About the business you provided for him. Are ye content? Barb. We will not interrupt A parent's sorrows. Marina No, ye only make them, Doge (rising). Sirs, I am ready. Lored. Yet 'twas important. Barb. It shall not be Just now,though Venice totter'd o'er the deep Like a frail vessel. I respect your griefs. Doge. I thank you. If the tidings which | you bring Are evil, you may say them; nothing further Can touch me more than him thou lookst on there: If they be good, say on; you need not fear That they can comfort me. Barb. I would they could! Doge. I spoke not to you, but to Loredano. He understands me. Marina. Ah! I thought it would be so. Doge. What mean you? : Marina. Lo! there is the blood beginning To flow through the dead lips of FoscariThe body bleeds in presence of the assassin. [To Loredano. Thou cowardly murderer by law, behold How death itself bears witness to thy deeds! Doge. My child! this is a phantasy of grief. Bear hence the body. [To his Attendants.] [Exeunt Doge, Marina, and Attendants [Manent Loredano and Barbarigo. Barb. He must not Be troubled now. Lored. He said himself that nought Could give him trouble farther. Barb. These are words; But grief is lonely, and the breaking in Upon it barbarous. Lored. Sorrow preys upon Its solitude, and nothing more diverts it From its sad visions of the other world Than calling it at moments back to this; The busy have no time for tears. Barb. And therefore You would deprive this old man of all business? Lored. The thing's decreed. The Giunta and the Ten Have made it law: who shall oppose that law? Barb. Humanity! Lored. Because his son is dead? Lored. Had we known this when The act was passing, it might have suspended Its passage, but impedes it not—once past. Inter his son before we press upon him Lored. Let him call up into life Barb. And art thou sure Lored. Most sure. Lored. And so he seem'd not long Barb. The attainted And foreign traitor? Lored. Even so: when he, After the very night in which the Ten (Join'd with the Doge) decided his destruction, Met the great Duke at daybreak with a jest, Demanding whether he should augur him "The good day or good night?" his Dogeship answer'd, "That he in truth had pass'd a night of vigil, In which (he added with a gracious smile) There often has been question about you." 'Twas true; the question was the death resolved Of Carmagnuola, eight months ere he died; And the old Doge, who knew him doom'd, smiled on him With deadly cozenage, eight long months beforehand Eight months of such hypocrisy as is Learnt but in eighty years. Brave Carmagnuola Is dead; so is youngFoscari and his brethren_ I never smiled on them. Barb. Was Carmagnuola Your friend? Lored. He was the safeguard of the city. In early life its foe, but, in his manhood, Its saviour first, then victim. Barb. Ah! that seems The penalty of saving cities. He To him who took a city; and they gave account Were fearfully against him, although narrow'd To private havoc, such as between him Barb. Are you then thus fix'd? Lored. More soundly. Barb. That's an error, and you'll find it Ere you sleep with your fathers. Lored. They sleep not In their accelerated graves, nor will, The ducal palace, marshal me to vengeance. Barb. Fancy's distemperature! There is no passion More spectral or fantastical than hate; Not even its opposite, Love, so peoples air With phantoms, as this madness of the heart. Doge. True-true-true: I crave your pardon. I Begin to fail in apprehension, and Enter the Deputation, consisting of six of the Chief of the Ten. In the first place, the With the Doge on his late and private grief. Doge. I do Accept it as 'tis given-proceed. Chief of the Ten. The Ten, With a selected Giunta from the senate Of the republic, and the o'erwhelming cares Ducats, to make retirement not less splendid Chief of the Ten. Need I say again? Chief of the Ten. I have spoken. Twenty four Hours are accorded you to give an answer. Doge. Stay! Four and twenty hours Will alter nothing which I have to say. Chief of the Ten. Speak! Doge. When I twice before reiterated Chief of the Ten. Reduce us not Prolongs my days to prove and chasten me; I am ready to lay down my life for her, Marina. He might have lived, So form'd for gentle privacy of life, So loving, so beloved; the native of Another land, and who so blest and blessing As my poor Foscari? Nothing was wanting Unto his happiness and mine save not To be Venetian. Doge. Or a prince's son. Marina. Yes; all things which conduce to other men's Imperfect happiness or high ambition, By some strange destiny to him proved deadly. The country and the people whom he loved, The prince of whom he was the elder born, And Doge. Soon may be a prince no longer. Marina. How? Doge. They have taken my son from me, and now aim At my too long worn diadem and ring. In such an hour too! Doge. 'Tis the fittest time: Will you not now resent it?-Oh for vengeance! But he, who, had he been enough protected, Might have repaid protection in this moment, Cannot assist his father. Doge. Nor should do so Against his country, had he a thousand lives Instead of that Marina. They tortured from him. This May be pure patriotism. I am a woman: To me my husband and my children were Country and home. I loved him—how I loved him! I have seen him pass through such ordeal as The old martyrs would have shrunk from: he is gone, And I, who would have given my blood for him, Have nought to give but tears! But could I compass The retribution of his wrongs!—Well, well ; Doge. Your grief distracts you. Bow'd down by such oppression; yes, I thought That I would rather look upon his corse Than his prolong'd captivity: Iam punish'd For that thought now. Would I were in his grave! Doge. I must look on him once more. Marina. Come with me! Doge. Is he Marina. Our bridal bed is now his bier. Doge. And he is in his shrond? Marina. Come, come, old man! [Exeunt the Doge and Marina. utter Their office: they'll be here soon after us. on the Doge? Lored. 'Twas his own wish that all should be done promptly. He answer'd quickly, and must so be answer'd; His dignity is look'd to, his estate Barb. Die in his robes. He could not have lived long; but I have done My best to save his honours, and opposed This proposition to the last, though vainly. Why would the general vote compel me hither? Lored. "Twas fit that some one of such different thoughts From ours should be a witness, lest false tongues Should whisper that a harsh majority Of humbling me for my vain opposition. Lored. How!—my Giunta! They speak your language, watch your nod, approve Your plans, and do your work. Are they not yours? Lored. You talk unwarily. Twere best they hear not This from you. Barb. Oh! they'll hear as much one day From louder tongues than mine: they have gone beyond Even their exorbitance of power; and when This happens in the most contemn'd and abject States, stung humanity will rise to check it. Doge. I have obey'd your summons. Chief of the Ten. We come once more to urge our past request. Doge. And I to answer. Chief of the Ten. What? Doge. My only answer. You have heard it. Chief of the Ten. Hear you then the last decree, Definitive and absolute! To the point! I know of old the forms of office, And gentle preludes to strong acts-Go on! Chief of the Ten. You are no longer Doge; you are released From your imperial oath as sovereign 3 Under the penalty to see confiscated Doge. That last clause, I am proud to say, would not enrich the treasury. Chief of the Ten. Your answer, Duke! Was prejudicial to the state, the chief Chief of the Ten. If you would have the Doge. Not eight hours, signor, Nor even eight minutes.-There's the ducal ring, [Taking off his ring and cap. And there the ducal diadem. And so The Adriatic's free to wed another. Chief of the Ten. quickly. Doge. Earth and heaven! Yet go not forth so Such sound for his successor! Happier he, Doge. I am old, sir, And even to move but slowly must begin To move betimes. Methinks I see amongst Doge. Get thee ready, we must mourn Elsewhere. Marina. And every where. Doge. True; but in freedom, Without these jealous spies upon the great. Signors, you may depart: what would you more? We are going: do you fear that we shall bear Have served you, so have I, and I and they Doge. Not till I pass the threshold of these doors. Lored. Saint Mark's great bell is soon about to toll For his inauguration. Do you regret a traitor? Chief of the Ten. My lord, if you indeed The landing-place of the canal. Will now descend the stairs by which I mounted To sovereignty- the Giant's Stairs, on whose There five and thirty years ago was I Install'd, and traversed these same halls from which I never thought to be divorced except A corse-a corse, it might be, fighting for them But not push'd hence by fellow-citizens. But, come; my son and I will go togetherHe to his grave, and I to pray for mine. Chief of the Ten. What, thus in public? Elected, and so will I be deposed. Marina. Here's my arm? Doge. And here my staff: thus propp'd will I go forth. Chief of the Ten. It must not be-the people will perceive it. Doge. The people! There's no people, you well know it, Else you dare not deal thus by them or me. There is a populace, perhaps, whose looks May shame you; but they dare not groan nor curse you, Save with their hearts and eyes. Chief of the Ten. You speak in passion, Else Doge. You have reason. I have spoken More than my wont: it is a foible which Barb. You shall not depart without An escort fitting past and present rank. We will accompany, with due respect, The Doge unto his private palace. Say! My brethren, will we not? |