Fetch, fetch that dagger back, the dreadful dower,  
Thou gav'st 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.  
_Jaf._ Oh! Belvidera!  
_Bel._ Why was I last night deliver'd to a villain?  
_Jaf._ Ha! a villain?  
_Bel._ Yes, to a villain! why at such an hour  
Meets that assembly, all made up of wretches?  
Why, I in this hand, and in that a dagger,  
Was I deliver'd with such dreadful ceremonies?  
To you, sirs, and to your honours, 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 conceal'd 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 the slaves;  
Straight to the senate, tell 'em all I know,  
All that I think, all that my fears inform me.  
_Jaf._ Is this the Roman virtue; this the blood  
That boasts its purity with Cato's daughter?  
Would she have e'er betrayed her Brutus?  
_Bel._ No:  
For Brutus trusted her. Wert thou so kind,  
What would not Belvidera suffer for thee?  
_Jaf._ I shall undo myself, and tell thee all.  
Yet think a little, ere thou tempt me further;  
Think I've a tale to tell will shake thy nature,  
Melt all this boasted constancy thou talk'st of,  
Into vile tears and despicable sorrows:  
Then if thou shouldst betray me!  
_Bel._ Shall I swear!  
_Jaf._ No, do not swear: I would not violate  
Thy tender nature, with so rude a bond:  
But as thou hop'st to see me live my days,  
And love thee long, lock this within thy breast:  
I've bound myself, by all the strictest sacraments,  
Divine and human--  

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