Chapter 5

_Enter Jaffier and Belvidera._

_Jaf._ Where dost thou lead me? Every step I move, Methinks I tread upon some mangled limb Of a rack'd friend. O, my charming ruin! Where are we wandering?

_Bel._ To eternal honour. To do a deed shall chronicle thy name 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 propp'd the fall of Venice.

_Jaf._ Rather, remember him, who, after all The sacred bonds of oaths, and holier friendship, In fond compassion to a woman's tears, Forgot his manhood, virtue, 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, replace me in my bondage, Tell all my friends how dangerously thou lov'st me, And let thy dagger do its bloody office. Or, if thou think'st it nobler, let me live, Till I'm a victim to the hateful lust Of that infernal devil. Last night, my love!

_Jaf._ Name it not again; It shows a beastly image to my fancy, Will wake me into madness. Destruction, swift destruction, fall on my coward head.

_Bel._ Delay no longer then, but to the senate, And tell the dismal'st story ever utter'd: Tell 'em what bloodshed, rapines, desolations, Have been prepar'd: how near's the fatal hour. Save thy poor country, save the reverend blood Of all its nobles, which to-morrow's dawn Must else see shed.

_Jaf._ Oh! think what then may prove my lot; By all heav'n's powers, prophetic truth dwells in thee; For every word thou speak'st, strikes through my heart. Just what thou'st 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 virtue, constancy, and friends. Must I betray my friend? 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?

_Jaf._ No; thou'rt my soul itself; wealth, friendship, honour, All present joys, and earnest of all future, Are summ'd in thee. 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 th' enticing, flatt'ring, priestess' side, And, much transported with its little pride, Forgets his dear companions of the plain; Till, by her bound, he's on the altar lain, Yet then too hardly bleats, such pleasure's in the pain.

_Enter Officer and six Guards._

_Offi._ Stand! who goes there?

_Bel._ Friends.

_Offi._ But what friends are you?

_Bel._ Friends to the senate, and the state of Venice.

_Offi._ My orders are to seize on all I find At this late hour, and bring 'em to the council, Who are now sitting.

_Jaf._ Sir, you shall be obey'd. Now the lot's cast, and, fate, do what thou wilt.

[_exeunt, guarded._