SCENE I.-The Rialto.
Enter JAFFIER.
Jaf. I'm here; and thus, the shades of night
around me,
I look as if all hell were in my heart,
And I in bell. Nay surely 'tis so with me!.
For every step I tread, methinks some fiend
Knocks at my breast, and bids me not be quiet.
I've heard how desperate wretches, like myself,|
Hive wander'd out at this dead time of night,
To meet the foe of mankind in his walk.
Sure I'm so curs'd that, though of heaven
forsaken,
No minister of darkness cares to tempt me.
Hell, hell! why sleep'st thou?
Pier. Sure I've staid too long:
The clock has struck, and I may lose my proselyte.
Speak, who goes there?
Jaf. A dog, that comes to howl
At yonder moon. What's he that asks the
question?
Pier. A friend to dogs, for they are honest
And ne'er betray their masters: never fawn
On any that they love not. Well met, friend:
Jaffier!
Jaf. The same.
Pier. Where's Belvidera?
Jaf. For a day or two
I've lodg'd her privately, till I see further
What fortune will do for me. Pr'ythee, friend,
If thou wouldst have me fit to hear good counsel,
Speak not of Belvidera-
Pier. Not of her!
Jaf. Oh, no!
Pier. Not name her! May be I wish her well.
Jaf. Whom well?
Pier. Thy wife; thy lovely Belvidera.
I hope a man may wish his friend's wife well,
And no harm done?
Jaf. Y are merry, Pierre.
Pier. I am so:
Thou shalt smile too, and Belvidera smile:
Well all rejoice. Here's something to buy pins;
Marriage is chargeable. [Gives him a Purse.
Jaf. I but half wish'd
To see the devil, and he's here already. Well!
What must this buy? Rebellion, murder,
treason?
Tell me, which way I must be damn'd for this.
Have happen'd? Has Priuli's heart relented?
Can he be honest?
Jaf. Kind heav'n, let heavy curses
Gall his old age; cramps, aches, rack his bones,
And bitterest disquiet wring his heart.
Oh! let him live, till life become his burden:
Let him groan under't long, linger an age
In the worst agonies and pangs of death,
And find its ease but late.
Pier. Nay, couldst thou not
As well, my friend, have stretch'd the curse to all
The senate round, as to one single villain?
Jaf. But curses stick not: could I kill with
By heaven I know not thirty heads in Venice
Should not be blasted. Senators should rot
Like dogs on dunghills. Oh! for a curse
To kill with!
Pier. Daggers, daggers are much better.
Jaf. Ha!
Pier. Daggers.
Jaf. But where are they?
Pier. Oh! a thousand
May be dispos'd of, in honest hands, in Venice.
Jaf. Thou talk'st in clouds.
Pier. But yet a heart, half wrong'd
As thine has been, would find the meaning,
Jaffier.
Jaf. A thousand daggers, all in honest hands!
And have not I a friend will stick one here!
Pier. Yes, if I thought thou wert not cherish'd
T'a nobler purpose, I would be thy friend;
But thou hast better friends; friends whom thy
Have made thy friends; friends worthy to be
call'd so.
I'll trust thee with a secret: There are spirits
This hour at work. But as thou art a man,
Whom I have pick'd and chosen from the world,
Swear that thou wilt be true to what I utter;
And when I've told thee that which only gods,
And men like gods, are privy to, then swear
No chance or change shall wrest it from
thy bosom.
Jaf. When thou wouldst bind me, is there
need of oaths?
For thou'rt so near my heart, that thou may'st see
Its bottom, sound its strength and firmness to thee.
Is coward, fool, or villain in my face?
If I seem none of these, I dare believe
Thou wouldst not use me in a little cause,
For I am fit for honour's toughest task,
Nor ever yet found fooling was my province;
And for a villainous, inglorious enterprise,
I know thy heart so well, I dare lay mine
Before thee, set it to what point thou wilt.
Pier. Nay, 'tis a cause thou wilt be fond
of, Jaffier;
For it is founded on the noblest basis;
Our liberties, our natural inheritance.
There's no religion, no hypocrisy in't;
We'll do the business, and ne'er fast and
pray for't;
Openly act a deed the world shall
gaze
With wonder at, and envy when 'tis done.
Jof. For liberty!
Pier. For liberty, my friend.
Thou shalt be freed from base Priuli's tyranny, And thy sequester'd fortunes heal'd again:
Spin. Hell seize that soul amongst us it can frighten.
Ren. What's then the cause that I am
here alone?
me now, and bend my spirit Why are we not together?
downward;
I shall be free from those opprobrious wrongs
That press
All Venice free, and every growing merit
Succeed to its just right: fools shall be pull'd O, sir, welcome!
From wisdom's seat: those baleful, unclean birds, You are an Englishman: when treason's hatching,
Those lazy owls, who, perch'd near fortune's top, One might have thought you'd not have been
Sit only watchful with their heavy wings
behind-hand.
To cuff down new-fledg'd virtues, that would rise In what whore's lap have you been lolling?
To nobler heights, and make the grove har-Give but an Englishman his whore and ease,
Jaf. What can I do?
Pier. Canst thou not kill a senator?
Jaf. Were there one wise or honest, I could kill him,
For herding with that nest of fools and knaves. By all my wrongs, thou talk'st as if revenge Were to be had; and the brave story warms me. Pier. Swear then!
Jaf. I do, by all those glittering stars,
And yon great ruling planet of the night;
By all good pow'rs above, and ill below;
By love and friendship, dearer than my life,
No pow'r or death shall make me false to thee.
Pier. Here we embrace, and I'll unlock
my heart.
A council's held hard by, where the destruction
Of this great empire's hatching: there I'll lead thee.
But be a man! for thou'rt to mix with men
Fit to disturb the peace of all the world,
And rule it when it's wildest-
Jaf. I give thee thanks
For this kind warning. Yes, I'll be a man; And charge thee, Pierre, whene'er thou seest my fears
Betray me less, to rip this heart of mine
Out of my breast, and show it for a coward's.
Come, let's be gone, for from this hour I chase
All little thoughts, all tender human follies
Out of my bosom: Vengeance shall have room:
Revenge!
Pier. And liberty!
Jaf. Revenge-revenge
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Beef, and a sea-coal fire, he's yours for ever.
Ell. Frenchman, you are saucy.
Ren. How!
Enter BEDAMAR, the Ambassador; THEo-
DORE, BRAMVEIL, DURAND, BRABE, REVIL-
LIDO, MEZZANA, TERNON, and RETROSI,
Conspirators.
Bed. At difference; fie!
Is this a time for quarrels? Thieves and rogues Fall out and brawl: should men of your high calling,
Men separated by the choice of Providence
From the gross heap of mankind, and set here
In this assembly as in one great jewel,
T' adorn the bravest purpose it e'er smil'd on;
Should you, like boys, wrangle for trifles?
Ren. Boys!
Bed. Renault, thy hand.
Ren. I thought I'd given my heart Long since to every man that mingles here; But grieve to find it trusted with such tempers, That can't forgive my froward age its weakness.
Bed, Elliot, thou once hadst virtue. I have seen
Thy stubborn temper bent with godlike goodness,
Not half thus courted: 'Tis thy nation's glory
To hug the foe that offers brave alliance.
One more embrace, my friends - we'll all
embrace.
United thus, we are the mighty engine
Must twist this rooted empire from its basis.
Totters not it already?
Ell. Would 'twere tumbling,
Bed. Nay, it shall down; this night we seal
Oh, Pierre, thou art welcome.
Come to my breast, for by its hopes thou look'st
Lovelily dreadful, and the fate of Venice
Seems on thy sword already. Oh, my Mars!
The poets that first feign'd a god of war,
Sure prophesied of thee.
Pier. Friend, was not Brutus
(I mean that Brutus, who in open senate Stabb'd the first Caesar that usurp'd the world), A gallant man?
Ren. Yes, and Cataline too;
Though story wrong his fame: for he conspir'd
To prop the reeling glory of his country:
His cause was good.
Bed, And ours as much above it,
As, Renault, thou'rt superior to Cethegus,
Or Pierre to Cassius.
Pier. Then to what we aim at. When do we start? or must we talk for ever? Bed. No, Pierre, the deed's near birth; fate seems to have set The business up, and given it to our care;
I hope there's not a heart or hand amongst us, Come, come, I read distrust in all your faces; But is firm and ready.
Well die with Bedamar.
Bed. O men
Matchless! as will your glory be hereafter:
The game is for a matchless prize, if won;
I lost, disgraceful ruin.
Pier.Ten thousand men are armed at your nod,
Commanded all by leaders fit to guide
A battle for the freedom of the world:
This wretched state has starv'd them in its
service;
You fear me villain, and, indeed, it's odd
To hear a stranger talk thus, at first meeting,
Of matters that have been so well debated;
But I come ripe with wrongs, as you with
I hate this senate, am a foe to Venice;
A friend to none, but men resolv'd like me
To push on mischief. Oh! did you but know me,
I need not talk thus!
Bed. Pierre, I must embrace him.
My heart beats to this man, as if it knew him.
Ren. I never lov'd these huggers.
Jaf. Still I see
And, by your bounty quicken'd, they're resolved
To serve your glory, and revenge their own: The cause delights ye not. Your friends survey me'
They've all their different quarters in this city, As I were dangerous-But I come arm'd
Watch for th' alarm, and grumble 'tis so tardy. Against all doubts, and to your trust will give
Bed. I doubt not, friend, but thy unwearied A pledge, worth more than all the world can
Has still kept waking, and it shall have ease;
After this night it is resolv'd we meet
No more, till Venice owns us for her lords.
Pier. How lovelily the Adriatic whore,
Dress'd in her flames, will shine! Devouring
flames!
Such as shall burn her to the watery bottom,
And hiss in her foundation,
Amongst us, that owns this glorious cause,
Have friends or interest he'd wish to save,
Let it be told: the general doom is seal'd;
But I'd forego the hopes of a world's empire,
Rather than wound the bowels of my friend.
Pier. I must confess, you there have touch'd
my weakness,
I have a friend; hear it! such a friend,
My heart was ne'er shut to him. Nay, I'll tell you:
He knows the very business of this hour;
But be rejoices in the cause, and loves it;
We're chang'd a vow to live and die together,
And be's at hand to ratify it here.
Ren. How! all betray'd!
Pier. No-I've nobly dealt with you;
Tve brought my all into the public stock:
I've but one friend, and him I'll share amongst
pay for.
My Belvidera. Hoa; my Belvidera!
Bed. What wonder's next?
Jaf. Let me entreat you,
As I have henceforth hopes to call you friends,
That all but the ambassador, and this
Grave guide of councils, with my friend that
Withdraw awhile, to spare a woman's blushes. [Exeunt all but Bedamar, Renault, Jaffier, and Pierre.
Bed. Pierre, whither will this ceremony lead
us?
Jaf. My Belvidera! Belvidera!
Bel. Who,
Who calls so loud at this late peaceful hour?
That voice was wont to come in gentle whispers,
And fill my ears with the soft breath of love.
Thou hourly image of my thoughts, where
art thou?
Bel. Alas! where am I? whither is't you
lead me?
Methinks I read distraction in your face,
Something less gentle than the fate you tell me.
You shake and tremble too! your blood runs
cold!
And search'd, you find him worthless; as my Heav'ns guard my love, and bless his heart
Jaf. I know you'll wonder all, that thus uncall'd,
I dare approach this place of fatal councils;
But I'm amongst you, and by heav'n it glads me
To see so many virtues thus united
To restore justice, and dethrone oppression.
Command this sword, if you would have it quiet,
Into this breast; but, if you think it worthy
To cut the throats of reverend rogues in robes,
Send me into the curs'd assembled senate:
It shrinks not, though I meet a father there.
Would you behold this city flaming? here's
A hand shall bear a lighted torch at noon
To th' arsenal, and set its gates on fire.
Ren. You talk this well, sir.
Jaf. Nay-by heaven I'll do this.
Jaf. That I have patience, let our fate bear
witness,
Who has ordain'd it so, that thou and I
(Thou, the divinest good man e'er possess'd,
And I, the wretched'st of the race of man)
This very hour, without one tear, must part.
Bel. Part! must we part? Oh, am I then
You know the rest-Then strike it to her heart; Thou gav'st last night in parting with me; strike it
And tell her, he who three whole happy years Here to my heart; and as the blood flows from it,
Lay in her arms, and each kind night repeated Judge if it run not pure, as Cato's daughter's.
The passionate vows of still increasing love, Jaf. Oh! Belvidera!
Sent that reward for all her truth and sufferings.
Bel. Nay, take my life, since he has sold it
cheaply.
O! thou unkind one;
Never meet more! have I deserv'd this from you;
Look on me, tell me, speak, thou fair deceiver.
Why am I separated from thy love?
If I am false, accuse me; but if true,
Don't, pr'ythee don't, in poverty forsake me,
But pity the sad heart that's torn with parting.
Yet hear me, yet recall me-
[Exeunt Renault, Bedamar, and Belvidera. Jaf. Oh! my eyes,
Look not that way, but turn yourselves awhile
Into my heart, and be wean'd altogether.
My friend where art thou?
Pier. Here, my honour's brother.
Jaf. Is Belvidera gone?
Pier. Renault has led her
Back to her own apartment; but, by heav'n, Thou must not see her more, till our work's over. Jaf. No!
Pier. Not for your life.
Jaf. Oh, Pierre, wert thou but she,
How I would pull thee down into my heart,
Gaze on thee, till my eye-strings crack'd with
love;
Then, swelling, sighing, raging to be blest,
Come like a panting turtle to thy breast;
On thy soft bosom hovering, bill and play,
Confess the cause why last I fled away;
Own 'twas a fault, but swear to give it o'er,
And never follow false ambition more.
SCENE I.-A Chamber.
Enter BELVIDERA.
Bel. I'm sacrific'd! I'm sold! betray'd to shame!
Inevitable ruin has enclos'd me!
He that should guard my virtue has betray'd it;
Left me! undone me! Oh, that I could hate him!
Where shall I go? Oh, whither, whither,
wander?
Jaf. Can Belvidera want a resting-place, When these poor arms are ready to receive her? There was a time
Bel. Yes, yes, there was a time, When Belvidera's tears, her cries, and sorrows, Were not despis'd; when, if she chanc'd to sigh, Or look'd but sad-there was indeed a time, When Jaffier would have ta'en her in his arms, Eas'd her declining head upon his breast, And never left her till he found the cause. Jaf. Oh, Portia, Portia! What a soul was thine!
Bel. That Portia was a woman; and when Brutus,
Big with the fate of Rome, (heav'n guard thy safety!)
Conceal'd from her the labours of his mind;
She let him see her blood was great as his,
Flow'd from a spring as noble, and a heart
Fit to partake his troubles as his love.
Fetch, fetch that dagger back, the dreadful dower,
Bel. Why was I last night deliver'd to a villain?
Bel. Yes, to a villain! Why at such an hour Meets that assembly, all made up of wretches? Why, I in this hand, and in that a dagger, Was I deliver'd with such dreadful ceremonies? To you, sirs, and to your honours, Ibequeath her, And with her this: Whene'er I prove unworthy You know the rest-then strike it to her heart. Oh! why's that rest conceal'd from me? Must I Be made the hostage of a hellish trust? For such I know I am; that's all my value. But, by the love and loyalty I owe thee, I'll free thee from the bondage of the slaves; Straight to the senate, tell 'em all I know, All that I think, all that my fears inform me.
Jaf. Is this the Roman virtue; this the blood That boasts its purity with Cato's daughter? Would she have e'er betray'd her Brutus? Bel. No:
For Brutus trusted her. Wert thou so kind, What would not Belvidera suffer for thee?
Jaf. I shall undo myself, and tell thee all. Yet think a little, ere thou tempt me further; Think I've a tale to tell will shake thy nature, Melt all this boasted constancy thou talk'st of Into vile tears and despicable sorrows: Then if thou shouldst betray me!
Bel. I know it; thou wilt kill me.
Do, strike thy sword into this bosom: lay me
Dead on the earth, and then thou wilt be safe.
Murder my father! though his cruel nature
Has persecuted me to my undoing;
Driven me to basest wants; can I behold him,
With smiles of vengeance, butcher'd in his age?
The sacred fountain of my life destroy'd?
And canst thou shed the blood that gave me being?
Nay, be a traitor too, and sell thy country?
Can thy great heart descend so vilely low,
Mix with hir'd slaves, bravoes, and common
stabbers,
Nose-slitters, alley-lurking villains! join
With such a crew, and take a ruffian's wages,
To cut the throats of wretches as they sleep?
Jaf. Thou wrong'st me, Belvidera! I've en-
gaged
With men of souls; fit to reform the ills
Of all mankind: there's not a heart amongst them
But's stout as death, yet honest as the nature
Of man first made,ere fraud and vice were fashion. Of a whole people, should sneak thus into corners
Bel What's he, to whose curst hands last To ease his fulsome lusts, and fool his mind.
night thou gav'st me?
Jaf. May not a man then trifle out an hour
With a kind woman, and not wrong his calling?
Pier. Not in a cause like ours.
Was that well done? Oh! I could tell a story,
Would rouse thy lion heart out of its den,
And make it rage with terrifying fury.
Jaf. Speak on, I charge thee.
Bel. O my love! If e'er
Jaf. Then, friend, our cause
Is in a damn'd condition: for I'll tell thee, That cankerworm, call'd lechery, has touch'd it; 'Tis tainted vilely. Wouldst thou think it? Renault (That mortify'd, old, wither'd, winter rogue)
Thy Belvidera's peace deserv'd thy care,
Remove me from this place. Last night, last night!
Jaf. Distract me not, but give me all the truth. He visited her last night, like a kind guardian:
Bel. No sooner wert thou gone, and I alone, Faith! she has some temptation, that's the
Left in the pow'r of that old son of mischief;
truth on't.
No sooner was I lain on my sad bed,
But that vile wretch approach'd me, loose, un-
button'd,
Ready for violation: Then my heart Throbb'd with its fears: Oh, how I wept and sigh'd,
And shrunk and trembled! wish'd in vain for him That should protect me! Thou, alas! wert gone. Jaf. Patience, sweet heav'n, till I make vengeance sure.
Bel. He drew the hideous dagger forth, thou gav'st him,
And with upbraiding smiles, he said, Behold it: This is the pledge of a false husband's love: And in my arms then press'd, and would have clasp'd me;
But with my cries, I scar'd his coward heart, Till be withdrew, and mutter'd vows to hell. These are thy friends! with these thy life, thy honour,
Thy love, all stak'd, and all will go to ruin. Jaf. No more: I charge thee keep this secret
Clear up thy sorrows; look as if thy wrongs Were all forgot, and treat him like a friend, As no complaint were made. No more; retire, Retire, my life, and doubt not of my honour; I'll beal its failings, and deserve thy love,
Bel. Oh! should I part with thee, I fear thou wilt
In anger leave me, and return no more.
Jaf. Return no more! I would not live
without thee
Another night, to purchase the creation.
Bel. When shall we meet again?
Jaf. Anon, at twelve
I'll steal myself to thy expecting arms:
Come like a travell'd dove, and bring thee peace.
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Pier. He durst not wrong his trust.
Jaf. Twas something late, though,
To take the freedom of a lady's chamber.
Pier. Was she in bed?
Jaf. Yes, faith, in virgin sheets,
White as her bosom, Pierre, dish'd neatly up,
Might tempt a weaker appetite to taste.
Oh! how the old fox stunk, I warrant thee,
When the rank fit was on him!
Pier. Patience guide me!
He's us'd no violence?
Jaf. No, no; out on't, violence! Play'd with her neck; brush'd her with his grey beard; But not a jot of violence. Pier. Damn him.
Jaf. Ay, so say I; but hush, no more on't. All hitherto is well, and I believe Myself no monster yet: Sure it is near the hour We all should meet for our concluding orders: Will the ambassador be here in person? Pier. No, he has sent commission to that villain, Renault, To give the executing charge: I'd have thee be a man, if possible, And keep thy temper; for a brave revenge Ne'er comes too late.
Jaf. Fear not, I am cool as patience. Pier. He's yonder, coming this way through the hall;
His thoughts seem full.
Jaf. Pr'ythee retire, and leave me With him alone: I'll put him to some trial; See how his rotten part will bear the touching. Pier. Be careful, then,
Jaf. Nay, never doubt, but trust me. What! be a devil, take a damning oath For shedding native blood! Can there be a sin In merciful repentance? Oh, this villain!
Ren. Perverse and peevish: What a slave is
To let his rebel passions master him! Dispatch the tool her husband-that were well. Who's there?
Ren. My friend, my near ally,
The hostage of your faith, my beauteous charge, is very well.
Jaf. Sir, are you sure of that? Stands she in perfect health? Beats her pulse even ; Neither too hot nor cold?
Ren. What means that question?
A wife, on the dull soil! Sure a staunch husband
Of all bounds is the dullest. Wilt thou never,
Never be wean'd from caudles and confections? Jaf. Oh, women have fantastic constitutions,
What feminine tales hast thou been list'ning to, Inconstant in their wishes, always wavering,
Of unair'd shirts, catarrhs and tooth-ach, got And never fix'd. Was it not boldly done,
By thin-sol'd shoes? Damnation! that a fellow, Even at first sight, to trust the thing I lov'd
Chosen to be a sharer in the destruction (A tempting treasure too) with youth so fierce
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