Complete Works of Thomas Otway

by Thomas Otway

  Aquil. Yes, in thy heart, thy throat, thou pampered devil;

  Thou’st helped to spoil my peace, and I’ll have vengeance

  On thy cursed life, for all the bloody Senate,

  The perjured faithless Senate. Where’s my lord,

  My happiness, my love, my god, my hero,

  Doomed by thy accursed tongue, amongst the rest,

  To a shameful rack? By all the rage that’s in me,

  I’ll be whole years in murdering thee.

  Ant. Why, Nacky, wherefore so passionate? what have I done? what’s the matter, my dear Nacky? Am not I thy love, thy happiness, thy lord, thy hero, thy senator, and every thing in the world, Nacky?

  Aquil. Thou! think’st thou, thou art fit to met my joys; To bear the eager clasps of my embraces? Give me my Pierre, or —

  Ant. Why, he’s to be hanged, little Nacky; trussed up for treason, and so forth, child.

  Aquil. Thou liest; stop down thy throat that hellish sentence,

  Or ’tis thy last: swear that my love shall live,

  Or thou art dead.

  Ant. Ah!

  Aquil. Swear to recall his doom;

  Swear at my feet, and tremble at my fury.

  Ant. I do. Now if she would but kick a little bit, one kick now; ah!

  Aquil. Swear, or —

  Ant. I do, by these dear fragrant foots, and little toes, sweet as — e-e-e-e my Nacky, Nacky, Nacky.

  Aquil. How!

  Ant. Nothing but untie thy shoe-string a little, faith and troth, that’s all, that’s all, as I hope to live, Nacky, that’s all.

  Aquil. Nay, then —

  Ant. Hold, hold; thy love, thy lord, thy hero Shall be preserved and safe.

  Aquil. Or may this poniard Rust in thy heart!

  Ant. With all my soul.

  Aquil. Farewell! [Exit.

  Ant. Adieu! Why, what a bloody-minded, inveterate, termagant strumpet have I been plagued with! Oh, yet more! nay then, I die, I die — I am dead already. [Stretches himself out. Scene closes.

  SCENE II. — A Street near Priuli’s House.

  Enter Jaffier.

  Jaff. Final destruction seize on all the world!

  Bend down, ye Heavens, and, shutting round this earth,

  Crush the vile globe into its first confusion;

  Scorch it with elemental flames to one curst cinder,

  And all us little creepers in’t, called men,

  Burn, burn, to nothing! but let Venice burn

  Hotter than all the rest; here kindle hell

  Ne’er to extinguish; and let souls hereafter

  Groan here, in all those pains which mine feels now!

  Enter Belvidera.

  Belv. My life! [Meeting him.

  Jaff. My plague! [Turning from her.

  Belv. Nay, then I see my ruin,

  If I must die!

  Jaff. No, Death’s this day too busy;

  Thy father’s ill-timed mercy came too late.

  I thank thee for thy labours though, and him too:

  But all my poor, betrayed, unhappy friends

  Have summons to prepare for fate’s black hour;

  And yet I live.

  Belv. Then be the next my doom.

  I see thou hast passed my sentence in thy heart,

  And I’ll no longer weep or plead against it;

  But with the humblest, most obedient patience

  Meet thy dear hands, and kiss them when they wound me.

  Indeed I’m willing, but I beg thee do it

  With some remorse; and, when thou givest the blow,

  View me with eyes of a relenting love,

  And show me pity, for ‘twill sweeten justice.

  Jaff. Show pity to thee?

  Belv. Yes; and when thy hands,

  Charged with my fate, come trembling to the deed,

  As thou hast done a thousand thousand dear times

  To this poor breast, when kinder rage has brought thee,

  When our stinged hearts have leaped to meet each other,

  And melting kisses sealed our lips together,

  When joys have left me gasping in thy arms,

  So let my death come now, and I’ll not shrink from it.

  Jaff. Nay, Belvidera, do not fear my cruelty,

  Nor let the thoughts of death perplex thy fancy;

  But answer me to what I shall demand,

  With a firm temper and unshaken spirit.

  Belv. I will when I’ve done weeping —

  Jaff. Fie, no more on’t.

  How long is’t since the miserable day

  We wedded first?

  Belv. Oh!

  Jaff. Nay, keep in thy tears,

  Lest they unman me too.

  Belv. Heaven knows I cannot;

  The words you utter sound so very sadly,

  These streams will follow —

  Jaff. Come, I’ll kiss them dry then.

  Belv. But was’t a miserable day?

  Jaff. A cursed one.

  Belv. I thought it otherwise; and you’ve oft sworn

  In the transporting hours of warmest love,

  When sure you spoke the truth, you’ve sworn you

  blessed it.

  Jaff. ’Twas a rash oath.

  Belv. Then why am I not cursed too?

  Jaff. No, Belvidera; by the eternal truth,

  I dote with too much fondness.

  Belv. Still so kind!

  Still then do you love me?

  Jaff. Nature, in her workings,

  Inclines not with more ardour to creation,

  Than I do now towards thee; man ne’er was blest,

  Since the first pair first met, as I have been.

  Belv. Then sure you will not curse me?

  Jaff. No, I’ll bless thee.

  I came on purpose, Belvidera, to bless thee.

  ’Tis now, I think, three years we’ve lived together.

  Belv. And may no fatal minute ever part us,

  Till reverend grown, for age and love, we go

  Down to one grave, as our last bed, together;

  There sleep in peace till an eternal morning!

  Jaff. When will that be? [Sighing.

  Belv. I hope long ages hence.

  Jaff. Have I not hitherto — I beg thee tell me

  Thy very fears — used thee with tenderest love?

  Did e’er my soul rise up in wrath against thee?

  Did I e’er frown when Belvidera smiled,

  Or, by the least unfriendly word, betray

  Abating passion? have I ever wronged thee?

  Belv. No.

  Jaff. Has my heart, or have my eyes e’er wandered

  To any other woman?

  Belv. Never, never.

  I were the worst of false ones, should I accuse thee.

  I own I’ve been too happy, blest above

  My sex’s charter.

  Jaff. Did I not say I came

  To bless thee?

  Belv. Yes.

  Jaff. Then hear me, bounteous Heaven!

  Pour down your blessings on this beauteous head,

  Where everlasting sweets are always springing:

  With a continual-giving hand, let peace,

  Honour, and safety always hover round her;

  Feed her with plenty; let her eyes ne’er see

  A sight of sorrow, nor her heart know mourning:

  Crown all her days with joy, her nights with rest

  Harmless as her own thoughts, and prop her virtue

  To bear the loss of one that too much loved;

  And comfort her with patience in our parting!

  Belv. How, parting, parting!

  Jaff. Yes, for ever parting;

  I have sworn, Belvidera, by yon Heaven,

  That best can tell how much I lose to leave thee,

  We part this hour for ever.

  Belv. Oh, call back

  Your cruel blessing; stay with me and curse me!

  Jaff. No; ’tis resolved.
/>   Belv. Then hear me too, just Heaven!

  Pour down your curses on this wretched head,

  With never-ceasing vengeance; let despair,

  Danger or infamy, nay, all surround me.

  Starve me with wantings; let my eyes ne’er see

  A sight of comfort, nor my heart know peace;

  But dash my days with sorrow, nights with horrors

  Wild as my own thoughts now, and let loose fury

  To make me mad enough for what I lose,

  If I must lose him — if I must! I will not. —

  Oh, turn and hear me!

  Jaff. Now hold, heart, or never.

  Belv. By all the tender days we have lived together,

  By all our charming nights, and joys that crowned them,

  Pity my sad condition; speak, but speak!

  Jaff. Oh!

  Belv. By these arms that now cling round thy neck,

  By this dear kiss, and by ten thousand more,

  By these poor streaming eyes —

  Jaff. Murder! unhold me!

  By the immortal destiny that doomed me [Draws his dagger.

  To this cursed minute, I’ll not live one longer.

  Resolve to let me go, or see me fall —

  Belv. Hold, sir, be patient.

  Jaff. Hark, the dismal bell [Passing-bell tolls.

  Tolls out for death! I must attend its call too;

  For my poor friend, my dying Pierre expects me;

  He sent a message to require I’d see him

  Before he died, and take his last forgiveness.

  Farewell for ever!

  Belv. Leave thy dagger with me.

  Bequeath me something. — Not one kiss at parting?

  [Jaffier, going out, looks back at her.

  O my poor heart, when wilt thou break?

  Jaff. Yet stay,

  We have a child, as yet a tender infant:

  Be a kind mother to him when I’m gone,

  Breed him in virtue and the paths of honour,

  But let him never know his father’s story;

  I charge thee guard him from the wrongs my fate

  May do his future fortune, or his name.

  Now — nearer yet! [Approaching each other.] Oh that my arms were rivetted

  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.

  Cursed be my days, and doubly cursed my nights,

  Which I must now mourn out in widowed tears;

  Blasted be every herb, and fruit, and tree;

  Cursed 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?

  Priu. Run, seize and bring her safely home;

  Guard her as you would life. Alas, poor creature!

  [They seize her.

  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. [Exeunt.

  SCENE III. — A Public Place. A scaffold and wheel in centre.

  Enter Officers, Pierre, and Guards, a Friar, Executioner, and a great Rabble.

  Offi. Room, room there — stand all by, make room

  for the prisoner.

  Pier. My friend not come yet?

  Friar. Why are you so obstinate?

  Pier. Why you so troublesome, that a poor wretch

  Can’t die in peace,

  But you like ravens will be croaking round him?

  Friar. Yet Heaven —

  Pier. I tell thee Heaven and I are friends:

  I ne’er broke peace with it yet, by cruel murders,

  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.

  Friar. But an all-seeing Judge —

  Pier. You say my conscience

  Must be my accuser: I have searched that conscience,

  And find no records there of crimes that scare me.

  Friar. ’Tis strange you should want faith.

  Pier. You want to lead

  My reason blindfold, like a hampered lion,

  Checked of its nobler vigour; then, when baited

  Down to obedient tameness, make it couch,

  And show strange tricks, which you call signs of faith:

  So silly souls are gulled, and you get money.

  Away, no more! Captain, I’d have hereafter

  This fellow write no lies of my conversion,

  Because he has crept upon my troubled hours.

  Enter Jaffier.

  Jaff. Hold: eyes, be dry; heart, strengthen me to bear

  This hideous sight, and humble me to take

  The last forgiveness of a dying friend,

  Betrayed by my vile falsehood to his ruin!

  O Pierre!

  Pier. Yet nearer.

  Jaff. Crawling on my knees,

  And prostrate on the earth, let me approach thee:

  How shall I look up to thy injured face,

  That always used to smile with friendship on me?

  It darts an air of so much manly virtue,

  That I, methinks, look little in thy sight,

  And stripes are fitter for me than embraces.

  Pier. Dear to my arms, though thou’st undone my fame,

  I can’t forget to love thee: pr’ythee, Jaffier,

  Forgive that filthy blow my passion dealt thee;

  I’m now preparing for the land of peace,

  And fain would have the charitable wishes

  Of all good men, like thee, to bless my journey.

  Jaff. Good! I’m the vilest creature, worse than e’er

  Suffered the shameful fate thou’rt going to taste of.

  Why was I sent for to be used thus kindly?

  Call, call me villain, as I am; describe

  The foul complexion of my hateful deeds;

  Lead me to the rack, and stretch me in thy stead,

  I’ve crimes enough to give it its full load,

  And do it credit: thou wilt but spoil the use on’t,

  And honest men hereafter bear its figure

  About them, as a charm from treacherous friendship.

  Offi. The time grows short; your friends are dead already.

  Jaff. Dead!

  Pier. Yes, dead, Jaffier; they’ve all died like men too,

  Worthy their character.

  Jaff. And what must I do?

  Pier. Oh, Jaffier!

  Jaff. Speak aloud thy burthened soul,

  And tell thy troubles to thy tortured friend!

  Pier. Friend! Couldst thou yet be a friend, a generous friend,

  I might hope comfort from thy noble sorrows.

  Heaven knows I want a friend!

  Jaff. And I a kind one,

&n
bsp; That would not thus scorn my repenting virtue,

  Or think, when he’s to die, my thoughts are idle.

  Pier. No! live, I charge thee, Jaffier.

  Jaff. Yes, I will live,

  But it shall be to see thy fall revenged

  At such a rate as Venice long shall groan for.

  Pier. Wilt thou?

  Jaff. I will, by Heaven!

  Pier. Then still thou’rt noble,

  And I forgive thee. Oh — yet — shall I trust thee?

  Jaff. No; I’ve been false already.

  Pier. Dost thou love me?

  Jaff. Rip up my heart, and satisfy thy doubtings.

  Pier. Curse on this weakness! [He weeps.

  Jaff. Tears! amazement! tears!

  I never saw thee melted thus before;

  And know there’s something labouring in thy bosom

  That must have vent: though I’m a villain, tell me.

  Pier. Seest thou that engine? [Pointing to the wheel.

  Jaff. Why?

  Pier. Is’t fit a soldier, who has lived with honour,

  Fought nations’ quarrels, and been crowned with conquest,

  Be exposed a common carcass on a wheel?

  Jaff. Ha!

  Pier. Speak! is’t fitting?

  Jaff. Fitting?

  Pier. Yes, is’t fitting?

  Jaff. What’s to be done?

  Pier. I’d have thee undertake

  Something that’s noble, to preserve my memory

  From the disgrace that’s ready to attaint it.

  Offi. The day grows late, sir.

  Pier. I’ll make haste. Oh, Jaffier,

  Though thou’st betrayed me, do me some way justice.

  Jaff. No more of that: thy wishes shall be satisfied;

  I have a wife, and she shall bleed; my child too

  Yield up his little throat, and all to appease thee —

  [Going away, Pierre holds him.

  Pier. No — this — no more! [He whispers Jaffier.

  Jaff. Ha! is’t then so?

  Pier. Most certainly.

  Jaff. I’ll do it.

  Pier. Remember.

  Offi. Sir.

  Pier. Come, now I’m ready.

  [He and Jaffier ascend the scaffold.

  Captain, you should be a gentleman of honour;

  Keep off the rabble, that I may have room

  To entertain my fate, and die with decency.

  Come! [Takes off his gown. Executioner prepares to bind him.

  Friar. Son!

  Pier. Hence, tempter!

  Offi. Stand off, priest!

  Pier. I thank you, sir.

  You’ll think on’t. [To Jaffier.

  Jaff. ‘Twon’t grow stale before to-morrow.

  Pier. Now, Jaffier! now I’m going. Now; —

  Jaff. Have at thee, [Executioner having bound him.

  Thou honest heart, then — here! [Stabs him.] And this is well too.