of all here present? Seest thou not that all thy plots are exposed?—that thy wretched conspiracy is laid bare to every man's knowledge, here in the senate?—that we are all well aware of thy proceedings of last night; of the night before; the place of meeting, the company convoked, the measures concerted? 2. Alas the times! Alas the public morals! The senate understands all this. The consul sees it. Yet the traitor lives! Lives? Ay, truly, and confronts us here in council; takes part in our deliberations; and, with his measuring eye, marks out each man of us for slaughter! And we, all this while, strenuous that we are, think we have amply discharged our duty to the state, if we but shun this madman's sword and fury! 3. Long since, O Catiline, ought the consul to have ordered thee to execution, and brought upon thy own head the ruin thou hast been meditating against others! There was that virtue once in Rome, that a wicked citizen was held more execrable than the deadliest foe. We have a law still, Catiline, for thee. Think not that we are powerless because forbearing. We have a decree-though it rests among our archives like a sword in its scabbard―a decree by which thy life would be made to pay the forfeit of thy crimes. And, should I order thee to be instantly seized and put to death, I make just doubt whether all good men would not think it done rather too late, than any man too cruelly. 4. But, for good reasons I will yet defer the blow, long since deserved. Then will I doom thee, when no man is found so lost, so wicked, nay, so like thyself, but shall confess that it was justly dealt. While there is one man that dares defend thee, live! But thou shalt live so beset, so surrounded, so scrutinized, by the vigilant guards that I have placed around thee, that thou shalt not stir a foot against the republic without my knowledge. There shall be eyes to detect thy slightest movement, and ears to catch thy wariest whisper, of which thou shalt not dream. 5. The darkness of night shall not cover thy treason; the walls of privacy shall not stifle its voice. Baffled on all sides, thy most secret counsels clear as noonday, what canst thou now have in view? Proceed, plot, conspire, as thou wilt; there is nothing you can contrive, nothing you can propose, nothing you can attempt, which I shall not know, hear, and promptly understand. Thou shalt soon be made aware that I am even more active in providing for the preservation of the state, than thou in plotting its destruction! LXXXVIII.—SCENES FROM THE MERCHANT OF VENICE. SHAKSPEARE. ACT I, SCENE I.— Venice. A Street. Enter ANTONIO, SALARINO, AND SALANIO. And such a want-wit sadness makes of me, SALAR.-Your mind is tossing on the ocean, That court'sy to them, do them reverence, As they fly by them with their woven wings. SALAN.-Believe me, sir, had I such venture forth, The better part of my affections would Be with my hopes abroad. I should be still Plucking the grass, to know where sits the wind; SALAR.-My wind, cooling my broth, And not bethink me straight of dangerous rocks, Working it is legiten, ate explains this per sense beatly well if we take the entire conly. And now worth nothing? Shall I have the thought That such a thing bechanced would make me sad? Is sad to think upon his merchandise. ANT.-Believe me, no; I thank my fortune for it, My ventures are not in one bottom trusted, SALAR.-Why, then you are in love. ANT.-Fy, fy! SALAR.-Not in love neither? Then let's say you are sad That they'll not show their teeth in way of smile, Enter BASSANIO, LORENZO, AND Gratiano. SALAN.-Here comes Bassanio, your most noble kinsman, Gratiano and Lorenzo. Fare you well; We leave you now with better company. SALAR. I would have staid till I had made you merry, If worthier friends had not prevented me. ANT. Your worth is very dear in my regards. I take it, your own business calls on you, And you embrace the occasion to depart. SALAR. Good morrow, my good lords. BASS.-Good signiors both, when shall we laugh? Say when? You grow exceeding strange: Must it be so? Exeunt SALARINO AND SALANIO. LOR. My lord Bassanio, since you have found Antonio, We two will leave you; but at dinner time, I pray you have in mind where we must meet. BASS.-I will not fail you. GRA. You look not well, signior Antonio; They lose it that do buy it with much care. ANT. I hold the world but as the world, Gratiano,- GRA.-Let me play the fool; With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come; Sleep when he wakes? and creep into the jaundice With purpose to be dressed in an opinion As who should say, And when I ope my lips let no dog bark!" For saying nothing; when, I am very sure, If they should speak, would almost damn those ears |