South. And I, while I have life, will hoard thy mem'ry: When I am dead, we then shall meet again. Essex. Till then, Farewell. South. Till then, Farewell. EARL OF ESSEX CHAP. VIII. JAFFIER AND PIERRE. Jaff. By Heav'n, you stir not! I must be heard, I must have leave to speak! Pier. What whining monk art thou? what holy cheat, Jaff. Pier. No, know thee not; what art thou? Jaff. Jaffier, thy friend, thy once lov'd, valu'd friend! Dear to my eyes, and tender to my heart: My mind still full of thee, therefore still noble. Look back and see my sad, sincere submission! What shall I do? what say to make thee hear me? Pier. Hast thou not wrong'd me? dar'st thou call thyself That once beloved, valu'd friend of mine, And swear thou hast not wrong'd me? Whence these chains? Whence the vile death which I may meet this moment? Jaff. All's true; yet grant one thing, and I've done asking. Pier. What's that! Juff. To take thy life on such conditions The council have propos'd: thou and thy friend May yet live long, and to be better treated. Pier. 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, treach'rous 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 are fit to live in't. Jaff. By all that's just Pier. Swear by some other pow'rs, For thou hast broke that sacred oath too lately. Jaff. Then by that Hell I merit, I'll not leave thee, Till to thyself at least thou'rt reconcil'd, However thy resentment deal with me. Pier. Not leave me ! Jaff. No; thou shalt not force me from thee; Tread on me, buffet me, heap wrongs on wrongs I'll weary out thy most unfriendly cruelty; Lie at thy feet and kiss 'em, though they spurn me, And raise me to thy arms with dear forgiveness. Pier. Art thou not Jaff. What? Pier. A traitor? Pier. A villain? Jaff. Granted. Pier. A coward, a most scand'lous coward, Spiritless, void of honour, one who has sold Thy everlasting fame for shameless life? Jaff. All, all, and more, much more: my numberless. faults are Pier. And wouldst thou have me live on terms like thine? Base as thon'rt false Juff. No: 'tis to me that's granted : The safety of thy life was all I aim'd at, In recompense for faith and trust so broken. Pier. I scorn it more, because preserv'd by thee: On thy misfortunes, sought thee in thy mis'ries, All I receiv'd in surety for thy truth Were unregarded oaths, and this, this dagger, Giv❜n with a worthless pledge thou since hast stol'n: Swearing by all those pow'rs which thou hast violated, Take it.-Farewell, for now I owe thee nothing. Pier. For my life, dispose of't Just as thou wilt, because 'tis what I'm tir'd with, Pier. No more. Jaff. My eyes won't lose the sight of thee, But languish after thine, and ache with gazing. Pier. Leave me-Nay, then thus, thus, I throw thee from me: And curses, great as is thy falsehood, catch thee. CHAP. IX. VENICE PReserved. ORLANDO AND ADAM. Orlan. WHO's there? Adam. What, my young master! Oh, my gentle master! Oh, my sweet master! oh you memory Of old sir Rowland! Why, what makes you here? Oh, what a world is this, when what is comely Orlan. Why, what's the matter? Come not within these doors; within this roof The enemy of all your graces lives: Your brother (no; no brother; yet the son,— Of him. I was about to call his father) Hath heard your praises, and this night he means, He will have other means to cut you off. This is no place; this house is but a butchery; Orlan. Why, whither, Adam, wouldst thou have me go? A thievish living on the common road ? Adam. But do not so; I have five hundred crowns, Orlan. O! good old man, how well in thee appears When service sweat for duty, not for meed! |