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_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
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