The World's Greatest Books [Volumes 1-15, 17-20]

Belvidera : Oh!

Jaffier : Have a care, and shrink not even in thought!

For if thou dost

50

Belvidera : 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, Driv'n me to basest wants, can I behold him, With smiles of vengeance, butchered in his age? 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, As cut the throats of wretches as they sleep ?

Jaffier: Thou wrong'st me, Belvidera. I have engaged With men of soul 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.

Belvidera : What's he to whose curst hands last night thou gav'st me ? Wast that well done ? Oh, I could tell a story Would rouse thy lion-heart out of its den.

Jaffier: Speak on, I charge thee.

Belvidera : O, my love! if e'er

The Belvidera's peace deserved thy care, Remove me from this place. Last night! Last night!

Jaffier : Distract me not, but give me all the truth!

Belvidera : No sooner wert thou gone, and I alone, Left in the power of that old son of mischief, But what vile wretch approached me. How I wept, And shrunk, and trembled! Wished in vain for him That should protect me! Thou, alas! wert gone.

Jaffier : Patience, sweet Heaven, till I make vengeance sure!

Belvidera: 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."

5i

But with my cries I scared his coward heart,

Till he withdrew, and muttered vows to hell.

These are thy friends! With these thy life, thy honour,

Thy love, all staked, and all will go to ruin.

Jaffier: 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.

Belvidera: Oh! should I part with thee, I fear thou wilt In anger leave me, and return no more.

Jaffier: Return no more! I would not live without thee Another night, to purchase the creation.

Jaffier tells Pierre of the insult put on Belvidera by Renault, and holds a conversation with Renault himself in which he pays an ironical tribute to his truth and honesty. This rouses Renault, who, subsequently, at the final meeting of the conspirators, takes advantage of the departure of Jaffier to denounce him as a traitor. Pierre, by alternate threats and appeals, and by exposing Renault's behaviour to Belvidera, allays the tumult and suspicion, and pledges his life for the loyalty of Jaffier.

Act II

Scene.—The Senate House, where appear sitting the Duke of Venice, Priuli, Antonio, and eight other

Senators.

Duke: Antony, Priuli, Senators of Venice, Speak, why are we assembled here this night?

Priuli : We stand upon the brink of gaping ruin. Within this city's formed a dark conspiracy,

52

To massacre us all, our wives and children,

Kindred and friends; our palaces and temples

To lay in ashes; nay, the hour, too, fixed;

The swords, for aught I know, drawn e'en this moment,

And the wild waste begun. From unknown hands

I had this warning; but if we are men,

Let's not be tamely butchered.

[Enter Officer and guards. Officer : Two prisoners have the guard seized in the street, Who say they come to inform this reverend Senate About the present danger.

[Enter an officer with Jaffier, who, sorely against his will, has been persuaded by Belvidera to give himself up and to betray the conspiracy to the Senate.

Alclass="underline" Give them entrance. Well, who are you?

Jaffier : A villain. Would that every man that hears me Would deal so honestly, and own his title.

Duke : 'Tis murmured that a plot has been contrived Against this state; and you've a share in't, too. If you're a villain, to redeem your honour Unfold the truth, and be restored with mercy.

Jaffier: Think not, that I to save my life come hither; I know its value better; but in pity To all those wretches whose unhappy dooms Are fixed and sealed. I'm the sworn foe of Venice, But I may prove a friend.

Duke: The slave capitulates! Give him the torture.

Jaffier: Cowards are scared with threatenings; boys are whipt Into confession; but a steady mind Acts of itself, ne'er asks the body counsel. " Give him the torture! " Name but such a thing Again, by Heaven! I'll shut these lips for ever.