Thomas Otway

“ I cannot die in peace till I have seen him. Enter Castalio. Cas. Who talks of dying, with a voice so sweet That life's in love with it? Mon. Hark! 'tis he that answers. Where art thou? Cas. Here, my love. Mon. No nearer, lest I vanish. Cas. Have I been in a dream then all this while? And art thou but the shadow of Monimia: Why dost thou fly me thus? Mon. Oh! were it possible that we could drown In dark oblivion but a few past hours, We might be happy. Cas. Is't then so hard, Monimia, to forgive A fault, when humble love, like mine, implores thee? For I must love thee, though it prove my ruin. ”

“ But as thou hop'st to see me live my days, And love thee long, lock this within thy breast: I've bound myself, by all the strictest sacraments, Divine and human—— Bel. Speak! Jaf. To kill thy father—— Bel. My father! Jaf. Nay, the throats of the whole senate Shall bleed, my Belvidera. He amongst us, That spares his father, brother, or his friend, Is damn'd. Bel. Oh! Jaf. Have a care, and shrink not even in thought. For if thou dost—— Bel. I know it; thou wilt kill me. Do, strike thy sword into this bosom: lay me Dead on the earth, and then thou wilt be safe. Murder my father! ”

“ Jaff. I know the wretch, and scorn him as thou hat'st him.
Pier. Curse on the common good that's so protected,
Where every slave that heaps up wealth enough
To do much wrong becomes a lord of right!
I, who believed no ill could e'er come near me,
Found in the embraces of my Aquilina
A wretched, old, but itching senator;
A wealthy fool, that had bought out my title;
A rogue, that uses beauty like a lamb-skin,
Barely to keep him warm: that filthy cuckoo, too,
Was in my absence crept into my nest,
And spoiling all my brood of noble pleasure.
Jaff. Didst thou not chase him thence? ”

“ I think no safety can be here for virtue, And grieve, my friend, as much as thou, to live In such a wretched state as this of Venice, Where all agree to spoil the public good; And villains fatten with the brave man's labours. Pier. We've neither safety, unity, nor peace, For the foundation's lost of common good; Justice is lame, as well as blind, amongst us; The laws (corrupted to their ends that make 'em) Serve but for instruments of some new tyranny, That every day starts up, t' enslave us deeper. Now could this glorious cause but find out friends To do it right, oh, Jaffier! ”

“ Where are my sons? come near, my Polydore! Your brother—where's Castalio? Serv. My lord, I've search'd, as you commanded, all the house! He and Monimia are not to be found. Acas. Not to be found? then where are all my friends? 'Tis well— I hope they'll pardon an unhappy fault My unmannerly infirmity has made! Death could not come in a more welcome hour; For I'm prepar'd to meet him; and, methinks, Would live and die with all my friends about me. Enter Castalio. Cas. Angels preserve my dearest father's life! Oh! may he live till time itself decay, Till good men wish him dead, or I offend him! ”

“ If lost, disgraceful ruin. Pierre. Ten thousand men are armed at your nod, Commanded all by leaders fit to guide A battle for the freedom of the world: This wretched state has starved them in its service; And, by your bounty quickened, they're resolved To serve your glory, and revenge their own: They've all their different quarters in this city, Watch for the alarm, and grumble 'tis so tardy. Beda. I doubt not, friend, but thy unwearied diligence Has still kept waking, and it shall have ease; After this night, it is resolved, we meet No more, till Venice owns us for her lords. Pierre. ”

“ 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 villanous inglorious enterprise,
I know thy heart so well, I dare lay mine
Before thee: set it to what point thou wilt.
Pier. Nay, 'tis a cause thou wilt be fond of, Jaffier:
For it is founded on the noblest basis,—
Our liberties, our natural inheritance;
There's no religion, no hypocrisy in't;
We'll do the business, and ne'er fast and pray for it:
Openly act a deed the world shall gaze
With wonder at, and envy when 'tis done. ”

“ Witness it, Earth, and every being Witness;
'Tis but one blow yet: by immortal Love,
I cannot longer bear a thought to harm thee,
He throws away the dagger and embraces her.
The Seal of providence is sure upon thee.
And thou wert born for yet unheard of wonders:
Oh thou wert either born to save or damn me!
By all the power that's given thee o'r my soul,
By thy resistless tears and conquering smiles,
By the victorious love that still waits on thee;
Fly to thy cruel Father: save my friend,
Or all our future Quiet's lost for ever:
Fall at his feet, cling round his reverend knees ”

“ To take thy life, on such conditions The council have proposed: thou, and thy friends, May yet live long, and to be better treated. Pierre. 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! 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 art fit to live in't. ”

“ What mighty ills have not been done by woman? Who was't betray'd the capitol?—a woman! Who lost Mark Antony the world?—a woman! Who was the cause of a long ten years' war, And laid at last old Troy in ashes?—Woman! Destructive, damnable, deceitful woman! Woman, to man first as a blessing given; When innocence and love were in their prime. Happy awhile in Paradise they lay; But quickly woman long'd to go astray: Some foolish new adventure needs must prove, And the first devil she saw, she chang'd her love: To his temptations lewdly she inclin'd Her soul, and for an apple damn'd mankind. ”

“ Secure thy wretched life; we fear to die Less than thou dar'st be honest. 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 prov'd 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! ”

“ But have a care, by friendship I conjure thee,
That no false play be offered to thy brother!
Urge all thy powers to make thy passion prosper,
But wrong not mine.
Pol. Heaven blast me if I do!
Cast. If't prove thy fortune, Polydore, to conquer,
(For thou hast all the arts of fine persuasion!)
Trust me, and let me know thy love's success,
That I may ever after stifle mine.
Pol. Though she be dearer to my soul than rest
To weary pilgrims, or to misers gold,
To great men power, or wealthy cities pride,
Rather than wrong Castalio, I'd forget her. ”

“ Born for my joy, and no pain's felt when near thee. Chamont! Enter Chamont. Cham. My lord, may't prove not an unlucky omen! Many I see are waiting round about you, And I am come to ask a blessing too. Acas. May'st thou be happy! Cham. Where? Acas. In all thy wishes. Cham. Confirm me so, and make this fair one mine: I am unpractis'd in the trade of courtship, And know not how to deal love out with art: Onsets in love seem best like those in war, Fierce, resolute, and done with all the force; So I would open my whole heart at once, And pour out the abundance of my soul. ”

“ The proud Priuli should be taught humanity, And learn to value such a son as thou art. I dare not speak, but my heart bleeds this moment. Jaf. Curs'd be the cause, though I thy friend be part on't: Let me partake the troubles of thy bosom, For I am us'd to misery, and perhaps May find a way to sweeten't to thy spirit. Pier. Too soon 'twill reach thy knowledge— Jaf. Then from thee Let it proceed. There's virtue in thy friendship, Would make the saddest tale of sorrow pleasing, Strengthen my constancy and welcome ruin. ”

“ I've now not fifty ducats in the world, Yet still I am in love, and pleased with ruin. Oh, Belvidera! Oh! she is my wife— And we will bear our wayward fate together, But ne'er know comfort more. Enter Pierre, L. S. E. Pierre. (L. C.) My friend, good morrow; How fares the honest partner of my heart? What, melancholy! not a word to spare me! Jaf. (C.) I'm thinking, Pierre, how that damned starving quality, Called honesty, got footing in the world. Pierre. Why, powerful villainy first set it up, For its own ease and safety. Honest men Are the-soft easy cushions on which knave's Repose and fatten. ”

“ King. I dare not venture thee, thou art too fair.
What wouldst thou say?
Hen. Destroy not in one man
More virtue than the world can boast again.
View him the eldest pledge of your first love,
Your virgin joys; that may some pity move—
King. No; for the wrongs I suffer weigh it down:
I'd now not spare his life to save my own.
Away! by thy soft tongue I'll not be caught.
Hen. By all that hopes can frame I beg: if not,
May you by some base hand unpitied die,
And childless mothers curse your memory!
By honour, love, by life—
King. ”

“ No; thou shalt not force me from thee. Use me reproachfully, and like a slave; Tread on me, buffet me, heap wrongs on wrongs On my poor head; I'll bear it all with patience Shall 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— Jaf. What? Pier. A traitor? Jaf. Yes. Pier. A villain? Jaf. Granted. Pier. A coward, a most scandalous coward; Spiritless, void of honour; one who has sold Thy everlasting fame, for shameless life? ”

“ By my sword, I would not see thee wrong'd, and bear it vilely: Though I have pass'd my word she shall have justice. Cas. Justice! to give her justice would undo her. Think you this solitude I now have chosen, Wish'd to have grown one piece With this cold day, and all without a cause? Enter Chamont. Cham. Where is the hero, famous and renown'd For wronging innocence, and breaking vows; Whose mighty spirit, and whose stubborn heart, No woman can appease, nor man provoke? Acas. I guess, Chamont, you come to seek Castalio? Cham. I come to seek the husband of Monimia. ”

“ Heav'n knows, if yet there be an hour to come, Ere Venice be no more. Duke. How! Priuli. Nay, we stand Upon the very brink of gaping ruin. Within this city's formed a dark conspiracy To massacre us all, our wives and children, Kindred and friends; our palaces and temples To lay in ashes: nay, the hour, too, fixed; The swords, for aught I know, drawn ev'n this moment, And the wild waste begun. From unknown hands I had this warning: but, if we are men, Let's not be tamely butchered, but do something That may inform the world in after ages, Our virtue was not ruined, though we were. ”