Venice Preserved: A Tragedy

_Pri._ Could words express the story I've to tell you, Fathers, these tears were useless, these sad tears That fall from my old eyes; but there is cause We all should weep, tear...

_Bel._ I'm sacrific'd! I'm sold! betray'd to shame! Inevitable ruin has enclos'd me! He that should guard my virtue has betray'd it; Left me! undone me! Oh, that I could hate hi...

_Jaf._ Not hear me! By my suffering, but you shall! My lord, my lord! I'm not that abject wretch You think me. Patience! where's the distance throws Me back so far, but I may bo...

_Ren._ Why was my choice ambition? the worst ground A wretch can build on! It's, indeed, at distance, A goodly prospect, tempting to the view; The height delights us, and the mo...

_Jaf._ I'm here; and thus, the shades of night around me, I look as if all hell were in my heart, And I in hell. Nay surely 'tis so with me!-- For every step I tread, methinks s...

_Bel._ And may no fatal minute ever part us, Till, reverend grown for age and love, we go Down to one grave, as our last bed, together; There sleep in peace, till an eternal mor...

_Pier._ Yet nearer. Dear to my arms, though thou'st undone my fame, I can't forget to love thee. Pr'ythee, Jaffier, Forgive that filthy blow my passion dealt thee; I'm now prepa...

_Bel._ To eternal honour. To do a deed shall chronicle thy name Among the glorious legends of those few That have sav'd sinking nations. Thy renown Shall be the future song of a...

_Pri._ Why, cruel heav'n, have my unhappy days Been lengthen'd to this sad one? Oh! dishonour And deathless infamy is fallen upon me. Was it my fault? Am I a traitor? No. But th...

_Bel._ Come, come, come, come, come, nay come to bed. Pr'ythee, my love. The winds! hark how they whistle; And the rain beats: Oh! how the weather shrinks me! You are angry now,...