Pier. Death! honourable death! Ren. Death's the best thing we ask, or you can No shameful bonds, but honourable death. Jaffier, you're free, but these must wait for judg ment. [The Captain takes off Jaffier's chains. The Pier. Come, where's my dungeon? Lead me to It will not be the first time I've lodg'd hard To do the senate service. Jaf. Hold, one moment. The council have propos'd: thou and thy friends Pier. Life! ask my life! confess! record myself Pier. Swear by some other powers, For thou hast broke that sacred oath too lately. Pier. Who's he disputes the judgment of the Till, to thyself, at least thou'rt reconcil'd, For I am fallen beneath the basest injuries: Andlas there dwells a god-like nature in thee, Pier. What whining monk art thou? what holy That would encroach upon my credulous ears. Jaf. Not know me, Pierre ? Pire. No, I know thee not. What art thou? Though now deservedly scorn'd, and us'd most Pier. Thou Jaffier! thou, my once-lov'd, valu'd friend! By heaven, thou liest! the man so call'd, my Was generous, honest, faithful, just, and valiant; But thou,-a wretched, base, false, worthless Poor even in soul, and loathsome in thy aspect! Pr'ythee avoid; nor longer cling thus round me, at. Jaf. I have not wrong'd thee; by these tears I have not. Pier. Hast thou not wrong'd me? Dar'st thou call thyself That once lov'd, valu'd friend of mine, 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? Jaf. All's true, yet grant one thing, and I've done asking Pier. What's that? Jaf. To take thy life, on such conditions However thy resentment deal with me. Pier. Not leave me! Jaf. No, thou shalt not force me from thee. Till wounded by my sufferings, thou relent, Jaf. What? Pier. A traitor! Pier. A villain? Jaf. Granted. Pier. A coward, a most scandalous coward; Spiritless, void of honour: one who has sold Thy everlasting fame, for shameless life? Jaf. All, all, and more, much more: my faults are numberless. Pier. And would'st thou have me live on terms like thine? Base, as thou art false Jaf. No: 'tis to me that's granted: The safety of thy life was all I aimed at, And, as when first my foolish heart took pity To rank thee in my list of noble friends, So I restore it back to thee again; Never, from this curs'd hour, to hold communion, Were to exceed those limited the world. Just as thou wilt, because 'tis what I'm tir'd with. Pier. No more. Jaf. My eyes won't lose sight of thee, But languish after thee, and ache with gazing. Pier. Leave me. Nay then, thus, thus I throw thee from me; And curses, great as is thy falsehood, catch thee. [Exit guarded. Jaf. Amen. No, I'll esteem it as a friend's last legacy; So, now for thinking. A blow!-call'd a traitor, villain, Coward, dishonourable coward! faugh! Enter BELVIDERA. Bel. Whither shall I fly? Where hide me and my miseries together? Which us'd to smile, ev'n on my faults; but down, Must move in penance, and implore much mercy. Jaf. Mercy! kind heav'n has surely endless stores, Hoarded for thee, of blessings yet untasted: My friend, too, Belvidera, that dear friend, Who, next to thee, was all my health rejoic'd in, His bleeding bowels, and his broken limbs, Insulted o'er, by a vile butchering villain; Declare their promis'd mercy all as forfeited. Bel. Nay, cruel'st racks and torments are preparing To force confession from their dying pangs. Jaf. Leave me, I charge thee, leave me-Strong temptations. Wake in my heart. Bel. For what? Jaf. No more, but leave me. Jaf. Oh! by heav'n, I love thee with that fond ness, I would not have thee stay a moment longer Near these curs'd hands: Are they not cold upon thee? (Pulls the dagger half out of his bosom, and puts it back again.) Bel. No, everlasting comfort's in thy arms. Fly, ere they gall thee. There's a lurking serpent, When thy guilt first had cause; for dire revenge up, and raging for my friend. He groans! Hark, how he groans! his screams are in my ears! Already, see, they've fix'd him on the wheel, Thanks to thy tears and false persuading love. bler, (Feeling for his dagger.) Come, thou little trem Creep even into my heart, and there lie safe: Bel. What means the lord Of me, my life, and love? What's in thy bosom, Thou grasp'st at so? Nay, why am I thus treated! (Jaffier draws the dagger, and offers to stab her.) Jaf. Know, Belvidera, when we parted last, What will thy heart do then? Oh! sure 'twill I gave this dagger with thee, as in trust, Kiss thy revengeful lips, and die in joys Greater than any I can guess hereafter. (Leaps on his neck, and kisses him.) Jaf. I am, I am a coward; witness heav'n, 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 giv'n thee o'er 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 his hard heart, and wake dead nature in him, Crush him in th' arms, torture him with thy soft SCENE L-An Apartment in Priuli's house. Pri. Why, cruel heav'n, have my unhappy days Enter BELVIDERA, in a long mourning veil. Bel. He's there; my father, my inhuman fa her, That for three years has left an only child Expos'd to all the outrages of fate, I have a husband. Pri. Damn him. Bel. Oh! do not curse him; He would not speak so hard a word towards you, Pri. Ha! what means my child? Bel. Yes, kill me! When he pass'd his faith Jaf. My plague. Bel. Nay, then I see my ruin. If I must die! (Meeting him.) (Turning from her.) Jaf. Nor let the thoughts of death perplex thy fancy; But answer me to what I shall demand, With a firm temper and unshaken spirit. Bel. I will, when I have done weeping. Jaf. Fie! no more on't How long is't since that miserable day We wedded first? Bel. Oh! Oh! Jaf. Nay, keep in thy tears, Lest they unman me too. Bel. Heav'n knows I cannot; The words you utter sound so very sadly, The streams will follow. Jaf. Come, I'll kiss 'em dry then. Bel. But was't a miserable day? Jaf. A curs'd one. Bel. I thought it otherwise; and you've often Bel. Then sure you will not curse me? I came on purpose, Belvidera, to bless thee. Jaf. Then hear me, bounteous heav'n: To this curs'd minute, I'll not live one longer; Hark the dismal bell Bel. Leave thy dagger with me ; Bequeath me something. Not one kiss at parting? Jaf. Yet stay: Jaf. And I a kind one, That would not thus scorn my repenting virtue, But it shall be to see thy fall reveng'd We have a child, as yet a tender infant: I charge thee, guard him from the wrongs my fate (Approaching each other.) Oh, that my arms we rivetted Thus round thee ever! But my friend! my oath! Bel. Another, sure another, (Kisses her.) Pier. Wilt thou? Jaf. I will, by heav'n! Pier. Then still thou'rt noble, And I forgive thee. Oh-yet-shall I trust thee? Pier. Dost thou love me? Jaf. Rip up my heart and satisfy thy doubtings. (Weeps.) Jaf. Tears! Amazement! Tears! (Pierre and Jaffier ascend the scaffold.) Captain, you should be a gentleman of honour; Keep off the rabble, that I may have room To entertain my fate, and die with decency. Come. (Takes off his gown, executioner prepares to bind him.) You'll think on't. Jaf. Have at thee You are angry now; who cares? Pish! no indeed, Am I to blame to love him? Oh, thou dear one! Both fell together. Pri. Daughter! Bel. Ha! look there! My husband bloody, and his friend too! Murder! Who has done this? Speak to me, thou sad vision: On these poor trembling knees I beg it. Vanish'dHere they went down. Oh, I'll dig, dig the den up! You sha'n't delude me thus. Hoa! Jaffier, Jaffier, Peep up, and give me but a look. I have him! I've got him, father. Oh! My love! my dear! my blessing! help me! help me! They have hold on me, and drag me to the bottom. Nay-now they pull so hard-farewell. (Dies.) (The curtain falls to slow music.) |