Priu. Could words express the story I've to tell you,
Fathers, these tears were useless, these sad tears
That fall from my old eyes; but there is cause
We all should weep; tear off these purple robes,
And wrap ourselves in sackcloth, sitting down
On the sad earth, and cry aloud to Heaven.
Heaven knows if yet there be an hour to come
Ere Venice be no more!
All the Senators. How!
Priu. Nay, we stand
Upon the very brink of gaping ruin.
Within this city's formed a dark conspiracy
To massacre us all, our wives and children,
Kindred and friends; our palaces and temples
To lay in ashes: nay, the hour too fixed;
The swords, for aught I know, drawn even this moment,
And the wild waste begun. From unknown hands
I had this warning: but, if we are men,
Let's not be tamely butchered, but do something
That may inform the world in after-ages
Our virtue was not ruined, though we were.
[Voices without] Room, room, make room for some prisoners!
2nd Senat. Let's raise the city.
Enter Officer and Guard.
Priu. Speak there, what disturbance?
Offi. Two prisoners have the guard seized in the streets,
Who say they come to inform this reverend Senate
About the present danger.
All. Give them entrance.—
Enter Jaffier and Belvidera, guarded.