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SCENE IV.

St. Mark's Place.

A Scaffold, and a Wheel, prepared for the Execution of PIERRE.

Enter CAPTAIN, PIERRE, GUARDS, EXECUTIONER,

and RABBLE.

Pierre. My friend not yet come?

Enter JAFFIER.

[Falling on his Knees.

Jaff. Oh, Pierre !
Pierre. 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 am now preparing for the land of peace,
And fain would have the charitable wishes
Of all good men, like thee, to bless my journey.
Capt. The time grows short; your friends are
dead already.

Jaff. Dead!

Pierre. Yes, dead, Jaffier! they've all died like men

too,

Worthy their character.

Jaff. And what must I do?

Pierre. Oh, Jaffier!

Jaff. Speak aloud thy burden'd soul,

And tell thy troubles to thy tortur'd friend.

Pierre. Friend! Couldst thou yet be a friend, a

generous friend,

I might hope comfort from thy noble sorrows.
Heaven knows, I want a friend!

Jaff. And I a kind one,

That would not thus scorn my repenting virtue, Or think, when he's to die, my thoughts are idle. Pierre. No! live, I charge thee, Jaffier.

Jaff. Yes, I will live :

But it shall be to see thy fall reveng'd,

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

Pierre. Wilt thou ?

Jaff. I will, by Heaven!

Pierre. Then still thou'rt noble,

And I forgive thee. Oh!-yet-shall I trust thee?

Jaff. No; I've been false already.
Pierre. Dost thou love me?

Jaff. Rip up my heart, and satisfy thy doubtings.
Pierre. Curse on this weakness!

Jaff. 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. Pierre. Seest thou that engine?

Jaff. Why?

[Pointing to the Wheel.

Pierre. Is't fit a soldier, who has liv'd with honour, Fought nations' quarrels, and been crown'd with

conquest,

Be exposed, a common carcase, on a wheel?
Jaff. Hah!

Pierre. Speak! is't fitting?

Jaff. Fitting!

Pierre. I'd have thee undertake

Something that's noble, to preserve my memory
From the disgrace that's ready to attaint it.

Capt. The day grows late, sir,

Pierre. I'll make haste. Oh, Jaffier!

Though thou'st betray'd me, do me some way justice.

Jaff. What's to be done ?

Pierre. This and no more. [He whispers JAFFIER. Jaff. Hah! is't then so ?

Pierre. Most certainly.

Jaff. I'll do't.

Pierre. Remember.

Capt. Sir

Pierre. Come, now I'm ready.

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.
You'll think on't?

[TO JAFFIER.

Jaff. 'Twont grow stale before to-morrow.

[PIERRE and JAFFIER ascend the Scaffold.EXECUTIONER binds PIERRE.

Pierre. Now, Jaffier ! now I'm going! Now

Jaff. Have at thee,

Thou honest heart, then! -here

And this is well too.

[Stabs him.

[Stabs himself.

Pierre. Now thou hast indeed been faithful!

This was done nobly! We have deceiv'd the senate.

Jaff. Bravely!

Pierre. Ha! ha! ha!-oh! oh!

Jaff. Now, ye curs'd rulers,

[Dies.

Thus of the blood ye've shed, I make libation, And sprinkle it mingling. May it rest upon you,

And all your race. 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.

[The Scene shuts upon them.

SCENE V.

An Apartment in PRIULI's House.

Enter PRIULI; BELVIDERA, distracted; and Two of her WOMEN.

Priuli. 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!
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 there

somewhere.

Stand off, I say! What, gone? Remember, tyrant, I may revenge myself for this trick, one day.

Enter CAPTAIN OF THE GUARD, and whispers

PRIULI.

Priuli. News? what news?

Capt. Most sad, sir :

Jaffier, upon the scaffold, to prevent

A shameful death, stabb'd Pierre, and next himself; Both fell together.

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!
Hoa, Jaffier, Jaffier !

Peep up, and give me but a look. I have him!
I have got him, father! Oh!

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

me!

They have hold of me, and drag me to the bottom! Nay-now they pull so hard-farewell [Dies.

Priuli. Oh! lead me into some place, that's fit

for mourning;

Where the free air, light, and the cheerful sun,
May never enter; hang it round with black,
Set up one taper, that may light 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.

THE END.

LONDON:

PRINTED BY THOMAS DAVISON, WHITEFRIARS.

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