_Jaff._ Half of your curse you have bestowed in vain; Heaven has already crowned our faithful loves With a young boy, sweet as his mother's beauty: May he live to prove more gentle than his grandsire, And happier than his father! _Priu._ Rather live To bait thee for his bread, and din your ears With hungry cries; whilst his unhappy mother Sits down and weeps in bitterness of want. _Jaff._ You talk as if 'twould please you. _Priu._ 'Twould, by Heaven! Once she was dear indeed; the drops that fell From my sad heart when she forgot her duty, The fountain of my life, were not so precious! But she is gone, and if I am a man I will forget her. _Jaff._ Would I were in my grave! _Priu._ And she too with thee; For, living here, you're but my curst remembrancers I once was happy. _Jaff._ You use me thus, because you know my soul Is fond of Belvidera: you perceive My life feeds on her, therefore thus you treat me. Oh! could my soul ever have known satiety, Were I that thief, the doer of such wrongs As you upbraid me with, what hinders me, But I might send her back to you with contumely, And court my fortune where she would be kinder? _Priu._ You dare not do't. _Jaff._ Indeed, my lord, I dare not. My heart, that awes me, is too much my master: Three years are past since first our vows were plighted, During which time, the world must bear me witness, I've treated Belvidera like your daughter, The daughter of a senator of Venice: Distinction, place, attendance, and observance, Due to her birth, she always has commanded; Out of my little fortune I have done this, Because (though hopeless e'er to win your nature) The world might see I loved her for herself, Not as the heiress of the great Priuli-- _Priu._ No more! _Jaff._ Yes, all! and then adieu for ever. There's not a wretch that lives on common charity But's happier than me: for I have known The luscious sweets of plenty; every night Have slept with soft content about my head, And never waked but to a joyful morning; Yet now must fall, like a full ear of corn, Whose blossom 'scaped, yet's withered in the ripening. _Priu._ Home, and be humble, study to retrench; Discharge the lazy vermin of thy hall, Those pageants of thy folly; Reduce the glittering trappings of thy wife To humble weeds, fit for thy little state; Then to some suburb-cottage both retire; Drudge, to feed loathsome life; get brats, and starve. Home, home, I say. [_Exit._