_Bel._ Part! must we part? Oh! am I then forsaken! Why drag you from me? _[Draunng to the R.]_ whither are you going? My dear! my life! my love! _Jaf._ (C.) Oh, friends! _[To Renault, &c_. _Bel._ (C.) Speak to me! _[To Jaffier_ _Jaf._ Take her from my heart, She'll gain such hold else, I shall ne'er get loose. I charge you, take her, but with tenderest care Relieve her troubles and assuage her sorrows. _[She leans on Jaffier._ _Ren._ _[Advancing to her.]_ Rise, madam, and command among your servants-- _Jaf._ To you, sirs, and your honours, I bequeath her, _[They lay hold of her._ And with her, this; whene'er I prove unworthy-- _[Gives a Dagger to Renault._ You know the rest. Then strike it to her heart; And tell her, he, who three whole happy years, Lay in her arms, and each kind night repeated The passionate vows of still increasing love, Sent that reward, for all her truth and sufferings. _Bel._ _[Held between Bed. & Ren.]_ Oh, thou unkind one! Have I deserved this from you? Look on me, tell me, speak, thou dear deceiver, Why am I separated from thy love? If I am false, accuse me; but if true, Don't, pr'ythee don't, in poverty forsake me, _[Breaks away, and runs back to Jaffier_ But pity the sad heart, that's torn with parting. _[They retake her_ Yet, hear me; yet, recall me. Jaffier, Jaffier! _[Exeunt Bedamar, &c, dragging her L. S. E., Jaffier R._ END OF ACT II. ACT III. _Scene I.--A Room in the House of Aquilina._ _Enter Belvidera, L. S. E._ _Bel._ I'm sacrificed! I'm sold--betrayed to shame! inevitable ruin has enclosed me! He, that should guard my virtue, has betrayed it;-- Left me--undone me! Oh, that I could hate him!-- Where shall I go? Oh, whither, whither wander? _Enter Jaffier, R._ _Jaf._ (R. C.) Can Belvidera want a resting-place, When these poor arms are open to receive her? There was a time-- _Bel._ (C.) Yes, yes, there was a time When Belvidera's tears, her cries and sorrows, Were not despised; when, if she chanced to sigh, Or look but sad----There was, indeed, a time, When Jaffier would have ta'en her in his arms, Eased her declining head upon his breast, And never left her, till he found the cause. But well I know why you forsake me thus; I am no longer fit to bear a share In your concernments: my weak female virtue Must not be trusted: 'tis too frail and tender. _[Crosses, R._ _Jaf._ Oh, Portia, Portia, what a soul was thine!