Belv. By these arms that now cling round thy neck,
By this dear kiss, and by ten thousand more,
By these poor streaming eyes—
Jaff. Murder! unhold me!
By the immortal destiny that doomed me [Draws his dagger.
To this cursed minute, I'll not live one longer.
Resolve to let me go, or see me fall—
Belv. Hold, sir, be patient.
Jaff. Hark, the dismal bell [Passing-bell tolls.
Tolls out for death! I must attend its call too;
For my poor friend, my dying Pierre expects me;
He sent a message to require I'd see him
Before he died, and take his last forgiveness.
Farewell for ever!
Belv. Leave thy dagger with me.
Bequeath me something.—Not one kiss at parting?
[Jaffier, going out, looks back at her.
O my poor heart, when wilt thou break?
Jaff. Yet stay,
We have a child, as yet a tender infant:
Be a kind mother to him when I'm gone,
Breed him in virtue and the paths of honour,
But let him never know his father's story;
I charge thee guard him from the wrongs my fate
May do his future fortune, or his name.
Now—nearer yet! [Approaching each other.] Oh that my arms were rivetted
Thus round thee ever! But my friends, my oath—
This, and no more. [Kisses her.
Belv. Another, sure another,
For that poor little one you've ta'en care of;
I'll give't him truly.
Jaff. So, now farewell.