_Jaff._ Oh, women have fantastic constitutions, Inconstant as their wishes, always wavering, And never fixed. Was it not boldly done, Even at first sight to trust the thing I loved-- A tempting treasure too!--with youth so fierce And vigorous as thine?--but thou art honest. _Ren._ Who dares accuse me? _Jaff._ Cursed be him that doubts Thy virtue! I have tried it, and declare, Were I to choose a guardian of my honour, I'd put it in thy keeping; for I know thee. _Ren._ Know me? _Jaff._ Ay, know thee: there's no falsehood in thee, Thou look'st just as thou art: let us embrace. Now wouldst thou cut my throat, or I cut thine? _Ren._ You dare not do it. _Jaff._ You lie, sir. _Ren._ How! _Jaff._ No more. 'Tis a base world, and must reform, that's all. _Enter_ SPINOSA, THEODORE, ELIOT, REVILLIDO, DURAND, BRAINVILLE, _and the rest of the_ _Conspirators._ _Ren._ Spinosa! Theodore! _Spin._ The same. _Ren._ You are welcome! _Spin._ You are trembling, sir. _Ren._ 'Tis a cold night indeed, I am aged, Full of decay and natural infirmities: We shall be warm, my friend, I hope, to-morrow. _Re-enter_ PIERRE. _Pier._ [_Aside to_ JAFFIER.] 'Twas not well done thou shouldst have strokèd him, And not have galled him. _Jaff._ [_Aside to_ PIERRE.] Damn him! let him chew on it. Heaven! where am I? beset with cursèd fiends, That wait to damn me. What a devil's man, When he forgets his nature! Hush, my heart! _Ren._ My friends, 'tis late; are we assembled all? Where's Theodore? _Theo._ At hand. _Ren._ Spinosa? _Spin._ Here. _Ren._ Brainville? _Brain._ I'm ready. _Ren._ Durand and Brabe? _Dur._ Command us; We are both prepared. _Ren._ Mezzana, Revillido, Ternon, Retrosi? oh, you're men, I find, Fit to behold your fate, and meet her summons; To-morrow's rising sun must see you all Decked in your honours! Are the soldiers ready? _All._ All, all. _Ren._[72] You, Durand, with your thousand, must possess St. Mark's; you, captain, know your charge already; 'Tis to secure the Ducal Palace; you, Brabe, with a hundred more, must gain the Secque; With the like number, Brainville, to the Procurale. Be all this done with the least tumult possible, Till in each place you post sufficient guards: Then sheathe your swords in every breast you meet. _Jaff._ [_Aside._] O reverend cruelty! Damned bloody villain!