_1st Sen._ True, mighty duke, it best becomes our places, To have our light from you the sun of virtue. Subject authority, for gain, love, or fear, Oft quits the guilty, and condemns the clear. 10 _Duke._ The land and people's mine; the crimes being known, I must redress; my subjects' wrong's mine own. Call for the two suspected for the murder Of Mendoza, our endeared kinsman, These voluntary murderers that confess The murder of him that is yet alive. We'll sport with serious justice for a while; In show we'll frown on them that make us smile. _2d Sen._ Bring forth the prisoners, we may hear their answers. _Enter_ (_brought in with_ Officers) CLARIDIANA _and_ ROGERO.[264] _Duke._ Stand forth, you vipers, [you] that have suck'd blood, 20 And lopp'd a branch sprung from a royal tree! What can you answer to escape tortures? _Rog._ We have confessed the fact,[265] my lord, to God and man, Our ghostly father, and that worthy captain: We beg not life, but favourable death. _Duke._ On what ground sprung your hate to him we loved? _Cla._ Upon that curse laid on Venetians, jealousy. We thought he, being a courtier, would have made us magnificoes of the right stamp, and have play'd at primero in the presence, with gold of the city brought from our Indies. 31 _Rog._ Nay, more, my lord, we feared that your kinsman, for a mess of sonnets, would have given the plot of us and our wives to some needy poet, and for sport and profit brought us in some Venetian comedy upon the stage. _Duke._ Our justice dwells with mercy; be not desperate. _1st Sen._ His highness fain would save your lives if you would see it. _Rog._ All the law in Venice shall not save me; I will not be saved. _Cla._ Fear not, I have a trick to bring us to hanging in spite of the law. 43 _Rog._ Why, now I see thou lovest me; thou hast confirm'd Thy friendship for ever to me by these words. Why, I should never hear lanthorn and candle[266] call'd for But I should think it was for me and my wife. I'll hang for that, forget not thy trick; Upon 'em with thy trick; I long for sentence. _2d Sen._ Will you appeal for mercy to the duke? 50 _Cla._ Kill not thy justice, duke, to save our lives; We have deserved death. _Rog._ Make not us precedents for after-wrongs; I will receive punishment for my sins: It shall be a means to lift me towards heaven. _Cla._ Let's have our desert; we crave no favour. _Duke._ Take them asunder; grave justice makes us mirth; That man is soulless that ne'er smiles[267] on earth. Signor Rogero,[268] relate the weapon you kill'd him with, and the manner. 60