when they meet, they start not from each other.
So; now for thinking: a blow, call’d traitor, villain,
Coward, dishonourable coward, fough!
O for a long sound sleep, and so forget it!
Down, busy devil.—

Enter BELVIDERA.

Belv. Whither shall I fly?
Where hide me and my miseries together?
Where’s now the Roman constancy I boasted?
Sunk into trembling fears and desperation!
Not daring now to look up to that dear face
Which used to smile even on my faults, but down
Bending these miserable eyes to earth,
Must move in penance, and implore much mercy.

Jaff. Mercy, kind Heaven, has surely endless stores
Hoarded for thee of blessings yet untasted;
Let wretches loaded hard with guilt as I am,
Bow [with] the weight and groan beneath the burthen,
Creep with a remnant of that strength they’ve left,
Before the footstool of that Heaven they’ve injured.
O Belvidera! I’m the wretched’st creature
E’er crawled on earth: now if thou hast virtue, help me.
Take me into arms, and speak the words of peace
To my divided soul, that wars within me,
And raises every sense to my confusion;
By Heav’n, I’m tottering on the very brink
Of peace; and thou art all the hold I’ve left.

Belv. Alas! I know thy sorrows are most mighty;
I know thou’st cause to mourn; to mourn, my Jaffeir,
With endless cries, and never-ceasing wailings,
Thou’st lost—

Jaff. Oh, I have lost what can’t be counted;
My friend too, Belvidera, that dear friend,
Who,next to thee, was all my health rejoiced in,
Has used me like a slave; shamefully used me;
’Twould break thy pitying heart to hear the story.
What shall I do? resentment, indignation,
Love, pity, fear and mem’ry, how I’ve wronged him,
Distract my quiet with the very thought on’t,
And tear my heart to pieces in my bosom.

Belv. What has he done?

Jaff. Thou’dst hate, me, should I tell thee.

Belv.Why?

Jaff.Oh, he has us’d me! yet, by Heaven, I bear it:
He has us’d me, Belvidera, but first swear
That when I’ve told thee, thou’lt not loathe me utterly,
Though vilest blots and stains appear upon me;
But still at least with charitable goodness,
Be near me in the pangs of my affliction,
Not scorn me, Belvidera, as he has done.

Belv.Have I then e’er been false that now I’m doubted?
Speak, what’s the cause I’m grown into distrust,
Why thought unfit to hear my love’s complaining?

Jaff.Oh!

Belv.Tell me.

Jaff. Bear my failings, for they are many.
O my dear angel! in that friend I’ve lost
All my soul’s peace; for every thought of him
Strikes my sense hard, and deads it in my brains;
Wouldst thou believe it?

Belv.Speak!

Jaff.Before we parted,
Ere yet his guards had led him to his prison,
Full of severest sorrows for his suff’rings,
With eyes o’erflowing and a bleeding heart,
Humbling myself almost beneath my nature,
As at his feet I kneel’d, and sued for mercy,
Forgetting all our friendship, all the dearness,
In which we’ve lived so many years together,
With a reproachful hand, he dashed a blow,
He struck me, Belvidera, by Heaven, he struck me,
Buffeted, called me traitor, villain, coward.
Am I a coward? am I a villain? tell me:
Thou’rt the best judge, and mad’st me, if I am so.
Damnation: coward!

Belv.Oh! forgive him, Jaffeir.
And if his sufferings wound thy heart already,
What will they do to-morrow?