Venice Preserv'd/Act V

by Thomas Otway

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 wretch, 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. 'Tis 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?

[Throws up her Veil.⁠Bel. Pity and forgiveness;
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 behold
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 let 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 bosome
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 promis'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 steps,
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 'twas 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.
Canst thou forgive me all my follies 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,
[Ex. severally.'Tis Belvidera's life her father pleads for.
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, 'tis as plain
as the light in the Cowcumber—no—hold there—Cowcumber
does not come in yet—'tis 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
[Sings.then up go we, faith—hey then up go we. dum dum derum dump.

⁠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 quoth-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
[Sings.Hey then up go we, dum dum derum dump.

[Draws a dagger.⁠Aquil. See you this, Sir?

⁠Anto. O Laud, a dagger! Oh Laud! it is naturally my aversion,
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 Happiness, thy Lord,
thy Hero, thy Senatour, and every thing in the world, 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 'tis 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.

⁠Aquil. How!

⁠Anto. Nothing but untie thy shoe-string a little faith and troth,
That's all, that'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 preserv'd and safe.

⁠Aquil. Or may this Poniard
Rust in thy heart.

⁠Anto. With all my soul.

[Ex. Aquil.⁠Aquil. Farewell ———

⁠Anto. Adieu. Why what a bloudy-minded inveterate, termagant,
Strumpet have I been plagu'd with! oh h h yet more! nay then
[Stretches himself out.I die, I die—I am dead already.

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 flames, to one curst Cindar,
And all us little 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.

[Meeting him.⁠Bel. My Life ———

[Turning from her.⁠Jaff. My Plague ———

⁠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 'twill 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. Twas 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.
'Tis 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.

[Sighing.⁠Jaff. When will that be?

⁠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, 'Tis 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 surround me,
Starve me with wantings, let my eyes ne'r see
A sight of comfort, nor my heart 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:
[Draws his Dagger.By th'immortal destiny that doom'd me
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.

[Passing-bell towles.⁠Jaff. Hark, the dismal Bell
Towles out for death, I must attend its call too,
For my poor friend, my dying Peirre expects 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.
[Approaching each other.Now———nearer yet———
Oh that my armes were rivetted
Thus round thee ever! But my friends, my oath!
[Kisses her.This and no more.

⁠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 nights,
Which I must now mourn out in widdow'd tears;
Blasted be every herb and fruit and tree,
Curst 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 peacefull bottome!
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 Prinli and Servants.
[They seize her.Who's there?

⁠Prin. Run, seize and bring her safely home,
Guard her as you would life: Alas poor creature!

⁠Bel. What? to my husband then conduct me quickly,
Are all things ready? shall we dye most gloriously?
Say not a word of this to my old father,
Murmuring streams, soft shades, and springing flowers,
[Ex.Lutes, Laurells, Seas of Milk, and ships of Amber.

Scene opening discovers a Scaffold and a Wheel prepar'd for the
⁠executing of Peirre, then enter Officers, Peirre and Guards, a
⁠Friar, executioner and a great Rabble.

⁠Offic. Room room there———stand all by, make room for the Prisoner.

⁠Peir. My friend not come yet?

⁠Father. Why are you so obstinate?

⁠Peirr. Why you so troublesome, that a poor wretch
cannot dye in peace?
But you, like Ravens will be croaking round him———

⁠Fath. Yet, Heaven———

⁠Peir. I tell thee Heaven and I are friends,
I ne'r broke Peace with't yet, by cruel murthers,
Rapine, or perjury, or vile deceiving,
But liv'd in moral Justice towards all men,
Nor am a foe to the most strong believers:
How e'r my own short-sighted Faith confine me.

⁠Fath. But an all-seeing Judge———

⁠Peir. You say my conscience
Must be mine accuser: I have search'd that Conscience,
And find no records there of crimes that scare me.

⁠Fath. 'Tis strange you should want faith.

⁠Peir. You want to lead
My Reason blindfold, like a hamper'd Lion,
Check'd of its nobler vigour then, when baited,
Down to obedient tameness, make it couch,
And shew strange tricks which you call signs of Faith.
So silly Souls are gull'd and you get money.
Away, no more: Captain, I would hereafter
This fellow write no lyes of my conversion,
Because he has crept upon my troubled hours.

Enter Jaffeir.

⁠Jaff. Hold: Eyes, be dry;
Heart, strengthen me to bear
This hideous sight, and humble me, take
The last forgiveness of a dying friend,
Betray'd by my vile falsehood, to his ruine.
Oh Peirre!

⁠Peir. Yet nearer.

⁠Jaff. Crawling on my knees,
And prostrate on the earth, let me approach thee,
How shall I look up to thy injur'd face,
That always us'd to smile, with friendship, on me?
It darts an air of so much manly virtue,
That I, methinks, look little in thy sight,
And stripes are fitter for me than embraces.

⁠Peir. Dear to my Armes, though thou hast undone my fame,
I cannot forget to love thee: prithee, Jaffeir,
Forgive that filthy blow my passion dealt thee;
I am now preparing for the land of peace,
And fain would have the charitable wishes
Of all good men, like thee, to bless my journy.

⁠Jaff. Good! I am the vilest creature, worse than e'r
Suffer'd the shamefull Fate thou art going to taste of,
Why was I sent for to be us'd thus kindly?
Call, call me villain, as I am, describe
The foul complexion of my hatefull deeds,
Lead me to the Rack, and stretch me in thy stead,
I've crimes enough to give it its full load,
And doe it credit: Thou wilt but spoil the use on't,
And honest men hereafter bear its figure
About 'em, as a charm from treacherous friendship.

⁠Offic. The time grows short, your friends are dead already.

⁠Jaff. Dead!

⁠Peir. Yes, dead, Jaffeir, they've all dy'd like men too,
Worthy their Character.

⁠Jaff. And what must I doe?

⁠Peir. Oh, Jaffeir!

⁠Jaff. Speak, aloud thy burthen'd Soul;
And tell thy troubles to thy tortur'd friend.

⁠Peir. Friend! Could'st thou yet be a Friend, a generous friend,
I might hope Comfort from thy noble sorrows,
Heav'n knows I want a Friend.

⁠Jaff. And I a kind one,
That would not thus scorn my repenting Vertue.
Or think when he is to dye, my thoughts are idle.

⁠Peirr. No! live, I charge thee, Jaffeir.

⁠Jaff. Yes, I will live,
But it shall be to see thy fall reveng'd
At such a rate, as Venice long shall groan for.

⁠Peirr. Wilt thou?

⁠Jaff. I will, by Heav'n.

⁠Peirr. Then still thou'rt noble,
And I forgive thee, oh—yet—shall I trust thee?

⁠Jaff. No: I've been false already.

⁠Peir. Dost thou love me?

⁠Jaff. Rip up my heart, and satisfie thy doubtings.

[He weeps.⁠Peir. Curse on this weakness.

⁠Jaff. Tears! Amazement! Tears!
I never saw thee melted thus before;
And know there's something lab'ring in thy bosom
That must have vent: Though I'm a Villain, tell me.

[Pointing to the Wheel.⁠Peir. Seest thou that Engine?

⁠Jaff. Why?

⁠Peir. Is't fit a Souldier, who has liv'd with Honour,
Fought Nations Quarrels, and bin Crown'd with Conquest,
Be expos'd a common Carcass on a Wheel?

⁠Jaff. Hah!

⁠Peir. Speak! is't fitting?

⁠Jaff. Fitting?

⁠Peir. Yes, is't fitting?

⁠Jaff. What's to be done?

⁠Peir. I'd have thee undertake
Something that's Noble, to preserve my Memory
From the disgrace that's ready to attaint it.

⁠Offic. The day grows late, Sir.

⁠Peir. I'll make haste! oh Jaffeir,
Though thou'st betray'd me, doe me some way Justice.

⁠Jaff. No more of that: Thy wishes shall be satisfi'd,
I have a Wife, and she shall bleed, my Child too
Yield up his little Throat, and all t'appease thee—
[Going away Peir. holds him. 

[He whispers Jaffeir.⁠Peir. No———this———no more!

⁠Jaff. Hah! is't then so?

⁠Peir. Most certainly.

⁠Jaff. I'll do't.

⁠Pier. Remember.

⁠Offic. Sir.

⁠Pier. Come, now I'm ready.
[He and Jaffeir 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 dye with Decency.
Come!
[Takes off his Gown. Executioner prepares to bind him. 

⁠Fath. Son!

⁠Peir. Hence, Tempter.

⁠Offic. Stand off, Priest.

⁠Peir. I thank you, Sir,
[To Jaffeir.You'll think on't.

⁠Jaff. 'Twon't grow stale before to morrow.

⁠Pier. Now, Jaffeir! now I am going, Now;———
[Executioner having bound him. 

⁠Jaff. Have at thee,
[Stabs him.Thou honest heart, then———here———
[Then stabs himself.And this is well too.

⁠Fath. Damnable Deed!

⁠Peir. Now thou hast indeed been faithful.
This was done Nobly———We have deceiv'd the Senate.

⁠Jaff. Bravely.

[Dies.⁠Peir. Ha ha ha———oh oh———

⁠Jaff. Now, ye curs'd Rulers,
Thus of the blood y'have shed I make Libation,
And sprinkl't mingling: May it rest upon you,
And all your Race: Be henceforth Peace a stranger
Within your Walls; let Plagues and Famine waste
Your Generations—oh poor Belvidera!
Sir, I have a Wife, bear this in safety to her.
⁠A Token that with my dying breath I blest her,
And the dear little Infant left behind me.
[Jaff. dyes.I am sick———I'm quiet———

⁠Offic. Bear this news to the Senate,
And guard their Bodies till there's farther order:
[Scene shuts upon them, Heav'n grant I dye so well—

Soft Musick. Enter Belvidera distracted, led by two of her
Women, Prinli and Servants.

⁠Prin. Strengthen her heart with Patience, pitying Heav'n.

⁠Belv. Come come come come come. Nay, come to bed!
Prithee my Love. The Winds! hark how they whistle!
And the Rain beats: oh how the weather shrinks me!
You are angry now, who cares? pish, no indeed.
Choose then, I say you shall not go, you shallnot;
[Jaffeir's Ghost rises.Whip your ill nature; get you gone then! oh,
Are you return'd? See, Father, here he's come agen,
[Ghost sinks.Am I to blame to love him! oh thou dear one.
Why do you fly me? are you angry still then?
Jaffeir! where art thou? Father, why do you doe thus?
Stand off, don't hide him from me. He's here somewhere.
Stand off I say! what gone? remember't, Tyrant!
I may revenge my self for this trick one day.
Enter Officer and others. 
I'll do't—I'll do't. Renault's a nasty fellow.
Hang him, hang him, hang him.

[Offic. whispers Prinli.⁠Prin. News, what news?

⁠Offic. Most sad, Sir.
Jaffeir upon the Scaffold, to prevent
A shamefull death, stab'd Peirre, and next himself:
Both fell together.

⁠Prin. Daughter.

⁠Bel. Hah, look there!
[The Ghosts of Jaff. and Peir. rise together both bloody. 
My Husband bloody, and his friend too! Murther!
[Ghosts sink.Who has done this? speak to me thou sad Vision,
On these poor trembling Knees I beg it, Vanisht———
Here they went down; Oh I'll dig, dig the Den up.
You shan't delude me thus. Hoa, Jaffeir, Jaffeir.
Peep up and give me but a look. I have him!
I've got him, Father: Oh now how I'll smuggle him!
My Love! my Dear! my Blessing! help me, help me!
They have hold on me, and drag me to the bottom.
[She dyes.Nay—now they pull so hard———farewell—

⁠Maid. She's dead.
Breathless and dead.

⁠Prin. Then guard me from the sight on't:
Lead me into some place that's fit for mourning;
Where the free Air, Light and the chearfull Sun
May never enter: Hang it round with Black;
Set up one Taper that may last a day
As long as l've to live: And there all leave me.
⁠Sparing no Tears when you this Tale relate,
⁠But bid all Cruel Fathers dread my Fate.⁠Curtain falls,
[Ex. omnes. 

FINIS.