Pierr. A dog!

Jaff. Agreed.

Pierr. Shoot him.

Jaff. With all my heart.
No more: where shall we meet at night?

Pierr. I’ll tell thee;
On the Rialto every night at twelve
I take my evening’s walk of meditation,
There we two will meet, and talk of precious
Mischief—

Jaff.

Farewell.

Pierr. At twelve.

Jaff. At any hour, my plagues
Will keep me waking.

[Exit Pieere.

Tell me why, good Heaven,
Thou mad’st me what I am, with all the spirit,
Aspiring thoughts and elegant desires
That fill the happiest man? Ah! rather why
Didst thou not form me sordid as my fate,
Base-minded, dull, and fit to carry burdens?
Why have I sense to know the curse that’s on me?
Is this just dealing, Nature? Belvidera!

Enter BELVIDERA. Poor Belvidera!

Belv. Lead me, lead me, my virgins!
To that kind voice. My lord, my love, my refuge!
Happy my eyes, when they behold thy face:
My heavy heart will leave its doleful beating
At sight of thee, and bound with sprightful joys.
O smile, as when our loves were in their spring,
And cheer my fainting soul.

Jaff. As when our loves
Were in their spring? has then my fortune changed?
Art thou not Belvidera, still the same,
Kind, good, and tender, as my arms first found thee?
If thou art altered, where shall I have harbour?
Where ease my loaded heart? Oh! where complain?

Belv. Does this appear like change, or love decaying?
When thus I throw myself into thy bosom,
With all the resolution of a strong truth:
Beats not my heart, as ’twould alarum thine
To a new charge of bliss; I joy more in thee,
Than did thy mother when she hugged thee first,
And blessed the gods for all her travail past.

Jaff. Can there in women be such glorious faith?
Sure all ill-stories of thy sex are false:
O woman! lovely woman! Nature made thee
To temper man: we had been brutes without you:
Angels are painted fair, to look like you;
There’s in you all that we believe of heaven,
Amazing brightness, purity and truth,
Eternal joy, and everlasting love.

Belv. If love be treasure, we’ll be wondrous rich;
I have so much, my heart will surely break with ’t;
Vows cannot express it; when I would declare
How great’s my joy, I am dumb with the big thought;
I swell, and sigh, and labour with my longing.
O lead me to some desert wide and wild,
Barren as our misfortunes, where my soul
May have its vent: where I may tell aloud
To the high heavens, and ever list’ning planet,
With what a boundless stock my bosom’s fraught!
Where I may throw my eager arms about thee,
Give loose to love with kisses, kindling joy,
And let off all the fire that’s in my heart.

Jaff. O Belvidera! double I’m a beggar,
Undone by fortune, and in debt to thee;
Want! worldly Want! that hungry meagre fiend
Is at my heels, and chases me in view;
Canst thou bear cold and hunger? can these limbs,
Framed for the tender offices of love,
Endure the bitter gripes of smarting poverty?
When