Receive and cherish him; or if, when seen
And search'd, you find him worthless,-as my tongue
Has lodg'd this secret in his faithful breast,
To ease your fears, I wear a dagger here,
Shall rip it out again, and give you rest.
Come forth, thou only good I e'er could boast of.
Enter JAFFIER, with a Dagger in his Hand.
Beda. His presence bears the show of manly virtue.
Jaff. I know you'll wonder all, that thus uncall'd,
I dare approach this place of fatal councils;
But I'm amongst you, and, by Heaven, it glads me
To see so many virtues thus united
To restore justice, and dethrone oppression.
Command this steel, if you would have it quiet,
Into this breast; but, if you think it worthy
To cut the throats of reverend rogues in robes,
Send me into the curs'd assembled senate :
It shrinks not, though I meet a father there.
Would you behold the city flaming? here's
A hand, shall bear a lighted torch at noon
To th' arsenal, and set its gates on fire!
Ren. You talk this well, sir.
Jaff. Nay, by Heaven, I'll do this!
Come, come, I read distrust in all your faces :
You fear me villain, and, indeed, 'tis odd
To hear a stranger talk thus, at first meeting,
Of matters that have been so well debated:
But I come ripe with wrongs, as you with counsels.
I hate this senate-am a foe to Venice;
A friend to none, but men resolved like me
To push on mischief. Oh, did you but know me, I need not talk thus!
Beda. Pierre, I must embrace him;
My heart beats to this man, as if it knew him.
Ren. I never lov'd these huggers.
The cause delights ye not. Your friends survey me,
As I were dangerous.-But I come arm'd
Against all doubts, and to your trusts will give
A pledge, worth more than all the world can pay for.
My Belvidera! Hoa! my Belvidera!
Beda. What wonder next?
Jaff. Let me entreat you, sirs,
As I have henceforth hope to call you friends,
That all but the ambassador, and this
Grave guide of councils, with my friend, that owns me,
Withdraw awhile, to spare a woman's blushes.
[Exeunt all but BEDAMAR, RENAULT, JAFFIER,
and PIERRE.
Beda. Pierre, whither will this ceremony lead us?
Jaff. My Belvidera! Belvidera!
Bel. [Within.] Who,
Who calls so loud, at this late peaceful hour?
That voice was wont to come in gentle whispers,
And fill my ears with the soft breath of love.
Thou hourly image of my thoughts, where art thou? Jaff. Indeed 'tis late.
Bel. Alas! where am I? whither is't you lead me? Methinks I read distraction in your face,You shake and tremble too! your blood runs cold! Heav'ns guard my love, and bless his heart with patience!
Jaff. That I have patience, let our fate bear wit
Who has ordained it so, that thou and I,
(Thou, the divinest good man e'er possess'd, And I, the wretched'st of the race of man), This very hour, without one tear, must part.
Bel. Part! must we part? Oh! am I then forsaken ? Why drag you from me? whither are you going? My dear! my life! my love!
Jaff. Oh, friends!
Bel. Speak to me!
Jaff. Take her from my heart,
She'll gain such hold else, I shall ne'er get loose. I charge you, take her, but with tenderest care Relieve her troubles, and assuage her sorrows.
Ren. Rise, madam, and command among your
Jaff. To you, sirs, and your honours, I bequeath her,
And with her, this; whene'er I prove unworthy-
[Gives a Dagger to RENAULT.
You know the rest-Then strike it to her heart;
And tell her, he, who three whole happy years,
Lay in her arms, and each kind night repeated
The passionate vows of still increasing love,
Sent that reward, for all her truth and sufferings.
Bel. Oh, thou unkind one!
Have I deserv'd this from you?
Look on me, tell me, speak, thou dear deceiver,—
If I am false, accuse me; but if true,
Don't, pr'ythee don't, in poverty forsake me,
But pity the sad heart, that's torn with parting.
Yet, hear me; yet, recall me.-Jaffier,-Jaffier!
A Room in the House of AQUILINA.
Bel. I'm sacrificed! I'm sold-betray'd to shame! Inevitable ruin has enclos'd me!
He, that should guard my virtue, has betray'd it Left me undone me! Oh, that I could hate him!Where shall I go? Oh, whither, whither wander? Enter JAFFIER.
Jaff. Can Belvidera want a resting-place, When these poor arms are open to receive her? There was a time
Bel. Yes, yes, there was a time,
When Belvidera's tears, her cries and sorrows,
Were not despis'd; when, if she chanced to sigh,
Or look but sad--There was, indeed, a time,
When Jaffier would have ta’en her in his arms,
Eas'd her declining head upon his breast,
And never left her, till he found the cause.
But well I know why you forsake me thus ;
I am no longer fit to bear a share
In your concernments: my weak female virtue
Must not be trusted; 'tis too frail and tender.
Jaff. O Portia, Portia, what a soul was thine!
Bel. That Portia was a woman; and when Brutus,
Big with the fate of Rome (Heav'n guard thy safety!)
Conceal'd from her the labours of his mind;
She let him see her blood was great as his,
Flow'd from å spring as noble, and a heart
Fit to partake his troubles, as his love.
Fetch, fetch that dagger back, the dreadful dower
Thou gav'st last night, in parting with me; strike it
Here to my heart; and, as the blood flows from it,
Judge if it run not pure as Cato's daughter's.
Jaff. O Belvidera !
Bel. Why was I last night deliver'd to a villain?
Jaff. Ha! a villain ?
Bel. Yes, to a villain! Why, at such an hour,
Meets that assembly, all made up of wretches,
That look as hell had drawn them into league?
Why, I in this hand, and in that, a dagger,
Was I deliver'd with such dreadful ceremonies ?
"To you, sirs, and your honours, I bequeath her,
And with her, this: Whene'er I prove unworthy-
You know the rest-then strike it to her heart."
Oh! why's that rest conceal'd from me? Must I
Be made the hostage of a hellish trust?
For such, I know I am; that's all my value.
But, by the love and loyalty I owe thee,
I'll free thee from the bondage of these slaves!
Straight to the senate-tell them all I know,
All that I think, all that my fears inform me.
Jaff. Is this the Roman virtue? this the blood,
That boasts its purity with Cato's daughter?
Would she have e'er betray'd her Brutus ?
Bel. No;
For Brutus trusted her. Wert thou so kind,
What would not Belvidera suffer for thee?
Jaff. I shall undo myself, and tell thee all-
Yet think a little, ere thou tempt me further;
Think I've a tale to tell will shake thy nature,
Melt all this boasted constancy thou talk'st of
Into vile tears and despicable sorrows:
Then, if thou shouldst betray me--
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