Pierr. Not leave me!

Jaff. No, thou shalt not force me from thee.
Use me reproachfully, and like a slave,
Tread on me, buffet me, heap wrongs on wrongs
On my poor head: I’ll bear it all with patience,
Shall weary out thy most unfriendly cruelty,
Lie at thy feet and kiss ’em though they spurn me,
Till, wounded by my sufferings, thou relent,
And raise me to thy arms with dear forgiveness.

Pierr. Art thou not—

Jaff. What?

Pierr. A traitor?

Jaff. Yes.

Pierr. A villain?

Jaff. Granted.

Pierr. A coward, a most scandalous coward,
Spiritless, void of honour, one who has sold
Thy everlasting fame for shameless life?

Jaff. All, all, and more, much more: my faults are numberless

Pierr. And wouldst thou have me live on terms like thine? Base as thou art false—

Jaff. No, ’tis to me that’s granted.
The safety of thy life was all I aim’d at,
In recompense for faith and trust so broken.

Pierr. I scorn it more because preserv’d by thee.
And as when first my foolish heart took pity
On thy misfortunes, sought thee in thy miseries,
Relieved thy wants, and raised thee from thy state
Of wretchedness in which thy fate had plung’d thee,
To rank thee in my list of noble friends;
All I received in surety for thy truth,
Were unregarded oaths; and this, this dagger,
Given with a worthless pledge, thou since hast stol’n,
So I restore it back to thee again,
Swearing by all those powers which thou hast violated,
Never from this curs’d hour to hold communion,
Friendship or interest with thee, though our years
Were to exceed those limited the world.
Take it—farewell—for now I owe thee nothing.

Jaff. Say thou wilt live, then.

Pierr. For my life, dispose it
Just as thou wilt, because ’tis what I’m tired with.

Jaff. O Pierre!

Pierr. No more.

Jaff. My eyes won’t lose the sight of thee.
But languish after thine, and ache with gazing.

Pierr. Leave me—nay, then, thus, thus, I throw thee from me
And curses, great as is thy falsehood, catch thee.

Jaff. Amen.
He’s gone, my father, friend, preserver,
And here’s the portion he has left me.

[Holds the dagger up.

This dagger, well remembered, with this dagger
I gave a solemn vow of dire importance,
Parted with this and Belvidera together;
Have a care, mem’ry, drive that thought no farther;
No, I’ll esteem it as a friend’s last legacy,
Treasure it up within this wretched bosom,
Where it may grow acquainted with my heart,
That