will
Of that infernal devil!
Last night, my love--

_Jaf._ Name, name it not again:
Destruction, swift destruction,
Fall on my coward head, if
I forgive him!

_Bel._ Delay no longer, then, but to the senate,
And tell the dismal'st story ever uttered;
Tell them what bloodshed, rapines, desolations,
Have been prepared;--how near's the fatal hour.
Save thy poor country, save the rev'rend blood
Of all its nobles, which to-morrow's dawn
Must else see shed!

_Jaf._ Oh!

_Bel._ Think what then may prove
My lot: the ravisher may then come safe,
And, 'midst the terror of the public ruin,
Do a damned deed.

_Jaf._ By all Heav'n's powers, prophetic truth dwells in thee!
For every word thou speak'st, strikes through my heart,
Like a new light, and shows it how't has wandered--
Just what thou'st made me, take me, Belvidera,
And lead me to the place, where I'm to say
This bitter lesson; where I must betray
My truth, my virtue, constancy, and friends.
Must I betray my friends? Ah! take me quickly,
Secure me well before that thought's renewed;
If I relapse once more, all's lost forever.

_Bel._ Hast thou a friend more dear than Belvidera?

_Jaf._ No: Thou'rt my soul itself; wealth, friendship,
honour!
All present joys, and earnest of all future,
Are summed in thee. _[Going, R._

_Enter Captain and Guards, R. S. E._

_Capt._ Stand! who goes there?

_Bel._ Friends.

_Capt._ But what friends are you?

_Bel._ Friends to the senate, and the state of Venice.

_Capt._ My orders are, to seize on all I find
At this late hour, and bring them to the council,
Who are now sitting.

_Jaf._ Sir, you shall be obeyed.
Now the lot's cast, and, fate, do what thou wilt.

_[Exeunt Jaffier and Belvidera, guarded._

_Scene II.--The Senate House._

_The Duke of Venice, Priuli, and other Senators
discovered, sitting._

_Duke._ Antony, Priuli, senators of Venice,
Speak--Why are we assembled here this night?
What have you to inform us of, concerns
The state of Venice' honour, or its safety?

_Priuli._ (R.) Could words express the story I've to tell you,
Fathers, these tears were useless, these sad tears
That fall from my old eyes; but there is cause
We a