Venice Preserved: A Tragedy

ACT THE FIFTH.

SCENE I.AN APARTMENT IN PRIULI'S HOUSE.

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;

There my best blood runs foul, and a disease

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 rain!—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.

I 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!

Bel. Yes, kill me. When he pass'd his faith

And covenant against your state and senate,

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.

I learnt the danger, chose the hour of love

T' attempt his heart, and bring it back to honour.

Great love prevail'd, and bless'd me with success!

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 sworn,

If they are lost, he vows t' appease the gods

With this poor life, and make my blood th' atonement.

Pri. Heav'ns!

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.

SCENE II. A GARDEN.

Enter Jaffier.

Jaf. Final destruction seize on all the world.

Bend down, ye heav'ns, and shutting round this earth,

Crush the vile globe into its first confusion!

Enter Belvidera.

Bel. My life——[meeting him.

Jaf. My plague——[turning from her.

Bel. Nay, then I see my ruin.

If I must die!

Jaf. 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've done weeping—

Jaf. Fie, no more on't—

How long is't since that miserable day

We wedded first.

Bel. Oh!—oh!—

Jaf. Nay, keep in thy tears,

Lest they unman me too.

Bel. Heav'n knows I cannot;

The words you utter sound so very sadly,

The streams will follow—

Jaf. Come, I'll kiss 'em dry then.

Bel. But was't a miserable day?

Jaf. A curs'd one.

Bel. I thought it otherwise; and you've often sworn,

In the transporting hours of warmest love,

When sure you spoke the truth, you've sworn you bless'd it.

Jaf. 'Twas a rash oath.

Bel. Then why am I not curs'd too?

Jaf. No, Belvidera; by th' eternal truth,

I dote with too much fondness.

Bel. Still so kind?

Still then do you love me?

Jaf. Man ne'er was blest

Since the first pair met, as I have been.

Bel. Then sure you will not curse me?

Jaf. No, I'll bless thee.

I came on purpose, Belvidera, to bless thee.

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!—oh!—

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

By these poor streaming eyes—

Jaf. Murder! unhold me:

By th' immortal destiny that doom'd me[draws dagger.

To this curs'd minute, I'll not live one longer;

Resolve to let me go, or see me fall——

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 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 at parting?

Oh! my poor heart, when wilt thou break?

[going out, looks back at him.

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 honour,

But never let him know his father's story;

I charge thee, guard him from the wrongs my fate

May do his future fortune, or his name.

Now—nearer yet—[approaching each other.

Oh! that my arms were rivetted

Thus round thee ever! But my friend! my oath!

This and no more.[kisses her.

Bel. Another, sure another,

For that poor little one you've ta'en such care of.

I'll giv't him truly.

Jaf. So now, farewell.

Bel. For ever?

Jaf. Heav'n knows, for ever; all good angels guard thee.[exit.

Bel. All ill ones sure had charge of me this moment.

Curs'd be my days, and doubly curs'd my nights.

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.

SCENE III. A SCAFFOLD, AND A WHEEL PREPARED
FOR THE EXECUTION OF PIERRE.

Enter Officer, Pierre, Guards, Executioner, &c.

Pier. My friend not come yet?

Enter Jaffier.

Jaf. Oh, Pierre!

Pier. Yet nearer.

Dear to my arms, though thou'st undone my fame,

I can't forget to love thee. Pr'ythee, Jaffier,

Forgive that filthy blow my passion dealt thee;

I'm now preparing for the land of peace,

And fain would have the charitable wishes

Of all good men, like thee, to bless my journey.

Jaf. Good! I am the vilest creature, worse than e'er

Suffer'd the shameful fate thou'rt going to taste of.

Offi. The time grows short, your friends are dead already.

Jaf. Dead!

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

Worthy their character.

Jaf. And what must I do?

Pier. Oh, 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

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

Pier. Wilt thou?

Jaf. I will, by heav'n.

Pier. Then still thou'rt 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 my 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?[points to 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,

Be expos'd a common carcass on a wheel?

Jaf. Ha!

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!

Though thou'st betrayed me, do me some way 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

T' appease thee——[going away, Pierre holds him.

Pier. No—this—no more.[whispers Jaffier.

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 & Jaf. ascend scaff.

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.

You'll think on't.[to Jaffier.

Jaf. '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.[stabs himself.

Pier. Now thou hast indeed been faithful.

This was done nobly—We've deceiv'd the senate.

Jaf. Bravely.

Pier. Ha, ha, ha——oh! oh![dies.

Jaf. Now, ye curs'd rulers,

Thus of the blood y' have 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!

Sir, I have a wife, bear this in safety to her;

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:

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't, tyrant:

I may revenge myself for this trick, one day.

I'll do't—I'll do't.

Enter Officer.

Pri. News, what news?[Officer whispers Priuli.

Offi. Most sad, sir;

Jaffier, upon the scaffold, to prevent

A shameful death, stabb'd Pierre, and next himself;

Both fell together.

Pri. Daughter!

Bel. Ha! look there!

My husband bloody, and his friend too! murder!

Who has done this? speak to me, thou sad vision:

On these poor trembling knees I beg it. Vanish'd—

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!

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; the curtain falls slowly to music.

THE END.

Maurice,
Fenchurch Street.

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TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE
One instance of the name Bromveil was changed to read Bramveil. Missing punctuation, especially at the end of speeches, has been added without comment.