So let my death come now, and I'll not shrink] Where everlasting sweets are always springing, from it.

Jaf. Nay, Belvidera, do not fear my cruelty,
Nor let the thoughts of death perplex thy fancy;
But answer me to what I shall demand,
With a firm temper and unshaken spirit.

Bel. I will, when I have done weeping-
Jaf. Fy, no more of it-

How long is it, since that miserable day
We wedded first?

Bel. Oh! Oh!

Jaf. Nay, keep in thy tears, Lest they unman me too.

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. But was it a miserable day?

Jaf. A cursed one.

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, for ever parting;

I have sworn, Belvidera, by yon heaven,
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. No, 'tis resolved.

Bel. Then hear me too, just heaven!

Bel. I thought it otherwise; and you have of- Pour down your curses on this wretched head,

With never-ceasing vengeance; let despair,
Danger and infamy, nay all, surround me;
Starve me with wantings; let my eyes ne'er see
A sight of comfort, nor my heart know peace:
But dash my days with sorrow, nights with horrors,
Wild as my own thoughts now, and let loose fury,
To make me mad enough for what I lose,

If I must lose him! If I must? I will not.
Oh! turn and hear me !

Jaf. Now, hold heart, or never.

Bel, By all the tender days we have lived together,

Than I do now towards thee: Man ne'er was Pity my sad condition! speak, but speak!

blessed,

Since the first pair met, as I have been,

Bel. Then sure you will not curse me?
Jaf. No I'll bless thee.

Tis now, I think, three years we have lived to-
gether.

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. When will that be?

Bel. I hope, long ages hence.

[Sighing.

Jaf. Have I not hitherto, (I beg thee tell me
Thy very fears) used thee with tenderest love?
Did e'er my soul rise up in wrath against thee?
Did I e'er frown, when Belvidera smiled?
Or by the least unfriendly word, betray
Abating passion? have I ever wronged thee?
Bel. No.

Jaf. Has my heart, or have my eyes, e'er wan-
dered

Juf. Oh! Oh!

Bel. By these arms, that now cling round thy
neck,

By this dear kiss, and by ten thousand more,
By these poor streaming eyes-

Jaf. Murder! unhold me:

By the 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-
Bel. Hold, sir, be patient!

Jaf. 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

Jaf. Yes, I will live :

But it shall be to see thy fall revenged

At such a rate, as Venice long shall groan for.

Pier. Wilt thou?

Jaf. I will, by Heaven.

Pier. Then stiil thou art noble,

[To the Officer. [To Jaffier.

Jaf. It won't grow stale before to-morrow.
Pier. Now, Jaffier! now I'm going. Now-
[Executioner having bound him.
Jaf. Have at thee,

And I forgive thee. Oh!-yet-shall I trust Thou honest heart, then—here!
thee?

And this is well too.

Fri. Damnable deed!

[Stabs him. [Stabs himself.

Within your walls; let plagues and famine waste
Your generation-Oh, poor Belvidera!
Sir, I have a wife, bear this in safety to her,
A token, that with my dying breath I blessed her,
And the dear little infant left behind me.
I'm sick- -I'm quiet.

[Dies.

Offi. Bear this news to the senate,
Aud guard their bodies, till there's further orders.
Heaven grant I die so well!

[Scene shuts upon them.

SCENE IV.

Soft Music.-Enter BELVIDERA distracted, led by two of her Women, PRIULI and Servants. Pri. Strengthen her heart with patience, pitying Heaven!

Bel. Come, come, come, come, come, nay, come to bed,

Prithee, 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,
Chuse then; I say you shall not go, 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? O, thou dear one,
Why do you fly me? Are you angry still then?
Jaffier, where art thou? father, why do you do
thus?

Stand off, don't hide him from me. He's here
somewhere.

Stand off, I say: What, gone? Remember it, ty

rant :

I may revenge myself for this trick, one day.
I'll do't-I'll do't. Renault's a nasty fellow;
Hang him, hang him, hang him.

Enter Officer.

Pri. News, what news?

Offi. Most sad, sir;

[Officer whispers Priuli.

Jaffier, upon the scaffold, to prevent

Who has done this? Speak to me, thou sad vision!

On these poor trembling knees I beg it. Vanished

Here they went down -Oh, I'll dig, dig the den
up!

You shan't delude me thus. Hoa, Jaffier, Jaffier!
Peep up, and give me but a look. I have him!
I've got him, father: Oh! now how I'll smuggle
him!

My love! my dear! my blessing! help me! help
me!

They have hold on me, and drag me to the bottom.
Nay-now they pull so hard-farewell— [Dies.
Maid. She's dead;
Breathless and dead.

Pri. Oh! guard me from the sight on't!
Lead me into some place that's fit for mourning:
Where the free air, light, and the cheerful sun,

A shameful death, stabbed Pierre, and next him- May never enter: hang it round with black:

self;

Both fell together.

Pri. Daughter!

Bel. Ha! look there!

My husband bloody, and his friend too! Murder!

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.

SCENE L

ACT I.

A room of state. The curtain rising slowly to soft music, discovers ALMERIA in mourning, LEONORA waiting in mourning.

Why am not I at peace?

Or moderate your grief; there is no cause-
Alm. No cause! Peace, peace; there is eter-
nal cause,

Leon. Dear madam, cease,

After the music, ALMERIA rises from her chair, And misery eternal will succeed.
and comes forward.

Alm. Music has charms to sooth a savage breast,
To soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak,
I've read, that things inanimate have moved,
And, as with living souls, have been informed
By magic numbers and persuasive sound.
What then am I? Am I more senseless grown
Than trees or flint? O, force of constant woe!
'Tis not in harmony to calm my griefs.
Anselmo sleeps, and is at peace; last night
The silent tomb received the good old king;
He and his sorrows now are safely lodged
Within its cold, but hospitable bosom.

Thou canst not tell-thou hast indeed no cause.
Leon. Believe me, madam, I lament Anselmo,
And always did compassionate his fortune;
Have often wept, to see how cruelly
Your father kept in chains his fellow-king:
And oft, at night, when all have been retired,
Have stolen from bed, and to his prison crept;
Where, while his gaoler slept, I thro' the grate
Have softly whispered, and enquired his health;
Sent in my sighs and prayers for his deliverance;
For sighs and prayers were all that I could offer.
Alm. Indeed thou hast a soft and gentle na-

ture;