No More Learning

_[Puts his hand to his sword. _

_Enter Bedamar, Mezzana, Durand, and Theodore, L. --
Mezzana, Durand, and Theodore stand back, L. _

_Beda. _ [Crossing, C. ] At difference? fie!
Is this a time for quarrels? Thieves and rogues
Fall out and brawl: should men of your high calling,
Men, separated by the choice of Providence
From the gross heap of mankind, and set here
In this assembly, as in one great jewel,
T' adorn the bravest purpose it e'er smiled on;
Should you, like boys, wrangle for trifles?

_Ren. _ (R. C. ) Boys!

_Beda. _ (C. ) Renault, thy hand.

_Ren. _ I thought I'd given my heart,
Long since, to every man that mingles here;
But grieve to find it trusted with such tempers,
That can't forgive my froward age its weakness.

_Beda. _ Elliot, thou once hadst virtue. I have seen
Thy stubborn temper bend with godlike goodness,
Not half thus courted. 'Tis thy nation's glory
To hug the foe that offers brave alliance.
Once more, embrace, my friends--
United thus, we are the mighty engine,
Must twist this rooted empire from its basis.
Totters it not already?

_Elliot. _ (L. ) 'Would 'twere tumbling!

_Beda. _ Nay, it shall down: this night we seal its ruin.

_Enter Pierre, L. D. _
Oh, Pierre! thou art welcome.
Come to my breast; for, by its hopes, thou look'st
Lovelily dreadful; and the fate of Venice
Seems on thy sword already. Oh, my Mars!
The poets that first feigned a god of war,
Surely prophesied of thee!

_Pierre. _ (L. ) Friends, was not Brutus
(I mean that Brutus, who, in open senate,
Stabbed the first Caesar that usurped the world),
A gallant man?

_Ren. _ (R. C. ) Yes, and Catiline too;
Though story wrong his fame; for he conspired
To prop the reeling glory of his country,
His cause was good.

_Beda. _ (L. C. ) And ours as much above it,
As, Renault, thou'rt superior to Cethegus,
Or Pierre to Cassius.

_Pierre. _ Then to what we aim at!
When do we start? Or must we talk forever?

_Beda. _ (C. ) No, Pierre, the deed's near birth: fate seems
to have set
The business up, and given it to our care;
I hope there's not a heart or hand amongst us,
But what is firm and ready.

_Elliot. _ (L. C. ) All.
We'll die with Bedamar.

_Beda. _ Oh, men,
Matchless, as will your glory be hereafter:
The game is for a matchless prize, if won;
If lost, disgraceful ruin.

_Pierre. _ Ten thousand men are armed at your nod,
Commanded all by leaders fit to guide
A battle for the freedom of the world:
This wretched state has starved them in its service;
And, by your bounty quickened, they're resolved
To serve your glory, and revenge their own:
They've all their different quarters in this city,
Watch for the alarm, and grumble 'tis so tardy.

_Beda. _ I doubt not, friend, but thy unwearied diligence
Has still kept waking, and it shall have ease;
After this night, it is resolved, we meet
No more, till Venice owns us for her lords.

_Pierre. _ How lovelily the Adriatic, then,
Dressed in her flames, will shine! Devouring flames!
Such as shall burn her to the watery bottom,
And hiss in her foundation!

_Beda. _ Now, if any
Amongst us here, that own this glorious cause,
Have friends or int'rest he would wish to save,
Let it be told--the general doom is sealed;
But I'd forego the hopes of a world's empire,
Rather than wound the bowels of my friend.

_Pierre. _ I must confess, you there have touched my
weakness.
I have a friend--hear it; and such a friend!
My heart was ne'er shut to him. Nay, I'll tell you,
He knows the very business of this hour; _[All start_
But he rejoices in the cause, and loves it:
We've changed a vow to live and die together,
And he's at hand, to ratify it here.

_Ren. _ How! all betrayed!

_Pierre. _ (C. ) No; I've dealt nobly with you.
I've brought my all into the public stock:
I'd but one friend, and him I'll share amongst you:
Receive, and cherish him; or if, when seen
And searched, you find him worthless--as my tongue
Has lodged this secret in his faithful breast,
To ease your fears, I wear a dagger here,
Shall rip it out again, and give you rest,
Come forth, thou only good I e'er could boast of.

_Enter Jaffier, with a Dagger in his hand. L. D. _

_Beda. _ (C. ) His presence bears the show of manly virtue!

_Jaf. _ (L. ) I know you'll wonder all, that, thus uncalled
I dare approach this place of fatal councils;
But I'm amongst you, and, by Heaven, it glads me
To see so many virtues thus united
To restore justice, and dethrone oppression.
Command this steel, if you would have it quiet,
Into this breast; but, if you think it worthy
To cut the throats of reverend rogues in robes,
Send me into the cursed assembled Senate:
It shrinks not, though I meet a father there.
Would you behold the city flaming? here's
A hand, shall bear a lighted torch at noon
To th' arsenal, and set its gates on fire!

_Ren. _ (C. ) You talk this well, sir.

_Jaf. _ Nay, by Heaven, I'll do this!
Come, come, I read distrust in all your faces!
You fear me villain, and, indeed, 'tis odd
To hear a stranger talk thus, at first meeting,
Of matters that have been so well debated:
But I come ripe with wrongs, as you with counsels.
I hate this senate--am a foe to Venice;
A friend to none but men resolved like me
To push on mischief Oh, did you but know me,
I need not talk thus!

_Beda. _ Pierre, I must embrace him;
My heart beats to this man, as if it knew him.

_Ren. _ I never loved these huggers.

_Jaf. _ Still, I see
The cause delights me not. Your friends survey me,
As I were dangerous. But I come armed
Against all doubts, and to your trusts will give
A pledge, worth more than all the world can pay for.
My Belvidera! Hoa! my Belvidera! _[Calls at L. _

_Beda. _ (L. C. ) What wonder next?

_Jaf. _ Let me entreat you, sirs,
As I have henceforth hope to call you friends,
That all but the ambassador, and this
Grave guide of councils, with my friend, that owns me,
Withdraw awhile, to spare a woman's blushes.

_[Exeunt all but Bedamar, Renault, Jqffier, and Pierre
who stand back on L. _

_Beda. _ Pierre, whither will this ceremony lead us?

_Jaf. _ My Belvidera! Belvidera! _[ Calling_

_Bel. _ _[ Within, L. D. ]_ Who,
Who calls so loud, at this late peaceful hour?
That voice was wont to come in gentle whispers,
And fill my ears with the soft breath of love.

_Enter Belvidera, L. _

Thou hourly image of my thoughts, where art thou?

_Jaf. _ Indeed, 'tis late.

_Bel. _ Alas! where am I? whither is't you lead me?
Methinks I read distraction in your face,--
You shake and tremble, too! your blood runs cold!
Heav'ns guard my love, and bless his heart with patience!
_Jaf. _ That I have patience, let our fate bear witness.

_[Join hands. _

Who has ordained it so, that thou and I,
(Thou, the divinest good man e'er possessed,
And I, the wretched'st of the race of man,)
This very hour, without one tear, must part.

_Bel. _ Part! must we part? Oh! am I then forsaken!
Why drag you from me? _[Draunng to the R. ]_ whither are
you going?
My dear! my life! my love!

_Jaf. _ (C. ) Oh, friends! _[To Renault, &c_.

_Bel. _ (C. ) Speak to me! _[To Jaffier_

_Jaf. _ Take her from my heart,
She'll gain such hold else, I shall ne'er get loose.
I charge you, take her, but with tenderest care
Relieve her troubles and assuage her sorrows.

_[She leans on Jaffier. _

_Ren. _ _[Advancing to her. ]_ Rise, madam, and command
among your servants--

_Jaf. _ To you, sirs, and your honours, I bequeath her,

_[They lay hold of her. _

And with her, this; whene'er I prove unworthy--

_[Gives a Dagger to Renault. _

You know the rest. Then strike it to her heart;
And tell her, he, who three whole happy years,
Lay in her arms, and each kind night repeated
The passionate vows of still increasing love,
Sent that reward, for all her truth and sufferings.

_Bel. _ _[Held between Bed. & Ren. ]_ Oh, thou unkind one!
Have I deserved this from you?
Look on me, tell me, speak, thou dear deceiver,
Why am I separated from thy love?
If I am false, accuse me; but if true,
Don't, pr'ythee don't, in poverty forsake me,

_[Breaks away, and runs back to Jaffier_

But pity the sad heart, that's torn with parting.

_[They retake her_

Yet, hear me; yet, recall me. Jaffier, Jaffier!

_[Exeunt Bedamar, &c, dragging her L. S. E. , Jaffier R. _

END OF ACT II.




ACT III.

_Scene I. --A Room in the House of Aquilina. _
_Enter Belvidera, L. S. E. _

_Bel. _ I'm sacrificed! I'm sold--betrayed to shame!
inevitable ruin has enclosed me!
He, that should guard my virtue, has betrayed it;--
Left me--undone me! Oh, that I could hate him! --
Where shall I go? Oh, whither, whither wander?

_Enter Jaffier, R. _

_Jaf. _ (R. C. ) Can Belvidera want a resting-place,
When these poor arms are open to receive her?
There was a time--

_Bel. _ (C. ) Yes, yes, there was a time
When Belvidera's tears, her cries and sorrows,
Were not despised; when, if she chanced to sigh,
Or look but sad----There was, indeed, a time,
When Jaffier would have ta'en her in his arms,
Eased her declining head upon his breast,
And never left her, till he found the cause.
But well I know why you forsake me thus;
I am no longer fit to bear a share
In your concernments: my weak female virtue
Must not be trusted: 'tis too frail and tender. _[Crosses, R. _

_Jaf. _ Oh, Portia, Portia, what a soul was thine!

_Bel. _ _[Returns to L. C. ]_ That Portia was a woman; and
when Brutus,
Big with the fate of Rome (Heav'n guard thy safety! )
Concealed from her the labours of his mind,
She let him see her blood was great as his,
Flowed from a spring as noble, 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. _ (R. ) Oh, Belvidera!

_Bel. _ (C. ) Why was I last night delivered to a villain?

_Jaf. _ Ha! a villain?

_Bel. _ (R. ) Yes, to a villain! Why, at such an hour,
Meets that assembly, all made up of wretches,
That look as hell had drawn them into league?
Why, I in this hand, and in that, a dagger,
Was I delivered with such dreadful ceremonies?
"To you, sirs, and 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! _[Turns from him. ]_ why's that rest concealed from
me? Must I
Be made the hostage of a hellish 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 these slaves!
Straight to the senate--tell them all I know, _[Going, L. _
All that I think, all that my fears inform me.

_Jaf. _ (C. ) Is this the Roman virtue? this the blood,
That boasts its purity with Cato's daughter?
Would she have e'er betrayed her Brutus? _[Going to her_

_Bel. _ (L. ) No;
For Brutus trusted her. _[Leans on him. ]_ 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! _[Part. ]_

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

_Bel. _ Oh!

_Jaf. _ Have a care, and shrink not even in thought
For, if thou dost--

_Bel. _ (L. C. ) 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, butchered in his age?
The sacred fountain of my life destroyed?
And canst thou shed the blood that gave me being?

_[Leans on him_

Nay, be a traitor, too, and sell thy country!
Can thy great heart descend so vilely low,
Mix with hired slaves, bravos, and common stabbers,
Join such a crew, and take a ruffian's wages,
To cut the throats of wretches as they sleep? _[Part. _

_Jaf. _ (R. C. ) 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. _ (L. ) What's he, to whose cursed 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. _ (C. ) Speak on, I charge thee!

_Bel. _ Oh, my love! _[Leaning on him,]_ if e'er
Thy Belvidera's peace deserved 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 power of that old son of mischief;
No sooner was I laid on my sad bed,
But that vile wretch approached me. Then my heart
Throbbed with its fears;--
Oh, how I wept and sighed,
And shrunk, and trembled! wished, in vain, for him
That should protect me! Thou, alas, wast gone!

_Jaf. _ [Turning, R. ] Patience, sweet Heaven, 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 his arms then pressed, and would have clasped me;
But, with my cries, I scared his coward heart,
Till he withdrew, and muttered vows to hell.

_[Rush into each other's arms. _

These are thy friends! _[Part]_with
these thy life: thy honour,
Thy love, all staked--and all will go to ruin!

_Jaf. _ (C. ) 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. _ (L. ) 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 travelled dove, and bring thee peace.

_Bel. _ Indeed!

_Jaf. _ By all our loves!

_Bel. _ 'Tis hard to part:
But sure no falsehood ever looked so fairly.
Farewell! remember twelve. _[Exit, L. D. _

_Jaf. _ (C. ) Let Heav'n forget me,
When I remember not thy truth, thy love!

_Enter Pierre, R. _

_Pierre. _ Jaffier!

_Jaf. _ (L. ) Who calls?

_Pierre. _ (R. C. ) A friend, that could have wished
T' have found thee otherwise employed. "What, hunt
A wife, on the dull soil! Sure, a stanch husband,
Of all hounds is the dullest. Wilt thou never,
Never be weaned from caudles and confections?
What feminine tales hast thou been listening to,
Of unaired shirts? catarrhs, and tooth-ache, got
By thin-soled shoes? Damnation! than a fellow,
Chosen to be a sharer in the destruction
Of a whole people, should sneak thus in corners,
To waste his time, and fool his mind with love!

_Jaf. _ (L. C. ) May not a man, then, trifle out an hour
With a kind woman, and not wrong his calling!

_Pierre. _ (R. ) Not in a cause like ours.

_Jaf. _ Then, friend, our cause
Is in a damned condition: for I'll tell thee,
That canker-worm, called lechery, has touched it;
'Tis tainted vilely. Wouldst thou think it? Renault,
(That mortified, old, withered, winter rogue,)
Loves simple fornication like a priest;
I've found him out at watering for my wife;
He visited her last night, like a kind guardian;
Faith, she has some temptations, that's the truth on't.

_Pierre. _ (R. C. ) He durst not wrong his trust!

_Jaf. _ 'Twas something late, though,
To take the freedom of a lady's chamber.

_Pierre. _ Was she in bed?

_Jaf. _ Yes, 'faith! in virgin sheets,
"White as her bosom, Pierre; dished neatly up,--
"Might tempt a weaker appetite to taste. "

_Pierre. _ Patience guide me!
He used no violence?

_Jaf. _ No, no: out on't, violence!
Played with her neck; brushed her with his grey beard;
Struggled and touzed; tickled her till she squeaked a little,
May be, or so--but not a jot of violence--

_Pierre. _ [Runs to R. D. ] Damn him!
_Jaf. _ Ay, so say I: but, hush, no more on't!
Sure it is near the hour
We all should meet for our concluding orders:
Will the ambassador be here in person?

_Pierre. _ (R. C.