It shows
The impression of his former instances:
If they were from his heart, he may be thankful:
If not, 'twill punish his hypocrisy.
Come, they are met by this time; let us join them,
And be _thou_ fixed in purpose for this once.
I have prepared such arguments as will not 50
Fail to move them, and to remove him: since
Their thoughts, their objects, have been sounded, do not
_You_, with your wonted scruples, teach us pause,
And all will prosper.

_Bar._ Could I but be certain
This is no prelude to such persecution
Of the sire as has fallen upon the son,
I would support you.

_Lor._ He is safe, I tell you;
His fourscore years and five may linger on
As long as he can drag them: 'tis his throne
Alone is aimed at.

_Bar._ But discarded Princes 60
Are seldom long of life.

_Lor._ And men of eighty
More seldom still.

_Bar._ And why not wait these few years?

_Lor._ Because we have waited long enough, and he
Lived longer than enough. Hence! in to council!
[_Exeunt_ LOREDANO _and_ BARBARIGO.

_Enter_ MEMMO[70] _and a Senator_.

_Sen._ A summons to "the Ten!" why so?

_Mem._ "The Ten"
Alone can answer; they are rarely wont
To let their thoughts anticipate their purpose
By previous proclamation. We are summoned--
That is enough.

_Sen._ For them, but not for us;
I would know why.

_Mem._ You will know why anon, 70
If you obey: and, if not, you no less
Will know why you should have obeyed.

_Sen._ I mean not
To oppose them, _but_----

_Mem._ In Venice "_but_"'s a traitor.
But me no "_buts_" unless you would pass o'er
The Bridge which few repass.[71]

_Sen._ I am silent.

_Mem._ Why
Thus hesitate? "The Ten" have called in aid
Of their deliberation five and twenty
Patricians of the Senate--you are one,
And I another; and it seems to me
Both honoured by the choice or chance which leads us 80
To mingle with a body so august.

_