O that my arms were riveted
Thus round thee ever! But my friends, my oath!
This and no more.

[Kisses her.

Belv. Another, sure another,
For that poor little one you’ve ta’en care of,
I’ll give’t him truly.

Jaff. So, now farewell.

Belv. For ever?

Jaff. Heaven knows for ever; all good angels guard thee.

[Exit

Belv. All ill ones sure had charge of me this moment.
Curs’d be my days, and doubly curs’d my nights,
Which I must now mourn out in widow’d tears;
Blasted be every herb and fruit and tree;
Curs’d be the rain that falls upon the earth,
And may the general curse reach man and beast;
Oh, give me daggers, fire or water!
How I could bleed, how burn, how drown, the waves
Huzzing and booming round my sinking head,
Till I descended to the peaceful bottom!
Oh, there’s all quiet, here all rage and fury:
The air’s too thin, and pierces my weak brain:
I long for thick substantial sleep: hell, hell,
Burst from the centre, rage and roar aloud,
If thou art half so hot, so mad as I am.

Enter Priuli and Servants.

Who’s there?

[They seize her.

Priu. Run, seize and bring her safely home.
Guard her as you would life: alas, poor creature!

Belv. What? to my husband then conduct me quickly.
Are all things ready? shall we die most gloriously?
Say not a word of this to my old father.
Murmuring streams, soft shades, and springing flowers,
Lutes, laurels, seas of milk, and ships of amber.

[Exit.

[SCENE II]

Scene opening discovers a Scaffold and a Wheel prepared for the executing of Pierre, then enter other Officers, Pierre and Guards, a Friar, Executioner, and a great rabble.

Offic. Room, room there—stand all by, make room for the prisoner.

Pierr. My friend not come yet?

Father. Why are you so obstinate?

Pierr. Why you so troublesome, that a poor wretch Can’t die in peace,
But you, like ravens, will be croaking round him?

Fath. Yet, Heaven—

Pierr. I tell thee Heaven and I are friends.
I ne’er broke peace with’t yet, by cruel murthers,
Rapine or perjury, or vile deceiving,
But lived in moral justice towards all men,
Nor am a foe to the most strong believers,
Howe’er my own short-sighted faith confine me.

Fath. But an all-seeing Judge—