_Jaff._ O Portia! Portia! what a soul was thine! _Belv._ That Portia was a woman; and when Brutus, Big with the fate of Rome--Heaven guard thy safety!-- Concealed from her the labours of his mind, She let him see her blood was great as his, Flowed from a spring as noble, and a heart Fit to partake his troubles as his love. Fetch, fetch that dagger back, the dreadful dower Thou gavest last night in parting with me; strike it Here to my heart; and as the blood flows from it, Judge if it run not pure as Cato's daughter's. _Jaff._ Thou art too good, and I indeed unworthy, Unworthy so much virtue: teach me how I may deserve such matchless love as thine, And see with what attention I'll obey thee. _Belv._ Do not despise me: that's the all I ask. _Jaff._ Despise thee! hear me-- _Belv._ Oh, thy charming tongue Is but too well acquainted with my weakness; Knows, let it name but love, my melting heart Dissolves within my breast; till with closed eyes I reel into thy arms, and all's forgotten. _Jaff._ What shall I do? _Belv._ Tell me--be just, and tell me, Why dwells that busy cloud upon thy face? Why am I made a stranger? why that sigh, And I not know the cause? why when the world Is wrapped in rest, why chooses then my love To wander up and down in horrid darkness, Loathing his bed, and these desiring arms? Why are these eyes blood-shot with tedious watching? Why starts he now, and looks as if he wished His fate were finished? Tell me, ease my fear, Lest, when we next time meet, I want the power To search into the sickness of thy mind, But talk as wildly then as thou look'st now. _Jaff._ O Belvidera! _Belv._ Why was I last night Delivered to a villain? _Jaff._ Ha, a villain! _Belv._ Yes! to a villain! Why at such an hour Meets that assembly, all made up of wretches That look as hell had drawn them into league? Why, I in this hand, and in that a dagger, Was I delivered with such dreadful ceremonies?-- "To you, sirs, and your honour, I bequeath her, And with her this: whene'er I prove unworthy-- You know the rest--then strike it to her heart!" Oh! why's that "rest" concealed from me? Must I Be made the hostage of a hellish trust?-- For such I know I am; that's all my value! But by the love and loyalty I owe thee, I'll free thee from the bondage of these slaves; Straight to the Senate, tell them all I know, All that I think, all that my fears inform me! _Jaff._ Is this the Roman virtue? this the blood That boasts its purity with Cato's daughter? Would she have e'er betrayed her Brutus? _Belv._ No; For Brutus trusted her: wert thou so kind, What would not Belvidera suffer for thee? _Jaff._ I shall undo myself, and tell thee all.