ours, 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 t