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 Peirr. And wouldst thou have me live on terms like thine Base as thou art false Jaff. No 't is to me that 's granted The safety of thy life was all I aim'd at In recompence for faith and trust so broken Peirr. 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 Peirr. For my life dispose it Just as thou wilt because t is what I 'm tir'd with Jaff. Oh Peirre Peirr. No more Jaff. My eyes won't lose the sight of thee But languish after thine and ake with gazing Peirr. 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 Have a care Mem'ry drive that thought no farther 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 'T would break thy pitying heart to hear the story What shall I doe resentment indignation 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 aâ—iction Not scorn me Belvidera as he has done Bel. Have I then e'r been false that now I am doubted Speak what 's 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 fu'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 And if his sufferings wound thy heart already 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 or 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 〈◊〉 Senators 't is 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 temptationâ— 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 To lean thus on thy breast is softer ease Than downy pillows deck'd with leaves of roses Pulls the daggerhalf out of his boâ— and 〈◊〉 it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Jaff. Alas thou thinkest not of the thorns 't is fill'd with Fly e'r they call thee there 's a lurking serpent Ready to leap
h h yet more nay then I die I die I am dead already Stretches himself out Enter Jaffeir Jaff. Final destruction seize on all the world Bend down ye Heavens and shutting round this earth Crush the Vile Globe into its first confusion Scorch it with Elemental flâ—mes to one curst Cindar And all us litâ—le creepers in 't call'd men Burn burn to nothing but let Venice burn Hotter than all the rest Here kindle Hell Ne'r to extinguish and let souls hereafter Groan here in all those pains which mine feels now Enter Belvidera Bel. My Life Meeting him Jaff. My Plague Turning from her Bel. Nay then I see my ruine If I must die Jaff. No Death 's this day too busie Thy Father 's ill time'd Mercy came too late I thank thee for thy labours thô and him too But all my poor betray'd unhappy friends Have Summons to prepare for Fate 's black hour And yet I live Bel. Then be the next my doom I see thou hast pass'd my sentence in thy heart And I 'll no longer weep or plead against it But with the humblest most obedient patience Meet thy dear hands and kiss 'em when they wound me Indeed I am willing but I beg thee doe it With some remorse and where thou giv'st the blow View me with eyes of a relenting love And shew me pity for 't will sweeten Justice Jaff. Shew pity to thee Bel. Yes and when thy hands Charg'd with my fate come trembling to the deed As thou hast done a thousand thousand dear times To this poor breast when kinder rage has brought thee When our sting'd hearts have leap'd to meet each other And melting kisses seal'd our lips together When joyes have left me gasping in thy armes So let my death come now and I 'll not shrink from 't Jaff. Nay Belvidera do not fear my cruelty 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 've done weeping Jaff. Fie no more on 't How long is 't since the miserable day We wedded first Bel. Oh h h. Jaff. Nay keep in thy tears Lest they un-man me too Bel. Heaven knows I cannot The words you utter sound so very sadly These streams will follow Jaff. Come I 'll kiss 'em dry then Bel. But was 't a miserable day Jaff. A curs'd one Bel. I thought it otherwise and you 've oft sworn In the transporting hours of warmest love When sure you spoke the truth you 've sworn you bless'd it Jaff. T was a rash oath Bel. Then why am I not curss'd too Jaff. No Belvidera by th' eternal truth I doat with too much fondness Bel. Still so kind Still then do you you love me Jaff. Nature in her workings Inclines not with more ardour to Creation Than I doe now towards thee man ne'r was bless'd Since the first pair first met as I have been Bel. Then sure you will not curse me Jaff. No I 'll bless thee I came on purpose Belvidera to bless thee 'T is now I think three years w'have liv'd together Bel. And may no fatal minute ever part us Till reverend grown for age and love we go Down to one Grave as our last bed together There sleep in peace till an eternal morning Jaff. When will that be Sighing Bel. I hope long Ages hence Jaff. Have I not hitherto I beg thee tell me Thy very fears us'd thee with tender'st love Did e'r my Soul rise up in wrath against thee Did I e'r frown when Belvidera smil'd Or by the least unfriendly word betray A bating passion have I ever wrong'd thee Bel. No. Jaff. Has my heart or have my eyes e'r wandred To any other woman Bel. Never never I were the worst of false ones should I accuse thee I own I 've been too happy bless'd above My Sexes Charter Jaff. Did I not say I came to bless thee Bel. Yes Jaff. Then hear me bounteous Heaven Pour down your blessings on this beauteous head Where everlasting sweets are always springing With a continual giving hand let peace Honour and safety always hover round her Feed her with plenty let her eyes ne'r see A sight of sorrow nor her heart know mourning Crown all her days with joy her nights with rest Harmless as her own thoughts and prop her vertue To bear the loss of one that too much lov'd And comfort her with patience in our parting Bel. How parting parting Jaff. Yes for ever parting I have sworn Belvidera by yon Heaven That best can tell how much I lose to leave thee We part this hour for ever Bel. Oh call back Your cruel blessings stay with me and curse me Jaff. No 'T is resolv'd Bel. Then hear me too just Heaven Pour down your curses on this wretched head With never-ceasing Vengeance let despair Danger or infamy nay all 〈◊〉 me Starve me with wantings let my eyes ne'r see A sight of comfort nor my hearâ— know peace But dash my days with sorrow nights with horrours Wild as my own thoughts now and let loose fury To make me mad enough for what I lose If I must lose him if I must I will not Oh turn and hear me Jaff. Now hold heart or never Bel. By all the tender days we have liv'd together By all our charming nights and joyes that crown'd 'em Pity my sad condition speak but speak Jaff. Oh h h. Bel. By these armes that now cling round thy neck By this dear kiss and by ten thousand more By these poor streaming eyes Jaff. Murther unhold me By th' immortal destiny that doom'd me Draws his Dagger To this curs'd minute I 'll not live one longer Resolve to let me go or see me fall Bel. Hold Sir be patient Jaff. Hark the dismal Bell Passing bell towles Towles out for death I must attend its call too For my poor friend my dying Peirre expâ—cts me He sent a message to require I 'd see him Before he dy'd and take his last forgiveness Farewell for ever Bel. Leave thy dagger with me Bequeath me something Not one kiss at parting Going out looks back at her Oh my poor heart when wilt thou break Jaff. Yet stay We have a Child as yet a tender Infant Be a kind mother to him when I am gone Breed him in vertue and the paths of Honour But let him never know his father's story I charge thee guard him from the wrongs my Fate May doe his future fortune or his name Now nearer yet Approaching each other Oh that my armes were rivetted Thus round thee ever But my friends my oath This and no more Kisses her Bel. Another sure another For that poor little one you 've ta'n care of I 'll giv 't him truly Jaff. So now farewell Bel. For ever Jaff. Heaven knows for ever all good Angels guard thee Bel. All ill ones sure had charge of me this moment Curst be my days and doubly curst my
health beats her pulse even Neither too hot nor cold Ren. What means that question Jaff. Oh Women have fanta stick Constitutions Inconstant as their Wishes always wavering And ne're fixt was it not boldly done Even at first sight to trust the Thing I lov'd A 〈◊〉 Treasure too with Youth so fierce And vigorous as thine but thou art honest Ren. Who dares accuse me Jaff. Curst be him that doubts Thy virtue I have try'd it and declare Were I to choose a Guardian of my Honour I 'd put it into thy keeâ—ing for I â—now theâ— Ren. Know me Jaff. Ay know thee There 's no falsehood in thee Thou look'st just as thou 〈◊〉 Let us embrace Now would'st thou cut my Throat 〈◊〉 I cut thine Râ—n You dare not do 't Jaff. You 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ren. How Jaff. No more 'T is a baâ—e World and must reform that 's all Enter Spinos◠〈◊〉 Eliot 〈◊〉 Durand Brainveil and the 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 Ren. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The same 〈◊〉 You are welcome Spin. You are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ren. 'T is a cold Night indeed I am Aged Full of decay and natural infirmities 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 We shall be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Friend I 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 'T was not well done thou 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 have 〈◊〉 him and not have gall'd him Jaff. Damn him let him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heav'n where am I 〈◊〉 with 〈◊〉 Fiends That wait to Damn me What Devil 's 〈◊〉 When he forgets his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 my heart Ren. My Friends 't is late are we assembled all Where 's Theodore 〈◊〉 At hand Ren. Spinosa Spin. 〈◊〉 Ren. Brainveil 〈◊〉 I am ready Ren. Durand and Brabe Dur. Command us We are both prepar'd Ren. Mezzana Revellido 〈◊〉 Retrosi Oh you are Men I find 〈◊〉 to behold your Fate and meet her Summons To morrow's rising Sun must see you all Deckt in your honours are the Souldiers ready Omn. All all Ren. You Durand with your thousand must possess St. Marks You Captain know your charge already 'T is to secure the Ducal Palace you Brabe with a hundred more 〈◊〉 gain the 〈◊〉 With the like number Brainveil to the Procuralle ' Be all this done with the least tumult possible 'Till in each place you post sufficient guards Then sheath your Swords in every breast you meet Jaff. Oh reverend Cruelty Damn'd bloody Villain Ren. During this Execution Durand you Must in the mid'st keep your Battalia fast And â—heodore be sure to plant the Canon That may Command the streets whilst Revellido Mâ—zzana Ternon and Retrosi Guard you This done wee l give the General Alarm Appâ—y Petards and force the 〈◊〉 Gates Then fire the City round in several places Or with our Canon if it dare resist Batteâ—'t to Ruin But above all I charge you Shed blood enough spare neither Sex nor Age Name nor Condition if there live a Senator After to morrow tho the dullest Rogue That er'e saâ—d nothing we have lost our ends If possible le ts kill the very Name Of Senator and bury it in blood Jaff. Merciless 〈◊〉 slave Ay blood enough Shed blood enough old Renault how thou charm'st me Ren. But one thing more and then farewell till Fate Join us again or separate us ever First let 's embrace Heav'n knows who next shall thus Wiâ—g ye together But let 's all remember We â—ear no common Cause upon our Swords Let eaâ—h Man think that on his single Virtue Depâ—ds the Good and Fame of all the rest Eterâ—l Honour or perpetual Infamy Let 's remâ—mber through what dreadful hazards Propitious Fortune hitherto has led us How â—ftâ—n on the brink of some discovery have we stood tottering and yet still kept our ground So wâ—ll the busiest searchers ne'r could follow Tâ—ose subtle Tracks which puzzled all suspition You droop Sir Jaff. No with a most profound attention I 've hard it all and wonder at thy vertue Ren. Though there be yet few hours twiâ—t them and Ruin Are not the Senate lull'd in full security Quiet and satisfy'd as Fools are always Never did so profound repose foretun Calamity so great Nay our good Fortune Has blinded the most piercing of Mankind Strengthen'd the fearfull'st charm'd the most suspectful Confounded the most subtle for we live We live my Friends and quickly shall our Life Prove fatal to these Tyrants Let 's consider That we destroy Oppression Avarice A People nurst up equally with 〈◊〉 And loathsome Lusts which Nature most abhors And such as without shame she cannot suffer Jaff. Oh Belvidera take me to thy Arms And shew me where 's my Peace for I 've lost it Ex. Jaff. Ren. Without the least remorse then let 's resolve With Fire and Sword 〈◊〉 these Tyrants And when we shall behold those 〈◊〉 Tribunals Stain'd by the Tears and 〈◊〉 of the Innocent Burning with flames rather from Heav'n than ours The raging furious and unpitying Souldier Pulling his reeking Dagger from the 〈◊〉 Of gasping Wretches Death in every 〈◊〉 With all that sad disorder can produce To make a Spectacle of horror Then Then let 's call to mind my dearest Friends That there 's nothing pure upon the Earth That the most valu'd things have most allays And that in change of all those vile Enormities Under whose weight this wretched Country labours The Means are only in our hands to Crown them Pierr And may those Powers above that are propitious To gallant minds record this Cause and bless it Ren. Thus happy thus secure of all we wish for Should there my Friends be found amongst us one False to this glorious Enterprâ—e what Fate What Vengeance were enough for such a Villian Eliot Death here without repentance Hell hereafter Ren. Let that be my lott if as here I stand Listed by Fate amongst her darling Sons Tho I had one only â—rother dear by all The strictest ties of Nature tho one hour Had given us birth one Fortune fed our wants One only love and that but of each other Still fill'd our minds Could I have such a Friend Joyn'd in this Cause and had but ground to fear Meant fowl play may this right hand drop from me If I 'd not hazard all my future peace And stabb him to the heart before you who Would not do less Would'st not thou Pierre the same Pierr You have singled me Sir out for this hard question As if 't were started only for my sake Am I the thing you fear Here here 's my bosom Search it with all your Swords am I a Traytor Ren. No but I fear your late commended Friend Is little less Come Sirs 't is now no time To trifle with our safety Where 's this Jaffeir Spinâ— He 〈◊〉 the room just now in strange disorder Ren. Nay there is danger in him I observ'd him During the time I took for Explanation He was transported from most deep attention To a confusion which he could not smother His looks grew full of sâ—dness and surprize All which betray'd a wavering Spirit in him That labour'd with reluctancy and sorrow
greazy Rogues They pleas'd me Jaff. I thank thee for this story from my soul Since now I know the worst that can befall me Ah Pierre I have a Heart that could have born The roughest Wrong my Fortune could have done me But when I think what Belvidera feels The bitterness her tender spirit tasts of I own my self a Coward Bear my weakness If throwing thus my Arms about thy Neck I play the Boy and blubber in thy bosome Oh! I shall drown thee with my Sorrows Pierr Burn Fiâ—st burn and Level Venice to thy Ruin What starve like Beggars Brats in frosty weather Under a Hedge and whine our selves to Death Thou or thy Cause shall never want assistance Whilst I have blood or Fortune fit to serve thee Command my heart Thou art every way its master Jaff. No there 's a secret Pride in bravely dying Pierr Rats die in Holes and Corners Dogs run mad Man knows a braver Remedy for sorrow Revenge the Attribute of Gods they stampt it With their great Image on our Natures dye Consider well the Cause that calls upon thee And if thou art base enough dye then Remember Thy Belvidera suffers Belvidera Dye Damn first what be decently interr'd In a Church-yard and mingle thy brave duâ—t With stinking Rogues that rot in dirty winding sheets Surfeit-slain Fools the common Dung o' th Soyl. Jaff. Oh! Pierr Well said out with 't Swear a little Jaff. Swear By Sea and Air by Earth by Heaven and Hell I will revenge my Belvidera's Tears Heark thee my Friend Priuli is a Senator Pierr A Dog Jaff. Agreed Pierr Shoot him Jaff. With all my heart No more Where shall we meet at Night Pierr I 'l tell thee On the Ryalto every Night at Twelve I take my Evening's walk of Meditation There we two will meet and talk of pretious Mischief Jaff. Farewell Pierr At Twelve Jaff. At any hour my plagues Will keep me waking Ex. Pierr Tell me why good Heav'n Thou mad'st me what I am with all the Spirit Aspiring thoughts and Elegant desires That fill the happiest Man Ah! rather why Did'st thou not form me fordid as my Fate Base minded dull and fit to carry Burdens Why have I sence to know the Curse that 's on me Is this just dealing Nature Belvidera Enter Belvidera Poor Belvidera Belvid Lead me lead 〈◊〉 my Virgins To that kind Voice My Lord my Love my Refuge Happy my Eyes when they behold thy 〈◊〉 My heavy heart will leave its doleful beating At sight of thee and bound with sprightful joys Oh smile as when our Loves were in their Spring And cheer my 〈◊〉 Soul Jaff. As when our Loves Were in their Spring 〈◊〉 had then my Fortune chang'd Art thou not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the same Kind good and tender as my Arms first found thee If thou art alter'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I have harbour 〈◊〉 Where ease my loaded Heart Oh! where complain Belv. Does this appear like Change or Love 〈◊〉 When thus I throw my self into thy bosom With all the 〈◊〉 of a strong Truth Beat 's not my heart as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To a new Change of bliss 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Than did thy Mother when she hugg'd thee 〈◊〉 And bless'd the Gods for all her Travel past Jaff. Can there in Woman be such glorious Faith Sure all ill stories of thy Sex are falseâ— Oh Woman lovely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To temper Man We had been Brutes without you Angels are Painted fair to look like 〈◊〉 There 's in you all that we believe of Heav'n Amazing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Truth Eternal Joy and everlasting Love Belv. If Love be Treasure wee 'l be 〈◊〉 rich I have so much my heart will surely break with 't Vow 's cannot express it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 declare How great is my Joy I am dumb with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thought I swell and figh and labour with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Oh lead me to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 wide 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Barren as our Misfortunes where 〈◊〉 Soul May have its 〈◊〉 Where I may 〈◊〉 aloud To the high Heaven's 〈◊〉 every 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Planet With what a boundless stock my bosom 's fraught Where I may throw my 〈◊〉 Arms about thee Give 〈◊〉 to Love with 〈◊〉 kindling Joy And let off all the Fire that 's in my Heart Jaff. Oh Belvidera double I am a Begger Undone by Fortune and in debt to thee Want worldly Want that hungry sneager Fiend Is at my heels and chaces me in view Can'st thou bear Cold and Hunger Can these Limbs Fram'd for the tender Offices of Love Endure the bitter Gripes of smarting Poverty When 〈◊〉 by our miseries abroad As suddenly we shall be to seek out In some far Climate where our Names are strangeâ— For charitable 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 When in a Bed of straw we 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And the bleak winds shall whistle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Wilt thou then talk thus to me 〈◊〉 thou then Hush my 〈◊〉 thus and shelter me with Love Belv. Oh I will love thee even in Madness love thee Tho my distracted Senses should 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I 'd find some intervals when 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Should swage it self and be let loose to 〈◊〉 Though the bare Earth be all our Resting place It's Root 's our food some 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I 'l make this Arm a Pillow for thy Head As thou sighing ly'st and swell'd with 〈◊〉 Creep to thy Bosom 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of Love Into thy Soul and 〈◊〉 thee to thy 〈◊〉 Then praise our God and watch thee â—till the 〈◊〉 Jaff. Hear this you Heaven's and wonder how you made her Reign reign ye Monâ— that dâ—vide the World Busy Rebellion 〈◊〉 will let you knâ—w Tranquility and Happiness like 〈◊〉 Like gawdy Ships th' 〈◊〉 Billows fall And rise again to lift you in your Pride They wait but for a 〈◊〉 and then 〈◊〉 you I in my private Bark already 〈◊〉 Like a poor Merchant driven on unknown Land That had by chance packt up his 〈◊〉 Treasure In one dear Casket and sav'd only 〈◊〉 Since I must 〈◊〉 further on 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thus hug my little but my 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Resolv'd to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Exâ— ACT. II. Enter Plerre and Aquilina Aquil. BY all thy Wrongs thou art deâ— to my Arms Than all the Wealth of 〈◊〉 Prithee stay And let us love to night Peirr. No 〈◊〉 Fool There 's Fool about thee When a Woman sellâ— Her Flesh to Fools her Beauty 's lost to me They leave a Taint 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 where th 'ave past There 's such a baneful Quality about 'em Even spoâ—ls Complexions with their own Nauseousness They infect all they touch I cannot think Of tasting any thing a Fool has pâ—ll'd Aquil. I loath and 〈◊〉 that Fool thou mean'st as much Or more than thou 〈◊〉 But the Beast has Gold That makes him necessary Power too To qualifie my Character and poise me Equal with peevish Virtue that beholds My Liberty with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In their Hearts Are loose as I am 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Power Sits in their Faces and
and sting thee to thy heart 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 't is 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 How her eyes speak Oh thou bewitching creature Fumbling for his Dagger Madness cannot hurt thee Come thou little trembler Creep even into my heart and there lie safe T is 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 't is 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 What wilt thou doe Ah do not kill me Jaffeir Draws the dagger offers to stab her Pity these panting breasts and trembling limbs That â—'d to clasâ— 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 't is 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 Greater than any I can guess hereafter Jaff. I am I am a Coward witness't Heaven Witness it Earth and every being Witness 'T is but one blow yet by immortal Love I cannot longer bear a thought to harm thee The Seal of providence is sure upon thee He throws away the dagger and embraces her 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. ACT V. Enter Prinli solus Prin. WHY cruel Heaven have my unhappy days Been lengthen'd to this sad one Oh! dishonour And deathless infamy is fall'n upon me Was it my fault Am I a traitour No. But then my onely child my daughter wedded There my best bloud runs foul and a disease Incurable has seiz'd upon my memory To make it rot and stink to after ages Curst be the fatal minute when I got her Or woud that I 'd been any thing but man And rais'd an issue which wou'd ne'r have wrong'd me The miserablest Creatures man excepted Are not the less esteem'd though their posterity Degenerate from the vertues of their fathers The vilest Beasts are happy in their off-springs While onely man gets traitours whores and villains Curst be the names and some swift blow from Fate Lay his head deep where mine may be forgotten Enter Belvidera in a long mourning Veil Bel. He 's there my father my inhumane father That for three years has left an onely child Expos'd to all the outrages of Fate And cruel ruine oh Prin. What child of sorrow Art thou that com'st thus wrapt in weeds of sadness And mov'st as if thy steps were towards a grave Bel. A wâ—tch who from the very top of happiness Am fallen into the lowest depths of misery And want your pitying hand to raise me up again Prin. Indeed thou talk'st as thou hadst tasted sorrows Would I could help thee Bel. 'T is greatly in your power The world too speaks you charitable and I Who ne'r ask'd almes before in that dear hope Am come a begging to you Sir Prin. For what Bel. Oh well regard me is this voice a strange one Consider too when beggars once pretend A case like mine no little will content ' em Prin. What wouldst thou beg for Bel. Pity and forgiveness Throws up â—er Veil By the kind tender names of child and father Hear my complaints and take me to your love Prin. My daughter Bel. Yes your daughter by a mother Vertuous and noble faithfull to your honour Obedient to your will kind to your wishes Dear to your armes by all the joys she gave you When in her blooming years she was your treasure Look kindly on me in my face bâ—hold The lineaments of hers y'have kiss'd so often Pleading the cause of your poor cast off Child Prin. Thou art my daughter Bel. Yes And y'have oft told me With smiles of love and chaste paternal kisses I 'd much resemblance of my mother Prin. Oh! Hadst thou inherited her matchless vertues I 'd been too bless'd Bel. Nay do not call to memory My disobedience but leâ— pity enter Into your heart and quite deface the impression For could you think how mine 's perplext what sadness Fears and despairs distract the peace within me Oh you woud take me in your dear dear Armes Hover with strong compassion o'r your young one To shelter me with a protecting wing From the black gather'd storm that 's just just breaking Prin. Don't talk thus Bel. Yes I must and you must hear too I have a husband Prin. Damn him Bel. Oh do not curse him He would not speak so hard a word towards you On any terms oh e'r he deal with me Prin. Hah what means my child Bel. Oh there 's but this short moment 'Twixt me and Fate yet send me not with curses Down to my grave afford me one kind blessing Before we part just take me in your armes And recommend me with a prayer to Heaven That I may dye in peace and when I 'm dead Prin. How my Soul 's catcht Bel. Lay me I beg you lay me By the dear ashes of my tender mother She would have pitied me had fate yet spared her Prin. By Heaven my aking heart forebodes much mischief Tell me thy story for I 'm still thy father Bel. No I 'm contented Prin. Speak Bel. No matter Prin. Tell me By you blest Heaven my heart runs o'r with fondness Bel. Oh! Prin. Utter't Bel. Oh my husband my dear husband Carries a dagger in his once kind bosoâ—e To peirce the heart of your poor Belvidera
Prin. Kill thee Bel. Yes kill me when he pass'd his faith And covenant against your State and Senate He gave me up as hostage for his truth With me a dagger and a dire commission When e'r he fail'd to plunge it through this bosome I learnt the danger chose the hour of love T' attempt his heart and bring it back to honour Great love prevail'd and bless'd me with success He came confest betray'd his dearest friends For promiâ—'d mercy now they 're doom'd to suffer Gall'd with remembrance of what then was sworn If they are lost he vows t' appease the Gods With this poor life and make my bloud th' attonement Prin. Heavens Bel. Think you saw what pass'd at our last parting Think you beheld him like a raging lion Pacing the earth and tearing up his stepâ— Fate in his eyes and roaring with the pain Of burning fury think you saw his one hand Fix't on my throat while the extended other Grasp'd a keen threatning dagger oh 't was thus We last embrac'd when trembling with revenge He dragg'd me to the ground and at my bosome Presented horrid death cried out my friends Where are my friends swore wept rag'd ' threaten'd lov'd For he yet lov'd and that dear love preserv'd me To this last tryal of a father's pity I fear not death but cannot bear a thought That that dear hand should do th' unfriendly office If I was ever then your care now hear me Fly to the Senate save the promis'd lives Of his dear friends e'r mine be made the sacrifice Prin. Oh my hearts comfort Bel. Will you not my father Weep not but answer me Prin. By Heaven I will Not one of 'em but what shall be immortal Câ—st thou forgive me all my â—ollies past I 'll henceforth be indeed a father never Never more thus expose but cherish thee Dear as the vital warmth that feeds my life Dear as these eyes that weep in fondness o'r thee Peace to thy heart Farewel Bel. Go and remember 'T is Belvidera's life her father pleads for Ex. severally Enter Antonio Hum hum hah Seignior Prinli my Lord Prinli my Lord my Lord my Lord Now we Lords love to call one another by our Titles My Lord my Lord my Lord Pox on him I am a Lord as well as he And so let him fiddle I 'll warrant him he 's gone to the Senate-house and I 'll be there too soon enough for somebody Odd here 's a tickling speech about the Plot I 'll prove there 's a Plot with a Vengeance would I had it without book let me see Most Reverend Senatours That there is a Plot surely by this time no man that hath eyes or understanding in his head will presume to doubt 't is as plain as the light in the Cowcumber no hold there Cowcumber does not come in yet 't is as plain as the light in the Sun or as the man in the Moon even at noon day It is indeed a Pumpkin-Plot which just as it was mellow we have gathered and now we have gathered it prepar'd and dress'd it shall we throw it like a pickled Cowcumber out at the window no that it is not onely a bloudy horrid execrable damnable and audacious Plot but it is as I may so say a sawcy Plot and we all know most Reverend Fathers that what is sawce for a Goose is sawce for a Gander Therefore I say as those bloud-thirsty Ganders of the conspiracy would have destroyed us Geese of the Senate let us make haste to destroy them so I humbly move for hanging hah hurry durry I think this will doe thô I was something out at first about the Sun and the Cowcumber Enter Aquilina Aquil. Good morrow Senatour Anto. Nacky my dear Nacky morrow Nacky odd I am very brisk very merry very pert very jovial haaaaa kiss me Nacky how dost thou doe my little Tory rory Strumpet kiss me I say hussy kiss me Aquil. Kiss me Nacky hang you Sir Coxcomb hang you Sir Anto. Hayty tayty is it so indeed with all my heart faith Hey then up go we faith hey then up go we dum dum derum dump Sings Aquil. Seignior Anto. Madona Aquil. Do you intend to die in your bed Anto. About threescore years hence much may be done my dear Aquil. You 'll be hang'd Seignior Anto. Hang'd sweet heart prithee be quiet hang'd quo h-a that 's a merry conceit with all my heart why thou jok'st Nacky thou art given to joking I 'll swear well I protest Nacky nay I must protest and will protest that I love joking dearly man And I love thee for joking and I 'll kiss thee for joking and towse thee for joking and odd I have a devilish mind to take thee aside about that business for joking too odd I have and Hey then up go we dum dum derum dump Sings Aquil. See you this Sir Draws a dagger Anto. O Laud a dagger Oh Laud it is naturally my a version I cannot endure the sight on 't hide it for Heavens sake I cannot look that way till it be gone hide it hide it oh oh hide it Aquil. Yes in your heart I 'll hide it Anto. My heart what hide a dagger in my heart's bloud Aquil. Yes in thy heart thy throat thou pamper'd Devil Thou hast help'd to spoil my peace and I 'll have vengeance On thy cust life for all the bloody Senate The perjur'd faithless Senate Where 's my Lord My happiness my love my God my Hero Doom'd by thy accursed tongue amongst the rest T' a shamefull wrack By all the rage that 's in me I 'll be whole years in murthering thee Anto. Why Nacky Wherefore so passionate what have I done what 's the matter my dear Nacky am not I thy Love thy Happinâ—ss thâ— Lord thy Hero thy Senatour and every thing in the woâ—ld Nacky Aquil. Thou thinkst thou thou art fit to meet my joys To bear the eager clasps of my embraces Give me my Peirre or Anto. Why he 's to be hang'd little Nacky Trust up for Treason and so forth Child Aquil. Thou ly'st stop down thy throat that hellish sentence Or 't is thy last swear that my Love shall live Or thou art dead Anto. Ah h h h. Aquil. Swear to recall his doom Swear at my feet and tremble at my fury Anto. I do now if she would but kick a little bit one kick now Ah h h h. Aquil. Swear or Anto. I doe by these dear fragrant foots And little toes sweet as e e e e my Nacky Nacky Nacky Aquâ— How Anto. Nothing but untie thy shoe-string a little faith and troth That 's all â—hat's all as I hope to live Nacky that 's all Aquil. Nay then Anto. Hold hold thy Love thy Lord thy Hero Shall be prâ—serv'd and safe Aquil. Or may this Poniard Rust in thy heart Anto. With all my soul. Aquil. Farewell Ex. Aquil. Anto. Adieu Why what a bloudy-minded inveterate termagant Strumpet have I been plagu'd with oh