In these distracted times, when each man dreads The bloody stratagems of busy heads; When we have feared, three years, we know not what, Till witnesses[62] begin to die o' the rot, What made our poet meddle with a plot? Was't that he fancied, for the very sake And name of plot, his trifling play might take? For there's not in't one inch-board evidence, But 'tis, he says, to reason plain, and sense, And that he thinks a plausible defence. Were truth by sense and reason to be tried, Sure all our swearers might be laid aside: No, of such tools our author has no need, To make his plot, or make his play succeed; He of black bills has no prodigious tales, Or Spanish pilgrims cast ashore in Wales; Here's not one murdered magistrate at least, Kept rank, like venison for a city feast; Grown four days stiff, the better to prepare And fit his pliant limbs to ride in chair: Yet here's an army raised, though under ground, But no man seen, nor one commission found; Here is a traitor too that's very old, Turbulent, subtle, mischievous, and bold; Bloody, revengeful, and, to crown his part, Loves fumbling with a wench with all his heart; Till after having many changes past, In spite of age (thanks Heaven) is hanged at last. Next is a senator that keeps a whore, In Venice none a higher office bore; To lewdness every night the lecher ran: Show me, all London, such another man, Match him at Mother Creswold's[63] if you can. O Poland, Poland! had it been thy lot, T'have heard in time of this Venetian plot, Thou surely chosen hadst one king from thence, And honoured them, as thou hast England since. FOOTNOTES: [62] _i.e._ Titus Oates and others. The prologue is full of allusions to events of the time. [63] The well-known Mother Creswell, a notorious procuress, who kept up an extensive correspondence with spies and emissaries, by whom she was informed of "the rising beauties in different parts of the kingdom." [Illustration: _DRAMATIS PERSONÆ._] Duke of VENICE. PRIULI, Father of Belvidera, a Senator. ANTONIO, a fine speaker in the Senate. BEDAMAR, the Spanish Ambassador. JAFFIER, } PIERRE, } RENAULT, } SPINOSA, } THEODORE, } ELIOT, } REVILLIDO, } Conspirators. DURAND, } MEZZANA, } BRAINVILLE, } TERNON, } RETROSI, } BRABE, } BELVIDERA. AQUILINA, a Greek Courtesan. Two Women, Attendants on Belvidera. Two Women, Servants to Aquilina. The Council of Ten. Officer, Guard, Friar, Executioner, and Rabble. SCENE--VENICE. [Illustration] _VENICE PRESERVED_; _OR_, _A PLOT DISCOVERED._ ACT THE FIRST. SCENE I.--_A Public Place._ _Enter_ PRIULI _and_ JAFFIER. _Priu._ No more! I'll hear no more; begone and leave me.