mankind, and set here In this assembly as in one great jewel, T' adorn the bravest purpose it e'er smil'd on; Should you, like boys, wrangle for trifles?

_Ren._ Boys!

_Bed._ Renault, thy hand.

_Ren._ I thought I'd given my heart Long since to every man that mingles here; But grieve to find it trusted with such tempers, That can't forgive my froward age its weakness.

_Bed._ Elliott, thou once hadst virtue. I have seen Thy stubborn temper bend with godlike goodness, Not half thus courted. 'Tis thy nation's glory To hug the foe that offers brave alliance. Once more embrace, my friends — we'll all embrace. United thus, we are the mighty engine Must twist this rooted empire from its basis. Totters not it already?_Jaf._ And is that time forgotten? Oh, my love!
Thou only good that heav'n has added to
The wretched being of Jaffier; without thee
This world has nothing that deserves my fondness.
Why dost thou turn away?_Bel._ Why dost thou follow
One that's forsaken of all comfort here?
Thou, that in others' griefs hadst always room
For wretchedness of mine!--Oh, my lost lord!
Art thou as cruel too, as the unkind world?
From whence can come this mighty change of fortune?
If I have lost thy love, give me but reasons
To show me how I've lost it--love, like mine,
So pure, and fix'd on such a rock of virtue,
Must overcome all blasts, all fears, all dangers,
And flourish in affliction._Jaf._ Then look on me.
By heav'n thou'lt melt me down, and I shall weep
Until I'm useless--Let's not lose thus; Belvidera,
Be as thou always art, kind, good, and loving;
And comfort my despair._Bel._ Despair! alas!
What means my lord?_Jaf._ We are too poor to live;
Too noble, not to have it known we're poor;
Too well acquainted with each other's weakness
To bear the sight; too sueing, and too low,
Ever to raise our fortunes._Bel._ Will you then
Sit down, and say we're wretched?_Jaf._ What else is left us? for insulting fortune,
Like a true coward, heaps unnumber'd ills,
And flies when we would face her._Bel._ You had a friend,
One prosperous, and above the world's vast common;
One born to greatness, and the trust of kingdoms:
This friend, this wonder, this Lorenzo,--

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