Ant. I will not lose the glory of the deed, 120
Were all the tortures of the deepest hell
Fix’d to my limbs. I pierced the monster’s heart
With an undaunted hand.
Pan. By yon bright-spangled front of heaven ’twas I!
’Twas I sluiced[321] out his life-blood.
Alb. Tush, to say truth, ’twas all.
2d Sen. Blest be you all, and may your honours live
Religiously held sacred, even for ever and ever.
Gal. (to Antonio). Thou art another Hercules to us,
In ridding huge pollution from our state. 130
1st Sen. Antonio, belief is fortified
With most invincible approvements[322] of much wrong
By this Piero to thee. We have found
Beadrolls of mischief, plots of villainy,
Laid ’twixt the Duke and Strotzo, which we found
Too firmly acted.
2d Sen. Alas, poor orphant!
Ant. Poor!
Standing triumphant over Belzebub!
Having large interest for blood, and yet deem’d poor?
1st Sen. What satisfaction outward pomp can yield,
Or chiefest fortunes of the Venice state, 140
Claim freely. You are well-season’d props,
And will not warp, or lean to either part;
Calamity gives a man a steady heart.
Ant. We are amaz’d at your benignity;
But other vows constrain another course.