May all your joys in her prove false, like mine! A sterile fortune, and a barren bed, Attend you both: continual discord make Your days and nights bitter and grievous still:      May the hard hand of a vexatious need Oppress and grind you; till at last you find The curse of disobedience all your portion. Jaf. Half of your curse you have bestowed in vain, Heav'n has already crowned our faithful loves With a young boy, sweet as his mother's beauty: [9]     May he live to prove more gentle than his grandsire, And happier than his father. Priuli. 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. Jaf. You talk as if 'twould please you. Priuli. 'T would, by heaven! Jaf. Would I were in my grave? Priuli. And she, too, with thee:      For, living here, you're but my cursed remembrances, I once was happy! Jaf. 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 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? Priuli. You dare not do't. Jaf. 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've 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. Priuli. No more. Jaf. Yes, all, and then, adieu forever.      [Pausing with clasped hands. There's not a wretch that lives on common charity But's happier than I; 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, Whoso blossom 'scaped, yet's withered in the ripenin.  [10]     Priuli. Home, and be humble; study to retrench; Discharge the lazy vermin of thy hall, Those pageants of thy folly:      Reduce the glitt'ring trappings of thy wife To humble weeds, fit for thy little state: [ Going. Then to some suburb cottage both retire; Drudge to feed loathsome life; get brats and starve—      Home, home, I 

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