What you but coldly plot: If this deserve then
Suspicion in the best, the boldest, wisest,
Pursue your own intents; I'll follow mine
And if I not out-strip you-

Bris. Be assured, sir,

A confidence like this can never be
Allied to treachery.

Cam. Who durst speak so much,
But one that is, like us, a sufferer,
And stands as we affected?
Vir. You are cozen'd,

And all undone! Every intelligencer
Speaks treason with like licence. Is not this
Ronvere, that hath for many years been train'd
In Ferrand's school, a man in trust and favour,
Rewarded too, and highly?

Cam. Grant all this,

The thought of what he was, being as he is now, A man disgraced, and with contempt thrown off, Will spur him to revenge, as swift as they

That never were in favour.

Vir. Poor and childish!

Bris. His regiment is cast, that is most certain; And his command i' th' castle given away. Cam. That on my knowledge.

Vir. Grosser still! What shepherd

Would yield the poor remainder of his flock
To a known wolf, though he put on the habit
Of a most faithful dog, and bark like one,
As this but only talks?

Cam. Yes, he has means too.

Vir. I know it to my grief, weak men, I

know it!

4 A conscience like this, &c.] That this passage is corrupt will not admit of a doubt. We have ventured to substitute the word confidence for conscience.-Ed. 1778.

To make his peace, if there were any war
Between him and his master," [by] betraying
Our innocent lives.

Rony. You are too suspicious,

And I have borne too much, beyond my temper: Take your own ways! I'll leave you.

Vir. You may stay now;

You have enough, and all indeed you fish'd for.But one word, gentlemen: Have you discover'd To him alone our plot?

[Apart to BRISSONET and CAMILLO.

Bris. To him, and others
That are at his devotion.
Vir. Worse and worse!

For were he only conscious of our purpose,
Though with the breach of hospitable laws,
In my own house I'd silence him for ever:
But what is past my help is past my care.
I have a life to lose.

Cam. Have better hopes.

Rono. And when you know, with what charge I have further'd

Your noble undertaking, you will swear me Another man; the guards I have corrupted, And of the choice of all our noblest youths, Attired like virgins, such as hermits would Welcome to their sad cells, prepared a masque, As done for the king's pleasure.

Vir. For his safety

I rather fear; and as a pageant to
Usher our ruin.

Rony. We, as torch-bearers,

Will wait on these; but with such art and cunning

5 His master, betraying.] I have inserted by in the text against the authority of all the editions. This passage is deficient without.-Sympson.

I have convey'd sharp poniards in the wax,
That we may pass, though search'd, through all his
guards

Without suspicion, and in all his glory
Oppress him, and with safety.

Cam. 'Tis most strange

Vir. To be effected.

Rono. You are doubtful still.

Bris. But we resolved to follow him; and if you Desist now, Virolet, we'll say 'tis fear,

Rather than providence.

Cam. And so we leave you.

Enter JULIANA.

[Exeunt."

Jul. To your wise doubts, and to my better counsels.

Oh! pardon me, my lord, and trust me too;
Let me not, like Cassandra, prophesy truths,
And never be believed, before the mischief;
I have heard all, know this Ronvere a villain,
A villain that hath tempted me, and plotted
This for your ruin, only to make way
To his hopes in my embraces; at more leisure,
I will acquaint you wherefore I conceal'd it
To this last minute; if you stay, you are lost,
And all prevention too late. I know,
And 'tis to me known only, a dark cave
Within this house, a part of my poor dower,
Where you may lie conceal'd, as in the centre,
Till this rough blast be o'er. Where there is air,
More than to keep in life, Ferrand will find you;
So curious his fears are.

Vir. 'Tis better fall

Rowe [Otway] has taken from this scene some circumstances of his Venice Preserved.-Mason.

Than hide my head now, ('twas thine own advice,) My friends engaged too.

Jul. You stand further bound,

Than to weak men that have betray'd themselves,
Or to my counsel, though then just and loyal :
Your fancy hath been good, but not your judgment
In choice of such to side you. Will you leap
From a steep tower, because a desperate fool
Does it, and trusts the wind to save his hazard?
There's more expected from you; all men's eyes
Are fix'd on Virolet, to help, not hurt them:
Make good their hopes and ours! You have sworn
often,

That you dare credit me, and allow'd me wise,
Although a woman; even kings in great actions.
Wait opportunity, and so must you, sir,
Or lose your understanding."

Vir. Thou art constant;

I an uncertain fool, a most blind fool:

Be thou my guide.

Jul. If I fail to direct you,

For torment or reward, when I am wretched,
May constancy forsake me!

Vir. I have my safety.

[Exeunt.

7 Lose your understanding.] Sympson would read undertaking ; but the last editors properly observe, that "the text is right, and only means, It would be madness to think you must not, like others, be guided by the opportunity.' His answer confirms this. Lose your understanding may, without violence, be taken in this

SCENE II.

A State-Room in the Palace.

Enter CASTRUCCIO and VILLIO.

Vil. Why are you wrapt thus?

Cast. Peace, thou art a fool.

Vil. But if I were a flatterer, like your worship, I should be wise, and rich too:

There are few else that prosper, bawds excepted, They hold an equal place there.

Cast. A shrewd knave!

But oh, the king, the happy king!

Vil. Why happy?

In bearing a great burthen?

Cast. What bears he,

That's borne on princes' shoulders?
Vil. A crown's weight,

Which sits more heavy on his head, than the ore
Slaves dig out of the mines, of which 'tis made.
Cast. Thou worthily art his fool, to think that
heavy

That carries him i̇' th' air: The reverence due
To that most sacred gold makes him adored,
His footsteps kiss'd; his smiles to raise a beggar
To a lord's fortune; and, when he but frowns,
The city quakes-

Vil. Or the poor cuckolds in it,
Coxcombs I should say. I am of a fool
Grown a philosopher, to hear this parasite.