Venice Preserved Part 5

_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?

_Enter Jaffier._

_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 n.o.ble, and a heart Fit to partake his troubles as his love.

Fetch, fetch that dagger back, the dreadful dower, Thou gav'st last night in parting with me; strike it Here to my heart; and, as the blood flows from it, Judge if it run not pure, as Cato's daughter's.

_Jaf._ Oh! Belvidera!

_Bel._ Why was I last night deliver'd to a villain?

_Jaf._ Ha! a villain?

_Bel._ Yes, to a villain! why at such an hour Meets that a.s.sembly, 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, I bequeath 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 h.e.l.lish 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 betrayed 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._ Shall I swear!

_Jaf._ No, do not swear: I would not violate Thy tender nature, with so rude a bond: But as thou hop'st to see me live my days, And love thee long, lock this within thy breast: I've bound myself, by all the strictest sacraments, Divine and human----

_Bel._ Speak!

_Jaf._ To kill thy father----

_Bel._ My father!

_Jaf._ Nay, the throats of the whole senate Shall bleed, my Belvidera. He amongst us, That spares his father, brother, or his friend, Is d.a.m.n'd.

_Bel._ Oh!

_Jaf._ Have a care, and shrink not even in thought.

For if thou dost----

_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 engaged With men of souls; fit to reform the ills Of all mankind: there's not a heart among them But's stout as death, yet honest as the nature Of man first made, ere fraud and vice were fashion.

_Bel._ What's he, to whose curs'd hands last night thou gav'st me?

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 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.

_Bel._ No sooner wert thou gone, and I alone, Left in the pow'r of that old son of mischief; No sooner was I lain on my sad bed, But that vile wretch approach'd me, loose, unb.u.t.ton'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 he withdrew, and mutter'd vows to h.e.l.l.

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 close.

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 heal 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.

_Bel._ Indeed!

_Jaf._ By all our loves.

_Bel._ 'Tis hard to part: But sure no falsehood ever look'd so fairly.

Farewell; remember twelve. [_exit._