_Jaff._ Can there in woman be such glorious faith? Sure all ill stories of thy sex are false. O woman! lovely woman! Nature made thee To temper man: we had been brutes without you; Angels are painted fair, to look like you: There's in you all that we believe of Heaven, Amazing brightness, purity, and truth, Eternal joy, and everlasting love. _Belv._ If love be treasure, we'll be wondrous rich: I have so much, my heart will surely break with't; Vows can't express it: when I would declare How great's my joy, I'm dumb with the big thought; I swell, and sigh, and labour with my longing. Oh, lead me to some desert wide and wild, Barren as our misfortunes, where my soul May have its vent; where I may tell aloud To the high Heavens, and every listening planet, With what a boundless stock my bosom's fraught; Where I may throw my eager arms about thee, Give loose to love, with kisses kindling joy, And let off all the fire that's in my heart! _Jaff._ O Belvidera! doubly I'm a beggar,-- Undone by fortune, and in debt to thee; Want! worldly want! that hungry meagre fiend Is at my heels, and chases me in view. Canst thou bear cold and hunger? Can these limbs, Framed for the tender offices of love, Endure the bitter gripes of smarting poverty? When banished by our miseries abroad, (As suddenly we shall be) to seek out, In some far climate where our names are strangers, For charitable succour; wilt thou then, When in a bed of straw we shrink together, And the bleak winds shall whistle round our heads; Wilt thou then talk thus to me? Wilt thou then Hush my cares thus, and shelter me with love? _Belv._ Oh, I will love thee, even in madness love thee: Though my distracted senses should forsake me, I'd find some intervals, when my poor heart Should 'suage itself, and be let loose to thine. Though the bare earth be all our resting-place, Its roots our food, some clift our habitation, I'll make this arm a pillow for thy head; And as thou sighing liest, and swelled with sorrow, Creep to thy bosom, pour the balm of love Into thy soul, and kiss thee to thy rest; Then praise our God, and watch thee till the morning.