Venice PreservedJaffeir, a noble but impoverished Venetian, has secretly married Belvidera, the daughter of a proud senator named Priuli, who has cut off her inheritance. Jaffeir's friend Pierre, a foreign soldier, stokes Jaffeir's resentment and entices him into a plot against the Senate of Venice. Pierre's own reasons for plotting against the Senate revolve around another senator (the corrupt, foolish Antonio) paying for relations with Pierre's mistress, Aquilina. Despite Pierre's complaints, the Senate does nothing about it, explaining that Antonio has senatorial privilege. Pierre introduces Jaffeir to the conspirators, led by bloodthirsty Renault. To get their trust, Jaffeir must put Belvidera in Renault's care as a hostage. That night, Renault attempts to rape Belvidera, but she escapes to Jaffeir. Jaffeir then tells Belvidera about the plot against the Senate. She devises a plan of her own: Jaffeir will reveal the conspiracy to the Senate and claim the lives of the conspirators as his reward. (Jaffeir would then choose to pardon some or all of the conspirators, notably his friend Pierre.) Jaffeir follows Belvidera's plan, but the Senate breaks its word and condemns all of the conspirators to death. In remorse for betraying Pierre and losing his honor, Jaffeir threatens to kill Belvidera, unless she can obtain a pardon for the conspirators. She does so, but the pardon arrives too late. Jaffeir visits Pierre before his execution. Pierre is crestfallen because he is sentenced to die a dishonourable death by hanging, not the death of a soldier. He forgives Jaffeir and whispers to him (unheard by the audience) to kill him honourably before he is executed. Just as Pierre is about to be hanged, Jaffeir rushes up to the gallows and stabs him; as a form of atonement, he then commits suicide. Belvidera then goes insane and dies. |
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already ANTONIO AQUILINA arms bear BEDAMORE BELVIDERA betrayed blessed blood born bosom breast cause charge conspirators coward cursed dagger dear Death Duke e'er edition ended Enter eyes face faith fall false fate father fear fool fortune give guard hand hang head hear heart Heaven hold honor hope hour I'll JAFFEIR joys kill kind kiss late leave live look lord lost meet murder Nacky nature ne'er never night noble OFFICER Otway Otway's peace PIERRE pity play plot political poor PRIULI published RENAULT Restoration revenge ruin safety scene Senate sorrows soul Speak stage stand story sure sword tears tell thee there's thou art thou hast thought trust truth Venice Venice Preserved villain virtue wife wilt wishes wretch wrongs