British theatre, comprising tragedies, comedies, operas, and farces; with biogr., critical account and notes, by an Englishman [O. Williams].

Pier. Death! honourable death!
Ren. Death's the best thing we ask, or you
can give,

Furnish'd with arms and instruments of mischief. No shameful bonds, but honourable death.
Bring in the prisoners.
Duke. Break up the council. Captain, guard
your prisoners.

Enter PIERRE, RENAULT, THEODORE, ELLIOTT, Jaffier, you're free, but these must wait for
REVILLIDO, and other Conspirators, in
Fetters.

Pier. You, my lords, and fathers
(As you are pleas'd to call yourselves), of Venice;
If you sit here to guide the course of justice,
Why these disgraceful chains upon the limbs
That have so often labour'd in your service?
Are these the wreaths of triumph ye bestow
On those, that bring you conquest home, and
honours?

Duke. Go on; you shall be heard, sir.
Ant. And be hang'd too, I hope.
Pier. Are these the trophies I've deserv'd
for fighting

Your battles with confederated
powers?
When winds and seas conspir'd to overthrow

The task of honour, and the way to greatness?
Rais'd you from your capitulating fears
To stipulate the terms of su'd-for peace?
And this my recompense! if I'm a traitor,
Produce my charge; or show the wretch that's

base

And brave enough to tell me I'm a traitor.
Duke. Know you one Jaffier?

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 lodg'd hard
To do the senate service.

Jaf. Hold, one moment.
Pier. Who's he disputes the judgment of
the senate?

Presumptuous rebel-on- [Strikes Jaffier.
Jaf. By heav'n, you stir not!

I must be heard; I must have leave to speak.
Thou hast disgrac'd me, Pierre, by a vile blow:
Had not a dagger done thee nobler justice?
But use me as thou wilt, thou canst 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:
But as there dwells a godlike nature in thee,
Listen with mildness to my supplications.

Pier. What whining monk art thou? what
holy cheat,

That wouldst encroach upon my credulous ears,
And cant'st thus vilely? Hence! I know thee not:
Leave, hypocrite.

Jaf. Not know me, Pierre?

Pier. No, I know thee not! What art thou?
Jaf. Jaffier, thy friend, thy once lov'd, valu'd

friend!

Though now deserv'dly scorn'd, and us'd most hardly.

Pier. Thou, Jaffier! thou, my once lov'd, valu'd friend!

[Conspirators murmur. By heav'ns thou liest; the man so call'd, my

Pier. Yes, and know his virtue.
His justice, truth, his general worth, and sufferings
From a hard father, taught me first to love him.

Enter JAFFIER, guarded.

Duke. See him brought forth.
Pier. My friend too bound! nay then
Our fate has conquer'd us, and we must fall.
Why droops the man whose welfare's so much
mine,

They're but one thing? These reverend tyrants,
Jaffier,

Call us traitors. Art thou one, my brother?
Jaf. To thee, I am the falsest, veriest slave,
That e'er betray'd a generous, trusting friend,
And gave up honour to be sure of ruin.
All our fair hopes, which morning was t'have
crown'd,

Has this curs'd tongue o'erthrown.
Pier. So, then all's over:

Venice has lost her freedom, I my life.
No more! Farewell!

Duke. Say; will you make confession

your vile deeds, and trust the senate's mercy? Pier. Curs'd be your senate: curs'd your

constitution:

The curse of growing factions and divisions,
Sull vex your councils, shake your public safety,
And make the robes of government you wear
Hateful to you, as these base chains to me.
Duke. Pardon, or death?

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.
Pr'ythee avoid; nor longer cling thus round me,
Like something baneful, that my nature's chill'd at.
Jaf. I have not wrong'd thee, by these tears
I have not.

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

That once lov'd, valu'd friend of mine,
And swear thou hast not wrong'd me? VVhence
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 counsel have propos'd: thou, and thy friends,
May yet live long, and to be better treated.

Pier. Life! ask my life! confess! record myself
A villain, for the privilege to breathe
And carry up and down 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't.
Jaf. 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,

Till, to thyself, at least thou'rt reconcil'd,
However thy resentment deal with me.
Pier. Not leave me!

Jaf. No; thou shalt not force me from thee.
Use me reproachfully, and like a slave;
Tread on me, buffet me, heap wrongs on wrongs
On my poor head; I'll bear it all with patience
Shall weary out thy most unfriendly cruelty:
Lie at thy feet, and kiss 'em, though they spurn me;
Till wounded by my sufferings, thou relent,
And raise me to thy arms, with dear forgiveness.
Pier. Art thou not-
Jaf. What?

Pier. A traitor? Jaf. Yes.

Pier. A villain? Jaf. Granted.

Pier. A coward, a most scandalous coward; Spiritless, void of honour; one who has sold Thy everlasting fame, for shameless life? Jaf. All, all and more, much more: my faults are numberless.

Pier. And wouldst thou have me live on terms like thine;

Base, as thou art false

Jaf. No; 'tis to me that's granted:
The safety of thy life was all I aim'd at,
In recompense for faith and trust so broken.
Pier. I scorn it more, because preserv'd by thee;
And, as when first my foolish heart took pity
On thy misfortunes, sought thee in thy miseries,
Reliev'd thy wants, and rais'd thee from the state
Of wretchedness, in which thy fate had plung'd
thee,

To rank thee in my list of noble friends;
All I receiv'd, in surety for thy truth,
Were unregarded oaths, and this, this dagger,
Giv'n with a worthless pledge, thou since hast
stol'n:

So I restore it back to thee again;
Swearing by all those pow'rs which thou hast
violated,

Never, from this curs'd hour to hold communion, Friendship, or interest, with thee, though our years

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

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So now for thinking-A blow, call'd a traitor, villain,

Coward, dishonourable coward; fough!
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 us'd to smile, eve'n on my faults; but,
down,

Bending these miserable eyes on earth, Must move in penance, and implore much mercy. Jaf. Mercy! kind heav'n has surely endless stores,

Hoarded for thee, of blessings yet untasted: Oh, Belvidera! I'm the wretched'st creature E'er crawl'd on earth.

My friend too, Belvidera, that dear friend, Who, next to thee, was all my health rejoic'd in, Has us'd me like a slave, shamefully us'd me: 'Twould break thy pitying heart to hear the story. Bel. What has he done?

Jaf. Before we parted,

Ere yet his guards had led him to his prison, Full of severest sorrows for his sufferings, With eyes o'erflowing, and a bleeding heart As at his feet I kneel'd and su'd for mercy, With a reproachful hand he dash'd a blow: He struck me, Belvidera! by heav'n, he struck me Buffetted, call'd 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 so Damnation! Coward!

Bel. Oh! forgive him, Jaffier; And, if his sufferings wound thy heart already What will they do to-morrow? Jaf. Ah!

Bel. To-morrow, When thou shalt see him stretch'd in all th 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 'twi
stream,

Just as thou wilt, because 'tis what I'm tir'd with. Like my eyes now.
Jaf. Oh, Pierre!

Pier. No more.

Juf. What means thy dreadful story? Death,and to-morrow! Broken limbs and bowel Bel. The faithless senators, 'tis they've d creed it:

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 They say, according to our friends' request throw thee from me; They shall have death, and not ignoble bondage And curses, great as is thy falsehood, catch Declare their promis'd mercy all bas forfeite [Exit. False to their oaths, and deaf to intercessio Warrants are pass'd for public death t

thee.

Jaf. Amen. He's gone, my father, friend, preserver,

morrow.

Jaf. Death! doom'd to die! condemn'd un-Witness it, earth, and every being witness: heard! unpleaded! 'Tis but one blow! yet by immortal love, Bel. Nay, cruel'st racks and torments are I cannot longer bear a thought to harm thee. [He throws away the Dagger and embraces her.

preparing

To force confession from their dying
pangs.
Ob! do not look so terribly upon me!
How your lips shake, and all your face disorder'd!
What means my love?

Jaf. Leave me, I charge thee, leave me-
Strong temptations

Wake in my heart.

Bel. For what?

Jaf. No more, but leave me.
Bel. Why?

Jaf. Oh! by heav'n, I love thee with that
fondness,

I would not have thee stay a moment longer Near these curs'd hands: Are they not cold upon thee?

The seal of Providence is sure upon thee:
And thou wert born for yet unheard-of wonders.
Oh! thou wert either born to save or damn me.
By all the power that's giv'n me 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,
Speak to him with thy eyes, and with thy tears,
Melt his hard heart, and wake dead nature in him,
Crush him in th' arms, torture him with thy
softness;

Nor till thy prayers are granted, set him free, [Pulls the Dagger half out of his But conquer him, as thou hast conquer'd me. Bosom, and puts it back again.

Bel. No, everlasting comfort's in thy arms. To lean thus on thy breast, is softer ease

ACT V.

[Exeunt.

Than downy pillows, deck'd with leaves of roses. SCENE I.—An Apartment in PRIVLI'S House. Jaf. Alas! thou think'st not of the thorns

'tis fill'd with:

Fly, ere 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

Enter PRIULI.

Pri.Why, cruel heav'n, have my unhappy days
Been lengthen'd 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;

What thou hast done, and whither thou hast There my best blood runs foul, and a disease

When thy guilt first had cause; for dire revenge ls up, and raging for my friend. He groans! Hark, how he groans! his screams are in my ears Already; see, they've fix'd him on the wheel, And now they tear him-Murder! Perjur'd senate!

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

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

[Fumbling for his Dagger. Madness can't hurt thee. Come, thou little trembler, Creep even into my heart, and there lie safe: To thy own citadel-Hah-yet stand off. theav'n must have justice, and my broken vows Wal sink me else beneath its reaching mercy. I Twink, and then 'tis done

Bel What means the lord

Of me, my life, and love? What's in thy bosom,
For grasp'st at so? Nay, why am I thus treated?
[Draws the Dagger and offers to stab her.
Jaf. Know, Belvidera, when we parted last,

Incurable has seiz'd upon my. memory.

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
Expos'd to all the outrages of fate,
And cruel ruin!—oh—

Pri. What child of sorrow
Art thou, that comes wrapt in weeds of sadness,
And mov'st as if thy steps were tow'rds a grave?
Bel. A wretch who from the very top of
happiness

Am fall'n into the lowest depths of misery,
And want your pitying hand to raise me up again.
Pri. 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.
Pri. My daughter!

Bel. Yes, your daughter.
Pri. Don't talk thus.

Bel. Yes, I must; and you must hear too.
have a husband.

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! my husband, my dear husband, Carries a dagger in his once kind bosom, To pierce the heart of your poor Belvidera.

Pri. Kill thee!

e this dagger with thee, as in trust, To be thy portion if I e'er prov'd false. asach condition, was my truth believ'd: Snow 'tis forfeited, and must be paid for. Bel. Yes, kill me. When he pass'd his faith [Offers to stab her again. And covenant against your state and senate, [Kneeling. He gave me up a hostage for his truth: With me a dagger and a dire commission, Whene'er he fail'd, to plunge it through this bosom.

Bei Oh! Mercy!
Ja. Nay, no struggling.
Bel. Now then, kill me.
[Leaps on his Neck, and kisses him.
Jef. I am, I am a coward; witness heav'n,

I learnt the danger, chose the hour of love

Jaf. No. I'll bless thee.

T'attempt his heart, and bring it back to honour.
Great love prevail'd, and bless'd me with success! I came on purpose, Belvidera, to bless thee.
He came, confess'd, betray'd his dearest friends
For promis'd mercy. Now they're doom'd to
suffer.

Gall'd with remembrance of what then was

Bel. If I was ever then your care, now hear me;
Fly to the senate, save the promis'd lives
Of his dear friends, ere mine be made the sacrifice.
Pri. Oh, my heart's comfort!
Bel. Will you not, my father?
Weep not, but answer me.
Pri. 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 severally. SCENE II-A Garden.

'Tis now, I think, three years, we've 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. Jaf. Did I not say, I came to bless thee? Bel. You did.

Jaf. Then hear me, bounteous heav'n: 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 lov'd;
And comfort her with patience in our parting.
Bel. How! Parting, parting!
Jaf. Yes, for ever parting;

I have sworn, Belvidera, by yon heav'n,
That best can tell how much I lose to leave thee,
We part this hour for ever.

Bel. O! call back

Your cruel blessing; stay with me and curse me. Jaf. Now hold, heart, or never.

Bel. By all the tender days we've liv'd together, Pity my sad condition; speak, but speak. Jaf. Oh! hh!

Bel. By these arms, that now cling round thy neck, By these poor streaming eyesJaf. Murder! unhold me: By th' immortal destiny that doom'd me. [Draws the Dagger. To this curs'd minute, l'll not live one longer; Resolve to let me go, or see me fallHark, 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, for ever.

Bel. Leave thy dagger with me, Bequeath me something - Not one kiss a parting?

Oh! my poor heart, when wilt thou break? [Going out, looks back at hin

Jaf. Yet stay: We have a child, as yet a tender infant: Be a kind mother to him when I'm gone; Breed him in virtue, and the paths of honou But never let him know his father's story; I charge thee, guard him from the wrongs my May do his future fortune, or his name. Now-nearer yet- [Approaching each othe Oh! that my arms were rivetted Thus round thee ever! But my friend! my oat This and no more. [Kisses h

Bel. Another, sure another, For that poor little one you've ta'en such care I'll giv't him truly.

Jaf. So now farewell.

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 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; Hell! hell!
Burst from the centre, rage and roar aloud,
If thou art half so hot, so mad as I am. [Exit.

Be expos'd a common carcass on a wheel?
Jaf. Hah!

Pier. Speak! is't fitting?
Jaf. Fitting!

Pier. Yes; is't fitting?
Jaf. What's to be done?

Pier. I'd have thee undertake

Something that's noble, to preserve my memory From the disgrace that's ready to attaint it. Offi. The day grows late, sir.

Pier. I'll make haste. Oh, Jaffier!

SCENE III-A Scaffold, and a Wheel pre-Though thou'st betray'd me, do me some way pared for the Execution of PIERRE.

Enter Officer, PIERRE, Guards, Executioner, and a great Rabble.

Pier. My friend not come yet?

Enter JAFFIER.

Pier. Yes, dead, Jaffier; they've all died like men too,

Worthy their character.

Jaf. And what must I do?

Pier. Ob, Jaffier!

Jaf. Speak aloud thy burthen'd soul, And tell thy troubles to thy tortur'd friend. Pier. Friend! Couldst thou yet be a friend, a generous friend,

I might hope comfort from thy noble sorrows. Heav'n knows, I want a friend.

Jaf. And I a kind one,

That would not thus scorn my repenting virtue,
Or think, when he's to die, my thoughts are idle.
Pier. No! live, I charge thee, Jaffier.
Jaf. Yes, I will live:

But it shall be to see thy fall reveng'd

justice.

Jaf. No more of that: thy wishes shall be

satisfied;

I have a wife, and she shall bleed: my child too, Yield up his little throat, and all

appease thee [Going away, Pierre holds

him.

Pier.No-this-no more. [WhispersJaffier
Jaf. Ha! is't then so?
Pier. Most certainly.

Jaf. I'll do it.

Pier. Remember.

Offi. Sir.

Pier. Come, now I'm ready.

[He and Jaffier 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 die with decency. Come. Takes off his Gown, Executioner prepares to bind him. You'll think on't. [To Jaffier. Juf. Twon't grow stale before to-morrow. Pier. Now, Jaffier! now I'm going. Now[Executioner having bound him.

Jaf. Have at thee, Thou honest heart, then-here- [Stabs him. And this is well too. [Stabs himself. Pier. Now thou hast indeed been faithful. This was done nobly-We have deceiv'd the

Thus of the blood y'ave shed, I make libation And sprinkle it mingling. May it rest upon you, And all your race. Be henceforth peace a stranger Within your walls; let plagues and famine waste Your generation-Oh, poor Belvidera!

At such a rate, as Venice long shall groan for. Sir, I have a wife, bear this in safety to her,

Pier. Wilt thou?

Jaf. I will, by heav'n.

Pier. Then still thour't noble,

And I forgive thee. Oh!-yet-shall I trust thee?
Jaf. No; I've been false already.
Pier. Dost thou love me?

Jaf.Rip up my heart, and satisfy thy doubtings.
Pier. 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. Pier. See'st thou that engine? [Pointing to the Wheel.

Jaf. Why? Pier. Is't fit a soldier, who has liv'd with honour, Fought nation's quarrels, and been crown'd with conquest

A token that with my dying breath I bless'd her,
And the dear little infant left behind me.
I'm sick-I'm quiet. [Dies. Scene shuts upon
them.

SCENE. IV.-An Apartment at PRIULI'S. Soft Music. Enter BELVIDERA, distracted, led by two of her Women; PRIULI and Servants. Pri. Strengthen her heart with patience, pitying heav'n.

Bel. 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!

You are angry now, who cares? Pish, no indeed, Choose then; I say you shall not go, you shall not; Whip your ill nature; get you gone then. Oh! Are you return'd? See, father, here he's come again:

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