Offic. Sir.
Pierr. Come, now I’m ready.
[He and Jaffeir ascend the scaffold.
Captain, you should be a gentleman of honour.
Keep off the rabble, that I may have room
To entertain my
fate and die with decency.
Come!
[Takes off his gown, Executioner prepares to bind him.
Fath. Son!
Pierr. Hence, tempter.
Offic. Stand off, priest.
Pierr. I thank you, sir.
You’ll think on’t.
[To Jaffeir.
Jaff. ’Twon’t grow stale before to-morrow.
Pierr. Now, Jaffeir! now I am going. Now;—
[Executioner having bound him.
Jaff. Have at thee,
Thou honest heart, then—here—
[Stabs him
And this is well too.
[Then stabs himself.
Fath. Damnable deed!
Pierr. Now thou hast indeed been faithful.
This was done nobly—we’ve deceived the Senate.
Jaff. Bravely.
Pierr. Ha! ha! ha!—oh! oh!—
[Dies.
Jaff. Now, you curs’d rulers,
Thus of the blood ye’ve shed I make libation,
And sprinkle it mingling: may it
rest upon you,
And all your race: be henceforth peace a stranger
Within your walls; let plagues and famine
waste
Your generations—O poor Belvidera!
Sir, I have a wife, bear this in safety to her.
A token that with
my dying breath I blessed her,
And the dear little infant left behind me.
I’m sick—I’m quiet—
[Jaffeir dies.
Offic. Bear this news to the Senate,
And guard their bodies till there’s farther order:
Heaven grant I die so
well!
[Scene shuts upon them.