friend:

     [Lays his hand on Jaffier's arm     But thou hast better friends; friends, whom thy wrongs
     Have made thy friends; friends, worthy to be called so.
     I'll trust thee with a secret. There are spies
     This hour at work. But, as thou art a man,
     Whom I have picked and chosen from the world,
     Swear that thou wilt be true to what I utter;
     And when I've told thee that, which only gods,
     And men like gods, are privy to, then swear,
     No chance, or change, shall wrest it from thy bosom.

     Jaf. (R.) When thou wouldst bind me, is there need of oaths?
     Is coward, fool, or villain, in my face?
     If I seem none of these, I dare believe
     Thou wouldst not use me in a little cause;
     For I am fit for honour's toughest task,
     Nor ever yet found fooling was my province:
     And, for a villainous, inglorious enterprize,
     I know thy heart so well, I dare lay mine
     Before thee, set it to what point thou wilt.

     Pierre. Nay, 'tis a cause thou wilt be fond of, Jaffier
      For it is founded on the noblest basis;
     Our liberties, our natural inheritance!
     We'll do the business, and ne'er fast and pray for't;
     Openly act a deed, the world shall gaze
     With wonder at, and envy when 'tis done.

     Jaf. For liberty!

     Pierre. For liberty, my friend. [Jaffier crosses, L.
     Thou shalt be freed from base Priuli's tyranny,
     And thy sequestered fortunes healed again;
     I shall be free from those opprobrious wrongs
     That press me now, and bend my spirit downward;
     All Venice free, and every growing merit
     Succeed to its just right; fools shall be pulled
     From wisdom's seat; those baleful unclean birds,
     Those lazy owls, who, perched near fortune's top,
     Sit only watchful with their heavy wings
     To cuff down new-fledged virtues, that would rise
     To nobler heights, and make the grove harmonious.

     Jaf. What can I do? [Crosses to R. D.
     Pierre. Canst thou not kill a senator?

     Jaf. By all my wrongs, thou talk'st as if revenge
     Were to be had! and the brave story warms me.

     [Crosses, L.
     Pierre. Swear, then!

     Jaf. I do, [Kneels, L. C.] by all those glittering stars,
     And yon great ruling planet of the night!
     By all good spirits above, and ill below!
     By love and friendship, dearer than my life,
     No power, nor death, shall make me false to thee!

     Pierre. Here we embrace, and I'll unlock my heart.
     A council's held hard by, where the destruction
     Of this great empire's hatching; there I'll lead thee.
     But be a man; for thou'rt to mix with men
     Fit to disturb the peace of all the world,
     And rule it when tis wildest.

     Jaf. I give thee thanks
     For this kind warning. Yes, I'll be a man;
     And charge thee, Pierre, whene'er thou see'st my fears
     Betray me less, to rip this heart of mine
     Out of my breast, and show it for a coward's.
     Come, let's be gone, for from this hour I chase
     All little thoughts, all tender human follies,
     Out of my bosom: vengeance shall have room—
     Revenge! [Going, R.
     Pierre. And liberty!

     Jaf. Revenge! revenge! [Exeunt, r