Scene I.
—An Apartment in Priuli's House.
Enter Priuli, L.
Priuli. (L.) Why, cruel Heav'n, have my unhappy days
Been lengthened to this sad one? Oh! dishonour,
And deathless infamy have fall'n upon me.
Was it my fault? Am I a traitor? No. (C.)
But then, my only child, my daughter wedded;
[50] There my best blood runs foul, and a disease
Incurable has seized upon my memory.
Enter Belvidera in a Mourning Veil, L.
Bel. [Speaking as she enters.] 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!—
Priuli. What child of sorrow
Art thou, that com'st, wrapt up in weeds of sadness,
And mov'st as if thy steps were towards a grave?
Bel. (L. C.) 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.
Priuli. (R. C.) What wouldst thou beg for?
Bel. Pity and forgiveness. [Throws up her Veil.
By the kind, tender names of child and father,
Hear my complaints, and take me to your love. [Kneels.
Priuli. My daughter!
Bel. Yes, your daughter; and you've oft told me,
With smiles of love, and chaste paternal kisses,
I'd much resemblance of my mother.
Priuli. Don't talk thus.
Bel. Yes, I must: and you must hear, too.
I have a husband.
Priuli. Damn him!
Bel. Oh, do not curse him!
He would not speak so hard a word towards you,
On any terms, howe'er he deal with me.
Priuli. Ah! what means my child?
Bel. Oh! my husband, my dear husband,
Carries a dagger in his once kind bosom,
To pierce the heart of your poor Belvidera!
Priuli. 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,
Whene'er he failed, to plunge it through this bosom
I learnt the danger, chose the hour of love
[51] T' attempt his heart, and bring it back to honour.
Great love prevailed, and blessed me with success!
He came, confessed, betrayed his dearest friends,
For promised mercy. Now, they're doomed to suffer!
Galled with remembrance of what then was sworn,
If they are lost, he vows t' appease the gods
With this poor life, and make my blood th' atonement.
Priuli. Heavens!
Bel. 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 sacrifice.
Priuli. Oh, my heart's comfort!
Bel. Will you not, my father?
Weep not, but answer me.
Priuli. By Heav'n, I will!
Not one of them 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'er thee:
Peace to thy heart. Farewell!
Bel. Go, and remember,
'Tis Belvidera's life her father pleads for!
[Exeunt Priuli, R., Belvidera, L.
Scene II.
—The Rialto.
Enter Captain—Muffled Drums—Guards—Executioner
with Axe—Renault—Spinosa—-Elliot—Theodore—
Durand—Mezzana—Pierre—Officer—Guards—
They all pass over the Stage, R. to L., and exeunt.
Scene III.
—A Street.
Enter Jaffier, R.
Jaf. Final destruction seize on all the world!
Bend down, ye Heav'ns, and, shutting round this earth
Crush the vile globe into its first confusion!
Enter Belvidera, L.
Bel. (C.) My life!—
[52] Jaf. (R. C.) My plague!—
Bel. Ney, then, I see my ruin.
If I must die!
Jaf. (C.) No, death's this day too busy;
Thy father's ill-timed mercy came too late.
( 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.
Yet, Belvidera, do not fear my cruelty,
Nor let the the thoughts of death perplex thy fancy:
But answer me to what I shall demand,
With a firm temper and unshaken spirit.
Bel. (L. C.) I will, when I've done weeping—
Jaf. Fie, no more on't!
How long is't since the miserable day
We wedded first?
Bel. Oh! oh!
Jaf. Nay, keep in thy tears,
Lest they unman me quite.
Bel. Heaven knows I cannot!
The words you utter sound so very sadly,
The streams will follow—
Jaf. Come, I'll kiss them dry, then.
Bel. [Hanging on him.] But was't a miserable day?
Jaf. A cursed one!
Bel. I thought it otherwise, and you've often sworn,
When sure you spoke the truth, you've sworn you blessed
it.
Jaf. 'Twas a rash oath.
Bel. Then why am I not cursed, too?
Jaf. No, Belvidera; by th' eternal truth,
I dote with too much fondness.
Bel. Still so kind!
Still then do you love me!
Jaf. Man ne'er was blessed,
Since the first pair first met, as I have been.
Bel. Then sure you will not curse me?
Jaf. No, I'll bless thee.
I came on purpose, Belvidera, to bless thee.
'Tis now, I think, three years we've lived together.
Bel. And may no fatal minute ever part us,
Till, reverend grown, for age and love, we go
[53] Down to one grave, as our last bed together;
There sleep in peace till an eternal morning.
Jaf. Did I not say I came to bless thee?
Bel. You did. [Part.
Jaf. Then hear me, bounteous Heaven! [Kneeling.
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!
Bel. How? parting, parting!
Jaf. Yes, forever parting!
I have sworn, Belvidera, by yon Heav'n,
That best can tell how much I lose to leave thee,
We part this hour forever!
Bel. Oh! call back
four cruel blessing; stay with me, and curse me.
Jaf. Now hold, heart, or never!
Bel. By all the tender days we've lived together,
Pity my sad condition; speak, but speak!
Jaf. Murder! unhold me;
Or by th' 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—
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 forever! [Going, L.
Bel. Leave thy dagger with me;
Bequeath me something—Not one kiss at parting!
Oh, my poor heart, when wilt thou break!
Jaf. [Returning—she runs into his arms.] Yet stay:
We have a child, as yet a tender infant:
Be a kind mother to him when I'm gone;
[54] Breed him in virtue and the paths of honour,
But never let him 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—
Oh, that my arms were riveted
Thus round thee ever! But my friends! my oath!
This, and no more! [Kisses her
Bel. Another, sure another
For that poor little one you've ta'en such care of.
I'll give't him truly.
Jaf. So—now, farewell!
Bel. Forever? [Going, L.
Jaf. Heav'n knows, forever! all good angels guard
thee! [Exit, L.
Bel. All ill ones, sure, had charge of me this moment!
Oh, give me daggers, daggers, [Returns, C.] fire, or water!
How I could bleed, how burn, how drown, the waves
Huzzing and foaming 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: (R. C.) Hell! hell!
Burst from the centre, (R.) rage and roar aloud,
If thou art half so hot, so mad as I am! [Exit, R.
Scene IV.
—St. Mark's Place,—A Scaffold in the back
ground, and a Wheel, prepared for the Execution of
Pierre.
Enter Captain, Pierre, Guard, Executioner, and Rabble.
Pierre. (L.) My friend not yet come?
Enter Jaffier, r.
Jaf. Oh, Pierre! [Falling on his knees.
Pierre. (C.) Dear to my arms, though thou'st undone
my fame,
I can't forget to love thee. Pr'ythee, Jaffier,
Forgive that filthy blow, my passion dealt thee:
I'm now preparing for the land of peace
[55] And fain would have the charitable wishes
Of all good men like thee, to bless my journey.
Jaf. Good! I'm the vilest creature—worse than e'er
Suffered the shameful fate thou'rt going to taste of.
Capt. (R.) The time grows short; your friends are dead
already.
Jaf. (L. C.)Dead!
Pierre. Yes, dead, Jaffier! they've all died like men,
too,
Worthy their character.
Jaf. And what must I do?
Pierre. Oh, Jaffier!
Jaf. Speak aloud thy burdened soul,
And tell thy troubles to thy tortured friend.
Pierre. Friend! Couldst thou yet be a friend,
a generous friend,
I might hope comfort from thy noble sorrows.
Heaven knows, I want a friend!
Jaf. And I a kind one,
That would not scorn thus my repenting virtue,
Or think, when he's to die, my thoughts are idle.
Pierre. No! live, I charge thee, Jaffier.
Jaf. Yes, I will live:
But it shall be to see thy fall revenged,
At such a rate, as Venice long shall groan for
Pierre. Wilt thou?
Jaf. I will, by Heaven!
Pierre. Then still thou'rt noble,
And I forgive thee. Oh!—yet—shall I trust thee?
Jaf. No; I've been false already.
Pierre. Dost thou love me?
Jaf. Rip up my heart, and satisfy thy doubtings.
Pierre. Curse on this weakness! [ Weeps.
Jaf. Tears! Amazement! Tears!
I never saw thee melted thus before;
And know there's something labouring in thy bosom,
That must have vent; though I'm a villain, tell me.
Pierre. See'st thou that engine? [Pointing to the Wheel.
Jaf. Why?
Pierre. (R. C.) Is't fit a soldier, who has lived with honor,
Fought nations' quarrels, and been crowned with, conquest,
[56] Be exposed, a common carcase, on a wheel?
Jaf. Hah!
Pierre. Speak! is't fitting?
Jaf. Fitting!
Pierre. I'd have thee undertake
Something that's noble, to preserve my memory
From the disgrace that's ready to attaint it.
Capt. The day grows late, sir.
Pierre. I'll make haste. Oh, Jaffier!
Though thou'st betrayed me, do me some way justice.
Jaf. What's to be done?
Pierre. This and no more. [Whispers Jaffier.
Jaf. Hah! is't then so?
Pierre. Most certainly.
Jaf. I'll do't.
Pierre. Remember.
Capt. Sir—
Pierre. Come, now I'm ready.
[Captain Crossing to him]
You should be a gentleman of honour;
Keep off the rabble, that I may have room
To entertain my fate, and die with decency.
You'll think on't? [To Jaffier.
Jaf. 'Twont grow stale before to-morrow.
[Pierre and Jaffier ascend the Scaffold—Executioner
binds Pierre.
Pierre. Now, Jaffier! now I'm going! Now—
Jaf. Have at thee,
Thou honest heart, then!—here— [Stabs him.
And this is well, too. [Stabs himself.
Pierre. Now, now—thou hast indeed been faithful!
This was done nobly!—We've deceived the senate.
Jaf. Bravely!
Pierre. Ha! ha! ha!—oh! oh!
[Falls down on the Scaffold and dies
Jaf. Now, ye cursed rulers,
Thus of the blood ye've shed, I make libation,
And sprinkle it mingling. May it rest upon you.
And all your race! Oh, poor Belvidera!
Sir, I've a wife; bear this in safety to her,
A token that, with my dying breath, I blessed her.
[57] And the dear little infant left behind me.
I'm sick—I'm quiet. [Dies.—The Scene shuts upon them.
Scene V.
—An apartment in Priuli s House.
Enter Priuli, R.; Belvidera, distracted; and two of her
Women.
Priuli. (L. C.) Strengthen her heart with patience,
pitying Heav'n!
Bel. (C.) Come, come, come, come, come; nay, come to bed,
Pr'ythee, my love. The winds! hark how they whistle!
And the rain beats! Oh, how the weather shrinks me!
I say you shall not go, indeed you shall not:
Whip your ill-nature; get you gone, then; Oh!
Are you returned? See, father, here he's come again!
Am I to blame to love him? Oh, thou dear one!
Why do you fly me? Are you angry still, then?
Jaf.ier, where art thou? Father, why do you do thus?
Stand off! don't hide him from me! He's there somewhere.
Stand off, I say! What, gone? Remember, tyrant
I may revenge myself for this trick, one day.
Enter Captain of the Guard, L., and whispers Priuli.
Priuli. News! what news?
Capt. (L.) Most sad, sir!
Jaffier, upon the scaffold, to prevent
A shameful death, stabbed Pierre, and next himself;
Both fell together.
Bel. (R.) Ha! look there!
My husband bloody, and his friend, too! Murder!
Who has done this? Speak to me, thou sad vision;
On these poor trembling knees, I beg it. Vanished:—
Here they went down. (R. C.)—Oh, I'll dig, dig the den up!
Hoa, Jaffier, Jaffier!
Peep up, and give me but a look. I have him!
I have got him, father! Oh!
My love! my dear! my blessing! help me! help me!
[58] They have hold of me, and drag me to the bottom!
Nay—now they pull so hard—farewell— [Dies.
Priuli. [Bending over her ] Oh! lead me to some place
"that's fit for mourning;
"Where the free air, light, and the cheerful sun,
"May never enter; hang it round with black,
"Set up one taper that may last a day,
"As long as I've to live; and there all leave me:
"Sparing no tears when you this tale relate,
"But bid all cruel fathers dread my fate." [Exeunt omnes.