The British drama

No shameful bonds, but honourable death.
Duke. Break up the council. Captain, guard
your prisoners.
Jaffier, you are free, but these must wait for
judgment. [Exeunt all the Senators.
Pier. Come, where's my dungeon? Lead me
to my straw:

It will not be the first time I've lodged hard,
To do the senate service.

Jaf. Hold, one moment.

Pier. Who's he disputes the judgment of the senate?

Presumptuous rebel-on

Jaf. By Heaven, you stir not!

[Strikes Juffier.

I must be heard; I must have leave to speak.
Thou hast disgraced me, Pierre, by a vile blow:
Had not a dagger done thee nobler justice?
But use me as thou wilt, thou cans't not wrong

me,

For I am fallen beneath the basest injuries:
Yet look upon me with an eye of mercy,
With pity and with charity behold me;
Shut not thy heart against a friend's repentance;
But, as there dwells a godlike nature in thee,
Listen with mildness to my supplications!

Pier. What whining monk art thou? what ho-
ly cheat,

That would encroach upon my credulous ears,
And cant'st thus vilely? Hence! I know thee not;
Dissemble and be nasty. Leave, hypocrite.
Jaf. Not know me, Pierre!

Pier. No, I know thee not! What art thou? Jaf. Jaffier, thy friend, thy once-loved valued friend!

Tho' now deservedly scorned, and used most hardly.

Pier. Thou, Jaffier! thou my once-loved valued friend!

By Heavens thou lyest; the man so called, my friend,

Was generous, honest, faithful, just, and valiant;
Noble in mind, and in his person lovely;
Dear to my eyes, and tender to my heart:

But thou! a wretched, base, false, worthless coward,

Poor, even in soul, and loathsome in thy aspect; All eyes must shun thee, and all hearts detest thee.

Prithee avoid; nor longer cling thus round me,
Like something baneful, that my nature's chilled at.
Jaf. I have not wronged thee, by these tears I
have not,

But still am honest, true, and, hope too, valiant;
My mind still full of thee, therefore still noble.
Let not thy eyes then shun me, nor thy heart
Detest me utterly. Oh! look upon me,
Look back, and see my sad, sincere submission!
How my heart swells, as e'en 'twould burst my

bosom;

Fond of its goal, and labouring to be at thee. What shall I do? what say, to make thee hear me?

Pier. Hast thou not wronged me? Dar'st thou call thyself

That once-loved, valued friend of mine, And swear thou hast not wronged me? Whence these chains?

Whence the vile death, which I may meet this moment?

Whence this dishonour, but from thee, thou false one?

Jaf. All's true; yet grant one thing, and I've done asking.

Pier. What's that?

Jaf. To take thy life, on such conditions The council have proposed: thou, and thy friends, May yet live long, and to better treated.

Pier. Life! ask my life! Confess! record myself

A villain, for the privilege to breathe!
And carry up and done this cursed city,
A discontented and repining spirit,
Burthensome to itself, a few years longer;
To lose it, may be, at last, in a lewd quarrel
For some new friend, treacherous and false as
thou art!

No, this vile world and I have long been jangling,

And cannot part on better terms than now,
When only men, like thee, are fit to live in it.
Juf. By all that's just-

Pier. Swear by some other powers,

For thou hast broke that sacred oath too lately. Jaf. Then, by that hell I merit, I'll not leave

thee,

Were to exceed those limited the world.
Take it-farewell-for now I owe thee nothing.
Jaf. Say thou wilt live, then,

Pier. For my life, dispose it

Jaffier,

Just as thou wilt, because 'tis what I'm tired with. With endless cries, and never-ceasing wailing: Thou'st lost

Jaf. Oh, Pierre !

Pier. No more.

Jaf. My eyes won't lose the sight of thee, But languish after thee, and ache with gazing. Pier. Leave me-Nay, then, thus, thus I throw thee from me;

And curses, great as is thy falshood, catch thee! [Exit.

Jaf. Amen.

He's gone, my father, friend, preserver,
And here's the portion he has left me:

[Holds the dagger up.
This dagger. Well remembered! with this dagger,
I gave a solemn vow of dire importance;
Parted with this, and Belvidera together.
Have a care, memory! drive that thought no

farther:

No, I'll esteem it, as a friend's last legacy; Treasure it up within 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! called traitor, villain,

Coward, dishonourable coward!

Oh! for a long sound sleep, and so forget it.
Down, busy 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 to look up to that dear face,
Which used to smile, even on my faults; but,
down,

Bending these miserable eyes on earth,

Jaf. Oh! I have lost what can't be counted. My friend too, Belvidera, that dear friend, Who, next to thee, was all my heart rejoiced in, Has used me like a slave, shamefully used me: 'Twould break thy pitying heart to hear the story. What should I do? Resentment, indignation, Love, pity, fear, and memory how I've wronged him,

Distract my quiet with the very thought of it,
And tear my heart to pieces in my bosom.
Bel. What has he done?

Jaf. Thou'dst hate me, should I tell thee.
Bel. Why?

Jaf. Oh! he has used me-yet, by heaven, I

bear it;

Jaf. Before we parted,

E're yet his guards had led him to his prison, Must move in penance, and implore much mercy. Full of severest sorrow for his sufferings,

With eyes d'erflowing, and a bleeding heart,
Hambling myself, almost beneath my nature,
As at his feet I kneeled and sued for mercy,
Forgetting all our friendship, all the dearness,
In which we have lived so many years together,
With a reproachful hand he dashed a blow:
He struck me, Belvidera! by heaven, he struck
me!

Buffetted, called me traitor, villain, coward.
Am I a coward? Am I a villain? Tell me!

Thou'rt the best judge, and mad'st me, if I am

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Darnnation! Coward !

Bel. Oh! forgive him, Jaffier ;

And, if his sufferings wound thy heart already, What will they do to-morrow?

Jaf. Ah!

Bel. Tomorrow,

Than downy pillows, decked with leaves of roses Jaf. Alas! thou think'st not of the thorns 'tis filled with:

Fly, e'er they gall thee. There's a lurking serpent
Ready to leap, and sting thee to the heart.
Art thou not terrified?

Bel. No.

Jaf. Call to mind

What thou hast done, and whither thou hast brought me.

Bel. Ha!

Juf. Where's my friend? my friend, thou smiling mischief!

Nay, shrink not, now 'tis 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

When thou shalt see him stretched in all the Already; see, they've fixed him on the wheel!

agonies

Of a tormenting and a shameful death;
His bleeding bowels, and his broken limbs,
Insulted o'er by a vile butchering villain;
What will thy heart do then? Oh! sure 'twill

strearm,

Like my eyes now.

Juf. What means thy dreadful story? Death, and to-morrow! Broken limbs and bowels! Insulted o'er 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 faithless senators, 'tis they've decreed it:

They say, according to your friends' request, They shall have death, and not ignoble bondage; Declare their promised mercy all as forfeited: False to their oaths, and deaf to intercession, Warrants are passed for public death to-morrow. Juf. Death! doomed to die! condemned unheard! unpleaded!

Bel. Nay, cruellest racks and torments are preparing,

To force confession from their dying pangs-
Oh! do not look so terribly upon me !
How your lips shake, and all your face disor-
dered!

And now they tear him!-murder! Perjured senate!

Murder!-Oh!-Hark thee, traitress, thou hast done this!

Thanks to thy tears, and false persuading love. How her eyes speak! Oh, thou bewitching creature!

Madness can't hurt thee. Come, thou little trembler,

Creep even into my heart, and there lie safe;
'Tis thy own citadel-Ha—yet stand off!
Heaven must have justice, and my broken vows—
I'll wink, and then 'tis done-

Bel. What means the lord
Of me, my life, and love? What's in thy bosom,
Thou graspest at so? Nay, why am I thus treated?

[Draws the dagger, and offers to stab her. What wilt thou do? Ah! do not kill me, Jaffier: Pity these panting breasts, and trembling limbs, That used to clasp thee, when thy looks were milder,

That yet hang heavy on my unpurged soul,
And plunge it not into eternal darkness !

Jaf. Know, Belvidera, when we parted last I gave this dagger with thee, as in trust, To be thy portion, if I e'er proved false. On such condition, was my truth believed; But now 'tis forfeited, and must be paid for. [Offers to stab her again. [Kneeling..

Bel. Oh! Mercy !
Jaf. Nay, no struggling.
Bel. Now, then, kill me,

[Leaps on his neck, and kisses him.
While thus I cling about thy cruel neck,
Kiss thy revengeful lips, and die in joys
Greater than any I can guess hereafter.

Jaf. I am, I am a coward, witness heaven, Witness it, earth, and every being witness! 'Tis but one blow! yet, by immortal love, I cannot longer bear a thought to harm thee. [He throws aroay the dagger, and ema

braces her.

The seal of Providence is sure upon thee;

And thou wert born for yet unheard-of wonders. | Speak to him with thy eyes, and with thy tears,
Oh! thou wert either born to save or damn me!
By all the power, that's given thee o'er 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,

Melt his hard heart, and wake dead nature in
him!

Crush him in thy arms, torture him with thy soft-‹

ness;

Nor, till thy prayers are granted, set him free,
But conquer him, as thou hast conquered me!
[Exeunt.

ACT V.

SCENE I.-An Apartment in Priuli's House.

Enter PRIULI solus.

Pri. WHY, cruel Heaven, have my unhappy
days

Been lengthened to this sad one? Oh! dishonour
And deathless infamy is fallen upon me!
Was it my fault? Am I a traitor? No.
But then, my only child, my daughter wedded;
There my best blood runs foul, and a disease
Incurable has seized upon my memory,
To make it rot and stink to after-ages!
Curst be the fatal minute, when I got her;
Or would that I had been any thing but man,
And raised an issue, which would ne'er have
wronged me.

The miserablest creatures (man excepted)
Are not the less esteemed, though their posterity
Degenerate from the virtues of their fathers:
The vilest beasts are happy in their offspring,
While only man gets traitors, whores, and villains!
Cursed be the names, and some swift blow from
fate

Look kindly on me. In my face behold

The lineaments of her's you have kissed so often,
Pleading the cause of your poor cast-off child.
Pri. Thou art my daughter.

Bel. Yes-and you have often told me,
With smiles of love and chaste paternal kisses,
I had much resemblance of my mother.
Pri. Oh!

Hadst thou inherited her matchless virtues,
I had been too blessed!

Bel. Nay, do not call to memory
My disobedience; but let pity enter

Lay this head deep, where mine may be forgot- Into your heart, and quite deface the impression. ten!

Enter BELVIDERA, in a long mourning veil.
Bel. He's there, my father, my inhuman father,
That for three years has left an only child
Exposed to all the outrages of fate,
And cruel ruin!-Oh-

Pri. What child of sorrow

Art thou, that comest wrapt in weeds of sadness,
And movest, as if thy steps were towards a grave?
Bel. A wretch, who, from the very top of hap-
piness,

Am fallen into the depths of misery,
And want your pitying hand to raise me up again.
Pri. Indeed thou talkst as thou hadst tasted

For could you think how mine's perplexed, what
sadness,

Fears and despair distract the peace within me,
Oh! you would take me in your dear, dear arms,
Hover with strong compassion o'er your young

Pri. Damn him.

Bel. Oh! do not curse him;

He would not speak so hard a word towards you
On any terms, howe'er he deals with me.
Pri. Ha! 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 arms,
And recommend me with a prayer to heaven,
That I may die in peace; and when I am dead—
Pri. How my soul's catch'd!

Bel. Lay me, I beg you, lay me
By the dear ashes of my tender mother.
É e

She would have pitied me, had fate yet spared | Not one of them but what shall be immortal, her.

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 over
thee:

Peace to thy heart! Farewell.

Bel. Go, and remember,

By yon blessed Heaven, my heart runs o'er with 'Tis Belvidera's life her father pleads for.

fondness!

Bel. Oh!

Pri. Utter it!

Bel. Oh! my husband, my dear husband,
Carries a dagger in his once kind bosom,

To pierce the heart of your poor Belvidera!
Pri. Kill thee!

Bel. Yes, kill me. When he passed his faith
And covenant against your state and senate,
He gave me up a hostage for his truth:
With me a dagger and a dire commission,

[Exeunt severally.

SCENE II-A Garden.

Enter JAFFIER.

Jaf. 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 cursed cinder,

Whene'er he failed, to plunge it through this bo- And all us little creepers on it, called men,

som!

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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!

Jaf. No, death's this day too busy;

Bel. Think you saw what passed at our last Thy father's ill-timed mercy came too late.
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
Fixed on my throat, whilst the extended other
Grasped a keen threatening dagger: Oh! 'twas

thus

We last embraced, when, trembling with revenge,
He dragged me to the ground, and at my bosom
Presented horrid death. Cried out, 'My friends!
Where are my friends?' swore, wept, raged,
threatened, loved,

For yet he loved, and that dear love preserved

To this last trial of a father's pity.

I fear not death; but cannot bear the thought,
That that dear hand should do the unfriendly of
fice.

If I was ever then your care, now hear me;
Fly to the senate, save the promised lives

Of his dear friends, ere mine be made the sacri

fice.

Pri. Oh, my heart's comfort!

Bel. Will you not, my father?

Weep not, but answer me!

Pri. By Heaven I will.

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.

Bel. 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 am 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 shew me pity, for 'twill sweeten justice.
Jaf. Shew pity to thee!

Bel. Yes; and when thy hands,
Charged with my fate, come trembling to the
deed,

As thou hast done a thousand times

To this poor breast, when kinder rage hath brought thee,

When our stung hearts have leaped to meet each

other,

And melting kisses sealed our lips together;
When joys have left me gasping in thy arms→→

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The British drama, Band 1