 | Venice Preserv'd, Or, A Plot Discover'd |  |
ACT IV.
Enter Jaffeir and Belvidera.Jaff.
Where dost thou lead me? Every step I move,
Methinks I tread upon some mangled Limb
Of a rack'd Friend: Oh my dear charming ruine!
Where are we wandring?
Bel.
To eternal Honour;
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Among the glorious Legends of those few
That have sav'd sinking Nations: thy Renown
Shall be the future Song of all the Virgins,
Who by thy piety have been preserv'd
From horrid violation: Every Street
Shall be adorn'd with Statues to thy honour,
And at thy feet this great Inscription written,
Remember him that prop'd the fall of Venice.
Jaff.
Rather, Remember him, who after all
The sacred Bonds of Oaths and holyer Friendship
In fond compassion to a Womans tears
Forgot his Manhood, Vertue, truth and Honour,
To sacrifice the Bosom that reliev'd him.
Why wilt thou damn me?
Bel.
Oh inconstant man!
How will you promise? how will you deceive?
Do, return back, re-place me in my Bondage,
Tell all thy Friends how dangerously thou lovst me;
And let thy Dagger doe its bloudy office
Oh that kind Dagger, Jaffeir, how twill look
Stuck through my heart, drench'd in my bloud to th' hilts!
Whilst these poor dying eyes shall with their tears
No more torment thee, then thou wilt be free:
Or if thou think'st it nobler, Let me live
Till I am a Victim to the hatefull lust
Of that Infernal Devil, that old Fiend
That's Damn'd himself and wou'd undoe Mankind:
Last night, my Love!
Jaff.
Name, name it not again.
It shews a beastly Image to my fancy;
Will wake me into madness. Oh the Villain!
That durst approach such purity as thine
On terms so vile: Destruction, swift destruction
Fall on my Coward-head, and make my Name
The common scorn of Fools if I forgive him;
If I forgive him, if I not revenge
With utmost rage, and most unstaying fury,
Thy sufferings thou dear darling of my life, Love.
Bel.
Delay no longer then, but to the Senate;
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Tell 'em what bloudshed, rapines, desolations,
Have been prepar'd, how near's the fatal hour!
Save thy poor Country, save the Reverend bloud
Of all its Nobles, which to morrows Dawn
Must else see shed: Save the poor tender lives
Of all those little Infants which the Swords
Of murtherers are whetting for this moment;
Think thou already hearst their dying screams,
Think that thou seest their sad distracted Mothers
Kneeling before thy feet, and begging pity
With torn dishevel'd hair and streaming eyes,
Their naked mangled breasts besmeard with bloud,
And even the Milk with which their fondled Babes,
Softly they hush'd, dropping in anguish from 'em.
Think thou seest this, and then consult thy heart.
Jaff.
Oh!
Bel.
Think too, If thou lose this present minute,
What miseries the next day bring upon thee.
Imagine all the horrours of that night
Murther and Rapine, Waste and Desolation,
Confusedly ranging. Think what then may prove
My Lot! the Ravisher may then come safe,
And midst the terrour of the publick ruine
Doe a damn'd deed; perhaps to lay a Train
May catch thy life; then where will be revenge,
The dear revenge that's due to such a wrong?
Jaff.
By all Heavens powers Prophetick truth dwells in thee,
For every word thou speak'st strikes through my heart
Like a new light, and shows it how 't has wander'd;
Just what th' hast made me, take me, Belvidera,
And lead me to the place where I'm to say
This bitter Lesson, where I must betray
My truth, my vertue, constancy and friends:
Must I betray my friends? Ah take me quickly,
Secure me well before that thought's renew'd;
If I relapse once more, all's lost for ever.
Bel.
Hast thou a friend more dear than Belvidera?
Jaff.
No, th' art my Soul it self, wealth, friendship, honour,
All present joys, and earnest of all future,
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Thus leaning on thy breast, one minute's more
Than a long thousand years of vulgar hours.
Why was such happiness not given me pure?
Why dash'd with cruel wrongs, and bitter wantings?
Come, lead me forward now like a tame Lamb
To Sacrifice, thus in his fatal Garlands,
Deck'd fine and pleas'd, The wanton skips and plays,
Trots by the enticing flattering Priestess side,
And much transported with his little pride,
Forgets his dear Companions of the plain
Till by Her, bound, Hee's on the Altar layn
Yet then too hardly bleats, such pleasure's in the pain.
Enter Officer and 6 Guards
Offic.
Stand who goes there?
Bel.
Friends.
Jaff.
Friends, Belvidera! hide me from my Friends,
By Heaven I'd rather see the face of Hell,
Than meet the man I love.
Offic.
But what friends are you?
Bel.
Friends to the Senate and the State of Venice.
Offic.
My orders are to seize on all I find
At this late hour, and bring 'em to the Council,
Who now are sitting.
Jaff.
Sir, you shall be obey'd.
Hold, Brutes, stand off, none of your paws upon me.
Now the Lot's cast, and Fate doe what thou wilt.
[Exeunt guarded.
SCENE The Senate-house,
Where appear sitting, the Duke of Venice, Prinli, Antonio, And Eight other Senators.
Duke.
Antony, Prinli, Senators of Venice,
Speak; why are we assembled here this night?
What have you to inform us of, concerns
The State of Venice, honour, or its safety?
Prin.
Could words express the story I have to tell you,
Fathers, these tears were useless, these sad tears
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We all should weep; tear off these purple Robes,
And wrap our selves in Sack-cloth, sitting down
On the sad Earth, and cry aloud to Heaven.
Heaven knows if yet there be an hour to come
E'r Venice be no more!
All Sentrs.
How!
Prin.
Nay we stand
Upon the Very brink of gaping ruine,
Within this City's form'd a dark Conspiracy,
To massacre us all, our Wives and Children,
Kindred and Friends, our Palaces and Temples
To lay in Ashes: nay the hour too, fixt;
The Swords, for ought I know, drawn even this moment,
And the wild Waste begun: from unknown hands
I had this warning: but if we are men
Let's not be tamely butcher'd, but doe something
That may inform the world in after Ages,
Our Virtue was not ruin'd though we were.
[A noise without.
Room, room, make room for some Prisoners—
2 Senat.
Let's raise the City.
Enter Officer and Guard.
Prin.
Speak there, what disturbance?
Offic.
Two Prisoners have the Guard seiz'd in the Streets,
Who say they come to inform this Reverend Senate
About the present danger.
Enter Jaffeir and Belvidera guarded.
All.
Give 'em entrance—
Well, who are you?
Jaff.
A Villain.
Anto.
Short and pithy.
The man speaks well.
Jaff.
Would every man that hears me
Would deal so honestly, and own his title.
Duke.
'Tis rumour'd that a Plot has been contriv'd
Against this State; that you have a share in't too.
If you are a Villain, to redeem your honour,
Unfold the truth and be restor'd with Mercy.
Jaff.
Think not that I to save my life come hither,
I know its value better; but in pity
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Are fix'd and seal'd. You see me here before you,
The sworn and Covenanted foe of Venice.
But use me as my dealings may deserve
And I may prove a friend.
Duke.
The Slave Capitulates,
Give him the Tortures.
Jaff.
That you dare not doe,
Your fears won't let you, nor the longing Itch
To hear a story which you dread the truth of.
Truth with the fear of smart shall ne'r get from me.
Cowards are scar'd with threatnings. Boys are whipt
Into confessions: but a Steady mind
Acts of its self, ne'r asks the body Counsell.
Give him the Tortures. Name but such a thing
Again; by Heaven I'll shut these lips for ever,
Not all your Racks, your Engines or your Wheels
Shall force a groan away—that you may guess at.
Anto.
A bloudy minded fellow I'll warrant;
A damn'd bloudy minded fellow.
Duke.
Name your Conditions.
Jaff.
For my self full pardon,
Besides the lives of two and twenty friends
[Delivers a list.
Whose names are here inroll'd: Nay, let their Crimes
Be ne'r so monstrous, I must have the Oaths
And sacred promise of this Reverend Council,
That in a full Assembly of the Senate
The thing I ask be ratifi'd. Swear this,
And I'll unfold the secrets of your danger.
All.
Wee'l swear.
Duke.
Propose the Oath.
Jaff.
By all the hopes
Ye have of Peace and Happiness hereafter,
Swear.
All.
We all swear.
Jaff.
To grant me what I've ask'd,
Ye swear.
All.
We swear.
Jaff.
And as ye keep the Oath,
May you and your posterity be blest
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All.
Else be curst for ever.
Jaff.
—Then here's the list, and with't the
Delivers another paper.
full disclose of all that threatens you.
Now Fate thou hast caught me.
Anto.
Why what a dreadfull Catalogue of Cut-throats is here!
I'll warrant you not one of these fellows but has a face like a
Lion. I dare not so much as reade their names over.
Duke.
Give orders that all diligent search be made
To seize these men, their characters are publick,
The paper intimates their Rendevouz
To be at the house of a fam'd Grecian Curtezan
Call'd Aquilina; see that place secur'd.
Anto.
What my Nicky Nacky, Hurry Durry, Nicky Nacky
in the Plot—I'll make a Speech. Most noble Senators,
What headlong apprehension drives you on,
Right noble, wise and truly solid Senators,
To violate the Laws and right of Nations?
The Lady is a Lady of renown.
'Tis true, she holds a house of fair Reception,
And though I say't my self, as many more
Can say as well as I.
2 Senat.
My Lord, long Speeches
Are frivolous here, when dangers are so near us;
We all well know your Interest in that Lady,
The world talks loud on't.
Anto.
Verily I have done,
I say no more.
Duke.
But since he has declar'd
Himself concern'd, Pray, Captain, take great caution
To treat the fair one, as becomes her Character,
And let her Bed-chamber be search'd with decency.
You, Jaffeir, must with patience bear till morning, to be our
Prisoner.
Jaff.
Would the Chains of death
Had bound me fast e'r I had known this minute,
I've done a deed will make my Story hereafter
Quoted in competition with all ill ones:
The History of my wickedness shall run
Down through the low traditions of the vulgar,
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Duke.
Captain, withdraw your Prisoner.
Jaff.
Sir, if possible,
Lead me where my own thoughts themselves may lose me,
Where I may doze out what I've left of life,
Forget my self and this days guilt and falsehood.
Cruel remembrance how shall I appease thee!
[Ex. guarded.
Noise without.
More Traitors; room, room, make room there.
Duke.
How's this, Guards?
Where are our Guards? shut up the Gates, the Treason 's already
at our Dores.
Enter Officer.
Offic.
My Lords, more Traitors:
Seiz'd in the very act of Consultation;
Furnish'd with Arms and Instruments of mischief,
Bring in the prisoners.
Enter Pierre, Renault, Theodore, Elliot Revillido and other Conspirators, in fetters, guarded.
Pierr.
You, my Lords and Fathers,
(As you are pleas'd to call your selves) of Venice;
If you sit here to guide the course of Justice,
Why these disgracefull chains upon the limbs
That have so often labour'd in your service?
Are these the wreaths of triumphs ye bestow
On those that bring you Conquests home and Honours?
Duke.
Go on, you shall be heard, Sir.
Anto.
And be hang'd too, I hope.
Pierr.
Are these the Trophies I've deserv'd for fighting
Your Battels with confederated Powers,
When winds and Seas conspir'd to overthrow you?
And brought the Fleets of Spain to your own Harbours,
When you, great Duke, shrunk trembling in your Palace,
And saw your Wife, th'Adriatick, plough'd
Like a lew'd Whore by bolder Prows than yours
Stept not I forth, and taught your loose Venetians.
The task of honour and the way to greatness,
Rais'd you from your capitulating fears
To stipulate the terms of fu'd for peace,
And this my recompence? If I am a Traitor
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And brave enough to tell me I am a Traitor.
Duke.
Know you one Jaffeir?
[All the conspirators murmur.
Pierr.
Yes, and know his Vertue.
His Justice, Truth, his general Worth and Sufferings
From a hard father taught me first to love him.
Enter Jaffeir guarded.
Duke.
See him brought forth.
Pierr.
My friend too bound? nay then
Our Fate has conquer'd us, and we must fall,
Why droops the man whose welfare's so much mine
They're but one thing? these Reverend Tyrants, Jaffeir,
Call us all Traitors, art thou one, my Brother?
Jaff.
To thee I am the falsest, veryest slave
That e'r betray'd a generous trusting friend,
And gave up honour to be sure of ruine.
All our fair hopes which morning was to have crown'd
Has this curst tongue o'rthrown.
Pierr.
So, then all's over:
Venice has lost her freedom; I my life;
No more, farewell.
Duke.
Say; will you make confession
Of your vile deeds and trust the Senates mercy?
Pierr.
Curst be your Senate: Curst your Constitution:
The Curse of growing factions and division
Still vex your Councils, shake your publick safety,
And make the Robes of Government, you wear,
Hatefull to you, as these base Chains to me.
Duke.
Pardon or death?
Pierr.
Death, honourable death.
Renault.
Death's the best thing we ask or you can give.
All Conspir.
No shamefull bonds, but honourable death.
Duke.
Break up the Council: Captain, guard your prisoners.
Jaffeir, y' are free, but these must wait for judgment.
[Ex. all the Senators.
Pierr.
Come, where's my Dungeon? lead me to my straw:
It will not be the first time I've lodg'd hard
To doe your Senate service.
Jaff.
Hold one moment.
Pierr.
Who's he disputes the Judgment of the Senate?
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[Strikes Jaff.
Jaff.
By Heaven you stir not.
I must be heard, I must have leave to speak:
Thou hast disgrac'd me, Pierre, by a vile blow:
Had not a dagger done thee nobler justice?
But use me as thou wilt, thou canst not wrong me,
For I am fallen beneath the basest injuries;
Yet look upon me with an eye of mercy,
With pity and with charity behold me;
Shut not thy heart against a friend's repentance,
But as there dwells a God-like nature in thee
Listen with mildness to my supplications.
Pierr.
What whining Monk art thou? what holy cheat
That wou'dst encroach upon my credulous ears
And cant'st thus vilely? hence. I know thee not,
Dissemble and be nasty: leave me, Hippocrite.
Jaff.
Not know me, Pierre?
Pierr.
No, know the not: what art thou?
Jaff.
Jaffeir, thy friend, thy once lov'd, valu'd friend,
Though now deservedly scorn'd, and us'd most hardly.
Pierr.
Thou Jaffeir! Thou my once lov'd, valu'd friend!
By Heavens thou ly'st; the man, so call'd, my friend,
Was generous, honest, faithfull, 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.
Prithee avoid, nor longer cling thus round me,
Like something banefull, that my nature's chill'd at.
Jaff.
I have not wrong'd thee, by these tears I have not.
But still am honest, true, and hope too, valiant;
My mind still full of thee: therefore still noble,
Let not thy eyes then shun me, nor thy heart
Detest me utterly: Oh look upon me
Look back and see my sad sincere submission!
How my heart swells, as even 'twould burst my bosom;
Fond of its Gaol, and labouring to be at thee!
What shall I doe? what say to make thee hear me?
Pierr.
Hast thou not wrong'd me? dar'st thou call thy self
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And swear thou hast not wrong'd me? whence these chains?
Whence the vile death, which I may meet this moment?
Whence this dishonour, but from thee; thou false one?
Jaff.
—All's true, yet grant one thing, and I've done asking.
Pierr.
What's that?
Jaff.
To take thy life on such conditions
The Council have propos'd: Thou and thy friends
May yet live long, and to be better treated.
Pierr.
Life! ask my life! confess! record my self
A villain for the privilege to breath,
And carry up and down this cursed City
A discontented and repining spirit,
Burthensome to it self a few years longer,
To lose, it may be, at last in a lewd quarrel
For some new friend, treacherous and false as thou art!
No, this vile world and I have long been jangling,
And cannot part on better terms than now,
When onely men like thee are fit to live in't.
Jaff.
By all that's just—
Pierr.
Swear by some other powers,
For thou hast broke that sacred Oath too lately.
Jaff.
Then by that hell I merit, I'll not leave thee,
Till to thy self at least, thou'rt reconcil'd,
However thy resentments deal with me.
Pierr.
Not leave me!
Jaff.
No, thou shalt not force me from thee,
Use me reproachfully, and like a slave,
Tread on me, buffet me, heap wrongs on wrongs
On my poor head; I'll bear it all with patience,
Shall weary out thy most unfriendly cruelty,
Ly at thy feet and kiss 'em though they spurn me,
Till, wounded by my sufferings, thou relent,
And raise me to thy armes with dear forgiveness.
Pierr.
Art thou not—
Jaff.
What?
Pierr.
A Traitor?
Jaff.
Yes.
Pierr.
A Villain?
Jaff.
Granted.
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A Coward, a most scandalous Coward,
Spiritless, void of honour, one who has sold
Thy everlasting Fame, for shameless life?
Jaff.
All, all, and more, much more: my faults are Numberless.
Pierr.
And wouldst thou have me live on terms like thine?
Base as thou art false—
Jaff.
No, 'tis to me that's granted,
The safety of thy life was all I aim'd at,
In recompence for faith, and trust so broken.
Pierr.
I scorn it more because preserv'd by thee,
And as when first my foolish heart took pity
On thy misfortunes, sought thee in thy miseries,
Reliev'd thy wants, and rais'd thee from thy State
Of wretchedness in which thy fate had plung'd thee,
To rank thee in my list of noble friends;
All I receiv'd in surety for thy truth,
Were unregarded oaths; and this, this dagger,
Given with a worthless pledge, thou since hast stoln,
So I restore it back to thee again,
Swearing by all those powers which thou hast violated,
Never from this curs'd hour to hold communion,
Friendship or interest with thee, though our years
Were to exceed those limited the world.
Take it—farewell—for now I owe thee nothing.
Jaff.
Say thou wilt live then.
Pierr.
For my life, dispose it
Just as thou wilt, because tis what I'm tir'd with.
Jaff.
Oh, Pierre!
Pierr.
No more.
Jaff.
My eyes won't lose the sight of thee,
But languish after thine, and ake with gazing.
Pierr.
Leave me—Nay, then thus, thus, I throw thee from me.
And curses, great as is thy falsehood, catch thee.
Jaff.
Amen.
He's gone, my father, friend, preserver,
And here's the portion he has left me.
[Holds the dagger up.
This dagger, well remembred, with this dagger
I gave a solemn vow of dire importance,
Parted with this and Belvidera together;
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No, I'll esteem it as a friend's last legacy,
Treasure it up in this wretched bosom,
Where it may grow acquainted with my heart,
That when they meet, they start not from each other;
So; now for thinking: A blow, call'd Traitor, Villain,
Coward, dishonourable coward, fogh!
Oh for a long sound sleep, and so forget it!
Down, busie Devil—.
Enter Belvidera.
Bel.
Whither shall I fly?
Where hide me and my miseries together?
Where's now the Roman Constancy I boasted?
Sunk into trembling fears and desperation!
Not daring now to look up to that dear face
Which us'd to smile even on my faults, but down
Bending these miserable eyes to earth,
Must move in penance, and implore much Mercy.
Jaff.
Mercy, kind Heaven has surely endless stores
Hoarded for thee of blessings yet untasted;
Let wretches loaded hard with guilt as I am,
Bow the weight and groan beneath the burthen,
Creep with a remnant of that strength th' have left,
Before the footstool of that Heaven th' have injur'd.
Oh Belvidera! I'm the wretchedst creature
E'r crawl'd on earth; now if thou hast Vertue help me,
Take me into thy Armes, and speak the words of peace
To my divided Soul, that wars within me,
And raises every Sense to my confusion;
By Heav'n I am tottering on the very brink
Of Peace; and thou art all the hold I've left.
Bel.
Alass! I know thy sorrows are most mighty;
I know th'hast cause to mourn; to mourn, my Jaffeir,
With endless cries, and never ceasing wailings,
Th' hast lost—
Jaff.
Oh I have lost what can't be counted;
My friend too, Belvidera, that dear friend,
Who, next to thee, was all my health rejoyc'd in,
Has us'd me like a slave; shamefully us'd me;
'Twould break thy pitying heart to hear the story,
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Love, pity, fear and mem'ry, how I've wrong'd him,
Distract my quiet with the very thought on't,
And tear my heart to pieces in my bosome.
Bel.
What has he done?
Jaff.
Thou'dst hate me, should I tell thee.
Bel.
Why?
Jaff.
Oh he has us'd me! yet by Heaven I bear it;
He has us'd me, Belvidera, but first swear
That when I've told thee, thou'lt not loath me utterly,
Though vilest blots and stains appear upon me;
But still at least with charitable goodness,
Be near me in the pangs of my affliction,
Not scorn me, Belvidera, as he has done.
Bel.
Have I then e'r been false that now I am doubted?
Speak, whats the cause I am grown into distrust,
Why thought unfit to hear my Love's complainings?
Jaff.
Oh!
Bel.
Tell me.
Jaff.
Bear my failings, for they are many,
Oh my dear Angel! in that friend I've lost
All my Soul's peace; for every thought of him
Strikes my Sense hard, and deads it in my brains;
Wouldst thou believe it?
Bel.
Speak.
Jaff.
Before we parted,
E'r yet his Guards had led him to his prison,
Full of severest sorrows for his suff'rings,
With eyes o'rflowing and a bleeding heart,
Humbling my self almost beneath my nature;
As at his feet I kneel'd, and su'd for mercy,
Forgetting all our friendship, all the dearness,
In which w' have liv'd so many years together,
With a reproachfull hand, he dash'd a blow,
He struck me, Belvidera, by Heaven, he struck me,
Buffeted, call'd me Traitor, Villain, Coward;
Am I a Coward? am I a Villain? tell me:
Th'art the best Judge, and mad'st me, if I am so.
Damnation; Coward!
Bel.
Oh! forgive him, Jaffeir.
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What will they doe to morrow?
Jaff.
Hah!
Bel.
To morrow,
When thou shalt see him stretch'd in all the Agonies
Of a tormenting and a shamefull death,
His bleeding bowels, and his broken limbs,
Insulted o'r by a vile butchering villain;
What will thy heart doe then? Oh sure 't will stream
Like my eyes now.
Jaff.
What means thy dreadfull story?
Death, and to morrow? broken limbs and bowels?
Insulted o'r by a vile butchering Villain?
By all my fears I shall start out to madness,
With barely guessing if the truth's hid longer.
Bel.
The faithless Senators, 'tis they've decree'd it:
They say according to our friends request,
They shall have death, and not ignoble bondage:
Declare their promis'd mercy all as forfeited,
False to their oaths, and deaf to intercession;
Warrants are pass'd for publick death to morrow.
Jaff.
Death! doom'd to die! condemn'd unheard! unpleaded!
Bel.
Nay, cruel'st racks and torments are preparing,
To force confessions from their dying pangs;
Oh do not look so terribly upon me,
How your lips shake, and all your face disorderd!
What means my Love?
Jaff.
Leave me, I charge thee leave me—strong temptations
Wake in my heart.
Bel.
For what?
Jaff.
No more, but leave me.
Bel.
Why?
Jaff.
Oh! by Heaven I love thee with that fondness
I would not have thee stay a moment longer,
Near these curst hands: are they not cold upon thee?
Bel.
No, everlasting comfort's in thy armes,
Pulls the dagger half out of his bosom and puts it back agen.
To lean thus on thy breast is softer ease
Than downy pillows deck'd with leaves of roses.
Jaff.
Alas thou thinkest not of the thorns 'tis fill'd with,
Fly e'r they call thee: there's a lurking serpent
56
Art thou not terrifi'd?
Bel.
No.
Jaff.
Call to mind
What thou hast done, and whither thou hast brought me.
Bel.
Hah!
Jaff.
Where's my friend? my friend, thou smiling mischief?
Nay, shrink not, now 'tis too late, thou shouldst have fled
When thy Guilt first had cause, for dire revenge,
Is up and raging for my friend. He groans,
Hark how he groans, his screams are in my ears
Already; see, th' have fixt him on the wheel,
And now they tear him—Murther! perjur'd Senate!
Murther—Oh!—hark thee, Traitress, thou hast done this;
Thanks to thy tears and false perswading love,
Fumbling for his Dagger.
How her eyes speak! Oh thou bewitching creature!
Madness cannot hurt thee: Come, thou little trembler,
Creep, even into my heart, and there lie safe;
'Tis thy own Cittadel—hah—yet stand off,
Heaven must have Justice, and my broken vows
Will sink me else beneath its reaching mercy;
I'll wink and then 'tis done—.
Bel.
What means the Lord
Of me, my life and love, what's in thy bosom,
Thou graspst at so? nay, why am I thus treated?
Draws the dagger, offers to stab her.
What wilt thou doe? Ah, do not kill me, Jaffeir,
Pity these panting breasts, and trembling limbs,
That us'd to clasp thee when thy looks were milder,
That yet hang heavy on my unpurg'd Soul,
And plunge it not into eternal darkness.
Jaff.
No, Belvidera, when we parted last
I gave this dagger with thee as in trust
To be thy portion, If I e'r prov'd false.
On such condition was my truth believ'd:
But now 'tis forfeited and must be paid for.
[Offers to stab her again.
Bel.
Oh, mercy!
[Kneeling.
Jaff.
Nay, no strugling.
Bell.
Now then kill me.
[Leaps upon his neck and kisses him.
While thus I cling about thy cruel neck,
Kiss thy revengefull lips and die in joys
57
Jaff.
I am, I am a Coward; witness't, Heaven,
Witness it, Earth, and every being Witness;
'Tis but one blow yet: by immortal Love,
I cannot longer bear a thought to harm thee,
He throws away the dagger and embraces her.
The Seal of providence is sure upon thee.
And thou wert born for yet unheard of wonders:
Oh thou wert either born to save or damn me!
By all the power that's given thee o'r my soul,
By thy resistless tears and conquering smiles,
By the victorious love that still waits on thee;
Fly to thy cruel Father: save my friend,
Or all our future Quiet's lost for ever:
Fall at his feet, cling round his reverend knees;
Speak to him with thy Eyes, and with thy tears,
Melt thy hard heart, and wake dead nature in him,
Crush him in th'Arms, and torture him with thy softness:
Nor, till thy Prayers are granted, set him free,
But conquer him, as thou hast vanquish'd me.
[Ex. ambo.
The end of the fourth Act.
| Venice Preserv'd, Or, A Plot Discover'd | |