SCENE II.--_A Street near_ PRIULI'S _House_.

_Enter_ JAFFIER.

_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 flames to one curst cinder, And all us little creepers in't, called men, Burn, burn, to nothing! but let Venice burn Hotter than all the rest; here kindle hell Ne'er to extinguish; and let souls hereafter Groan here, in all those pains which mine feels now!

_Enter_ BELVIDERA.

_Belv._ My life! [_Meeting him._

_Jaff._ My plague! [_Turning from her._

_Belv._ Nay, then I see my ruin, If I must die!

_Jaff._ No, Death's this day too busy; Thy father's ill-timed mercy came too late. I thank thee for thy labours though, and him too: But all my poor, betrayed, unhappy friends Have summons to prepare for fate's black hour; And yet I live.

_Belv._ Then be the next my doom. I see thou hast passed 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 them when they wound me. Indeed I'm willing, but I beg thee do it With some remorse; and, when thou givest the blow, View me with eyes of a relenting love, And show me pity, for 'twill sweeten justice.

_Jaff._ Show pity to thee?

_Belv._ Yes; and when thy hands, Charged 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 stinged hearts have leaped to meet each other, And melting kisses sealed our lips together, When joys have left me gasping in thy arms, So let my death come now, and I'll not shrink from it.

_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.

_Belv._ I will when I've done weeping--

_Jaff._ Fie, no more on't. How long is't since the miserable day We wedded first?

_Belv._ Oh!

_Jaff._ Nay, keep in thy tears, Lest they unman me too.

_Belv._ Heaven knows I cannot; The words you utter sound so very sadly, These streams will follow--

_Jaff._ Come, I'll kiss them dry then.

_Belv._ But was't a miserable day?

_Jaff._ A cursed one.

_Belv._ 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 blessed it.

_Jaff._ 'Twas a rash oath.

_Belv._ Then why am I not cursed too?

_Jaff._ No, Belvidera; by the eternal truth, I dote with too much fondness.

_Belv._ Still so kind! Still then do you love me?

_Jaff._ Nature, in her workings, Inclines not with more ardour to creation, Than I do now towards thee; man ne'er was blest, Since the first pair first met, as I have been.

_Belv._ Then sure you will not curse me?

_Jaff._ No, I'll bless thee. I came on purpose, Belvidera, to bless thee. 'Tis now, I think, three years we've lived together.

_Belv._ 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._

_Belv._ I hope long ages hence.

_Jaff._ Have I not hitherto--I beg thee tell me Thy very fears--used thee with tenderest love? Did e'er my soul rise up in wrath against thee? Did I e'er frown when Belvidera smiled, Or, by the least unfriendly word, betray Abating passion? have I ever wronged thee?

_Belv._ No.

_Jaff._ Has my heart, or have my eyes e'er wandered To any other woman?

_Belv._ Never, never. I were the worst of false ones, should I accuse thee. I own I've been too happy, blest above My sex's charter.

_Jaff._ Did I not say I came To bless thee?

_Belv._ 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'er 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 virtue To bear the loss of one that too much loved; And comfort her with patience in our parting!

_Belv._ 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.

_Belv._ Oh, call back Your cruel blessing; stay with me and curse me!

_Jaff._ No; 'tis resolved.

_Belv._ 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 surround me. Starve me with wantings; let my eyes ne'er see A sight of comfort, nor my heart know peace; But dash my days with sorrow, nights with horrors 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.

_Belv._ By all the tender days we have lived together, By all our charming nights, and joys that crowned them, Pity my sad condition; speak, but speak!

_Jaff._ Oh!

_Belv._ By these arms that now cling round thy neck, By this dear kiss, and by ten thousand more, By these poor streaming eyes--

_Jaff._ Murder! unhold me! By the immortal destiny that doomed me [_Draws his dagger._ To this cursed minute, I'll not live one longer. Resolve to let me go, or see me fall--

_Belv._ Hold, sir, be patient.

_Jaff._ Hark, the dismal bell [_Passing-bell tolls._ Tolls out for death! I must attend its call too; For my poor friend, my dying Pierre expects me; He sent a message to require I'd see him Before he died, and take his last forgiveness. Farewell for ever!

_Belv._ Leave thy dagger with me. Bequeath me something.--Not one kiss at parting?

[JAFFIER, _going out, looks back at her_.

O 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'm gone, Breed him in virtue 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 do his future fortune, or his name. Now--nearer yet! [_Approaching each other._] Oh that my arms were rivetted Thus round thee ever! But my friends, my oath-- This, and no more. [_Kisses her._

_Belv._ Another, sure another, For that poor little one you've ta'en care of; I'll give't him truly.

_Jaff._ So, now farewell.

_Belv._ For ever?

_Jaff._ Heaven knows for ever; all good angels guard thee! [_Exit._

_Belv._ All ill ones sure had charge of me this moment. Cursed be my days, and doubly cursed my nights, Which I must now mourn out in widowed tears; Blasted be every herb, and fruit, and tree; Cursed be the rain that falls upon the earth, And may the general curse reach man and beast! Oh, give me daggers, fire, or water; How I could bleed, how burn, how drown, the waves Huzzing and booming round my sinking head, Till I descended to the peaceful bottom! Oh, there's all quiet, here all rage and fury; The air's too thin, and pierces my weak brain; I long for thick substantial sleep. Hell! hell! Burst from the centre, rage and roar aloud, If thou art half so hot, so mad as I am!

_Enter_ PRIULI _and_ Servants.

Who's there?

_Priu._ Run, seize and bring her safely home; Guard her as you would life. Alas, poor creature!

[_They seize her._

_Belv._ What! to my husband? then conduct me quickly. Are all things ready? shall we die most gloriously? Say not a word of this to my old father. Murmuring streams, soft shades, and springing flowers, Lutes, laurels, seas of milk, and ships of amber. [_Exeunt._