No More Learning

_I. Ber_. 'Tis he.
Welcome, my Lord,--you are before the time.

_Doge_. I am ready to proceed to your assembly. 50

_I. Ber_. Have with you. --I am proud and pleased to see
Such confident alacrity. Your doubts
Since our last meeting, then, are all dispelled?

_Doge_. Not so--but I have set my little left[419]
Of life upon this cast: the die was thrown
When I first listened to your treason. --Start not!
_That_ is the word; I cannot shape my tongue
To syllable black deeds into smooth names,
Though I be wrought on to commit them.
When
I heard you tempt your Sovereign, and forbore 60
To have you dragged to prison, I became
Your guiltiest accomplice: now you may,
If it so please you, do as much by me.

_I. Ber_. Strange words, my Lord, and most unmerited;
I am no spy, and neither are we traitors.

_Doge_. _We--We! _--no matter--you have earned the right
To talk of _us_. --But to the point. --If this
Attempt succeeds, and Venice, rendered free
And flourishing, when we are in our graves,
Conducts her generations to our tombs, 70
And makes her children with their little hands
Strew flowers o'er her deliverers' ashes, then
The consequence will sanctify the deed,
And we shall be like the two Bruti in
The annals of hereafter; but if not,
If we should fail, employing bloody means
And secret plot, although to a good end,
Still we are traitors, honest Israel;--thou
No less than he who was thy Sovereign
Six hours ago, and now thy brother rebel. 80

_I. Ber_. 'Tis not the moment to consider thus,
Else I could answer. --Let us to the meeting,
Or we may be observed in lingering here.

_Doge_. We _are_ observed, and have been.

_I.