_Duke._ Break up the council. Captain, guard your prisoners.
Jaffier, you're free; but these must wait for judgment.

_[Exeunt Duke, Senators, Conspirators, and Officer._

_Pierre._ (C.) Come, where's my dungeon? Lead me to
my straw:
It will not be the first time I've lodged hard,
To do your senate service.

_Jaf._ (R. C.) Hold, one moment.

_Pierre._ Who's he disputes the judgment of the senate?
Presumptuous rebel!--on-- _[Strikes Jaffier_

_Jaf._ (C.) By Heaven, you stir not!

_[Exeunt Captain and Guards, R._

I must be heard! I must have leave to speak.
Thou hast disgraced me. Pierre, by a vile blow:
Had not a dagger done thee nobler justice I
But use me as thou wilt, thou can'st not wrong me,
For I am fallen beneath the basest injuries;
Yet look upon me with an eye of mercy,
And, as there dwells a godlike nature in thee,
Listen with mildness to my supplications.

_Pierre._ (R. C.) What whining monk art thou? what
holy cheat,
That would'st encroach upon my credulous ears,
And cant'st thus vilely! Hence! I know thee not!

_Jaf._ Not know me, Pierre!

_Pierre._ No, know thee not. What art thou?

_Jaf._ Jaffier, thy friend, thy once loved, valued friend!
Tho' now deservedly scorned, and used most hardly.

_Pierre._ Thou, Jaffier! thou, my once-loved, valued
friend!
By heavens, thou ly'st; the man so called my friend,
Was generous, honest, faithful, just, and valiant;
Noble in mind, and in his person lovely;
Dear to my eyes, and tender to my heart:
But, thou, a wretched, base, false, worthless coward,
Poor, even in soul, and loathsome in thy aspect:
All eyes must shun thee, and all hearts detest thee.
Pr'ythee, avoid, nor longer cling thus round me,
Like something baneful, that my nature's chilled at.

_Jaf._ I have not wronged thee; by these tears I have
not!

_Pierre._ Hast thou not wronged me I Dar'st thou call
thyself
That once-loved, honest, valued friend of mine,
And swear thou hast not wronged me? Whence these
chains?
Whence the vile death which I may meet this moment?
Whence this dishonour, but from thee, thou false one?

_Jaf._ All's true; yet grant one thing, and I've done asking.

_Pierre._ What's that?

_Jaf._ To take thy life