The Works of Lord Byron. Vol. 5 (THE TWO FOSCARI- Act 5)

The Doge's Apartment The Doge and Attendants. Att. My Lord, the deputation is in waiting; But add, that if another hour would better Accord with your will, they will make it theirs. Doge. To me all hours are like. Let them approach. [Exit Attendant. An Officer. Prince! I have done your bidding. Doge‍What command? Offi. A melancholy one—to call the attendance Of—— Doge.‍True—true—true: I crave your pardon. I Begin to fail in apprehension, and Wax very old—old almost as my years. Till now I fought them off, but they begin To overtake me. Enter the Deputation, consisting of six of the Signory and the Chief of the Ten. Noble men, your pleasure! Chief of the Ten. In the first place, the Council doth condole With the Doge on his late and private grief. Doge. No more—no more of that. Chief of the Ten.‍Will not the Duke Accept the homage of respect? Doge.‍I do Accept it as 'tis given—proceed. Chief of the Ten.‍"The Ten," With a selected giunta from the Senate Of twenty-five of the best born patricians, Having deliberated on the state Of the Republic, and the o'erwhelming cares Which, at this moment, doubly must oppress Your years, so long devoted to your Country,[183] Have judged it fitting, with all reverence, Now to solicit from your wisdom (which Upon reflection must accord in this), The resignation of the ducal ring, Which you have worn so long and venerably: And to prove that they are not ungrateful, nor Cold to your years and services, they add An appanage of twenty hundred golden Ducats, to make retirement not less splendid Than should become a Sovereign's retreat. Doge. Did I hear rightly? Chief of the Ten.‍Need I say again? Doge. No.—Have you done? Chief of the Ten.‍I have spoken. Twenty four[77] Hours are accorded you to give an answer. Doge. I shall not need so many seconds. Chief of the Ten.‍We Will now retire. 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 My wish to abdicate, it was refused me: And not alone refused, but ye exacted An oath from me that I would never more Renew this instance. I have sworn to die In full exertion of the functions, which My Country called me here to exercise, According to my honour and my conscience— I cannot break my oath. Chief of the Ten.‍Reduce us not To the alternative of a decree, Instead of your compliance. Doge.‍Providence Prolongs my days to prove and chasten me; But ye have no right to reproach my length[184] Of days, since every hour has been the Country's. I am ready to lay down my life for her, As I have laid down dearer things than life: But for my dignity—I hold it of The whole Republic: when the general will Is manifest, then you shall all be answered. Chief of the Ten. We grieve for such an answer; but it cannot Avail you aught. Doge.‍I can submit to all things, But nothing will advance; no, not a moment. What you decree—decree. Chief of the Ten.‍With this, then, must we Return to those who sent us? Doge.‍You have heard me. Chief of the Ten. With all due reverence we retire. [Exeunt the Deputation, etc. Enter an Attendant. Att.‍My Lord, The noble dame Marina craves an audience. Doge. My time is hers. Enter Marina. Mar.‍My Lord, if I intrude— Perhaps you fain would be alone? Doge.‍Alone! Alone, come all the world around me, I Am now and evermore. But we will bear it. Mar. We will, and for the sake of those who are, Endeavour——Oh, my husband! Doge.‍Give it way: I cannot comfort thee. Mar.‍He might have lived, So formed 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.[185] Doge.‍Or a Prince's son. Mar. 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. Mar.‍How? Doge. They have taken my son from me, and now aim At my too long worn diadem and ring. Let them resume the gewgaws! Mar.‍Oh, the tyrants! In such an hour too! Doge.‍'Tis the fittest time; An hour ago I should have felt it. Mar.‍And 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—— Mar.‍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 an 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! I have sons, who shall be men. Doge.‍Your grief distracts you. Mar. I thought I could have borne it, when I saw him Bowed down by such oppression; yes, I thought That I would rather look upon his corse Than his prolonged captivity:—I am punished For that thought now. Would I were in his grave! Doge. I must look on him once more.[186] Mar.‍Come with me! Doge. Is he—— Mar.‍Our bridal bed is now his bier, Doge. And he is in his shroud! Mar.‍Come, come, old man! [Exeunt the Doge and Marina. Enter Barbarigo and Loredano. Bar. (to an Attendant). Where is the Doge? Att.‍This instant retired hence, With the illustrious lady his son's widow. Lor. Where? Att.‍To the chamber where the body lies. Bar. Let us return, then. Lor.‍You forget, you cannot. We have the implicit order of the Giunta To await their coming here, and join them in Their office: they'll be here soon after us. Bar. And will they press their answer on the Doge? Lor. 'Twas his own wish that all should be done promptly. He answered quickly, and must so be answered; His dignity is looked to, his estate Cared for—what would he more? Bar.‍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? Lor. 'Twas fit that some one of such different thoughts From ours should be a witness, lest false tongues Should whisper that a harsh majority Dreaded to have its acts beheld by others. Bar. And not less, I must needs think, for the sake Of humbling me for my vain opposition. You are ingenious, Loredano, in Your modes of vengeance, nay, poetical, A very Ovid in the art of hating; 'Tis thus (although a secondary object, Yet hate has microscopic eyes), to you[187] I owe, by way of foil to the more zealous, This undesired association in Your Giunta's duties. Lor.‍How!—my Giunta! Bar.‍Yours! They speak your language, watch your nod, approve Your plans, and do your work. Are they not yours? Lor. You talk unwarily. 'Twere best they hear not This from you. Bar.‍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 contemned and abject States, stung humanity will rise to check it. Lor. You talk but idly. Bar.‍That remains for proof. Here come our colleagues. Enter the Deputation as before. Chief of the Ten.‍Is the Duke aware We seek his presence? Att.‍He shall be informed. [Exit Attendant. Bar. The Duke is with his son. Chief of the Ten.‍If it be so, We will remit him till the rites are over. Let us return. 'Tis time enough to-morrow. Lor. (aside to Bar.) Now the rich man's hell-fire upon your tongue, Unquenched, unquenchable! I'll have it torn From its vile babbling roots, till you shall utter Nothing but sobs through blood, for this! Sage Signors, I pray ye be not hasty.[Aloud to the others. Bar.‍But be human! Lor. See, the Duke comes! Enter the Doge. Doge.‍I have obeyed your summons. Chief of the Ten. We come once more to urge our past request.[188] 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! Doge.‍To the point— 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; Your ducal robes must be put off; but for Your services, the State allots the appanage Already mentioned in our former congress. Three days are left you to remove from hence, Under the penalty to see confiscated All your own private fortune. Doge.‍That last clause, I am proud to say, would not enrich the treasury. Chief of the Ten. Your answer, Duke! Lor.‍Your answer, Francis Foscari! Doge. If I could have foreseen that my old age Was prejudicial to the State, the Chief Of the Republic never would have shown Himself so far ungrateful, as to place His own high dignity before his Country; But this life having been so many years Not useless to that Country, I would fain Have consecrated my last moments to her. But the decree being rendered, I obey.[bt][78] Chief of the Ten. If you would have the three days named extended, We willingly will lengthen them to eight, As sign of our esteem. Doge.‍Not eight hours, Signor,[189] Not 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. Yet go not forth so quickly. Doge.‍I am old, sir, And even to move but slowly must begin To move betimes. Methinks I see amongst you A face I know not.—Senator! your name, You, by your garb, Chief of the Forty! Mem.‍Signor, I am the son of Marco Memmo. Doge.‍Ah! Your father was my friend.—But sons and fathers!— What, ho! my servants there! Atten.‍My Prince! Doge.‍No Prince— There are the princes of the Prince! [Pointing to the Ten's Deputation ‍—Prepare To part from hence upon the instant. Chief of the Ten.‍Why So rashly? 'twill give scandal. Doge. (To the Ten).‍Answer that; It is your province. [To the Servants. ‍—Sirs, bestir yourselves: There is one burthen which I beg you bear With care, although 'tis past all farther harm— But I will look to that myself. Bar.‍He means The body of his son. Doge.‍And call Marina, My daughter! Enter Marina. Doge.‍Get thee ready, we must mourn Elsewhere. Mar.‍And everywhere. Doge.‍True; but in freedom, Without these jealous spies upon the great. Signers, you may depart: what would you more?[190] We are going; do you fear that we shall bear The palace with us? Its old walls, ten times As old as I am, and I'm very old, Have served you, so have I, and I and they Could tell a tale; but I invoke them not To fall upon you! else they would, as erst The pillars of stone Dagon's temple on The Israelite and his Philistine foes. Such power I do believe there might exist In such a curse as mine, provoked by such As you; but I curse not. Adieu, good Signers! May the next Duke be better than the present! Lor. The present Duke is Paschal Malipiero. Doge. Not till I pass the threshold of these doors. Lor. Saint Mark's great bell is soon about to toll For his inauguration. Doge.‍Earth and Heaven! Ye will reverberate this peal; and I Live to hear this!—the first Doge who e'er heard Such sound for his successor: happier he, My attainted predecessor, stern Faliero— This insult at the least was spared him. Lor.‍What! Do you regret a traitor? Doge.‍No—I merely Envy the dead. Chief of the Ten. My Lord, if you indeed Are bent upon this rash abandonment Of the State's palace, at the least retire By the private staircase, which conducts you towards The landing-place of the canal. Doge.‍No. I Will now descend the stairs by which I mounted To sovereignty—the Giants' Stairs, on whose Broad eminence I was invested Duke. My services have called me up those steps, The malice of my foes will drive me down them.[79] There five and thirty years ago was I Installed, and traversed these same halls, from which[191] I never thought to be divorced except A corse—a corse, it might be, fighting for them— But not pushed hence by fellow-citizens. But come; my son and I will go together— He to his grave, and I to pray for mine. Chief of the Ten. What! thus in public? Doge.‍I was publicly Elected, and so will I be deposed. Marina! art thou willing? Mar.‍Here's my arm! Doge. And here my staff: thus propped 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 much More than my wont: it is a foible which Was not of mine, but more excuses you, Inasmuch as it shows, that I approach A dotage which may justify this deed Of yours, although the law does not, nor will. Farewell, sirs! Bar.‍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? Different voices.‍Aye!—Aye! Doge.‍You shall not Stir—in my train, at least. I entered here As Sovereign—I go out as citizen By the same portals, but as citizen. All these vain ceremonies are base insults,[192] Which only ulcerate the heart the more, Applying poisons there as antidotes. Pomp is for Princes—I am none!—That's false, I am, but only to these gates.—Ah! Lor.‍Hark! [The great bell of St. Mark's tolls. Bar. The bell! Chief of the Ten. St. Mark's, which tolls for the election Of Malipiero. Doge.‍Well I recognise The sound! I heard it once, but once before, And that is five and thirty years ago; Even then I was not young. Bar.‍Sit down, my Lord! You tremble. Doge.‍'Tis the knell of my poor boy! My heart aches bitterly. Bar.‍I pray you sit. Doge. No; my seat here has been a throne till now. Marina! let us go. Mar.‍Most readily. Doge. (walks a few steps, then stops). I feel athirst—will no one bring me here A cup of water? Bar.‍I—— Mar.‍And I—— Lor.‍And I—— [The Doge takes a goblet from the hand of Loredano. Doge. I take yours, Loredano, from the hand Most fit for such an hour as this.[bu] Lor.‍Why so? Doge. 'Tis said that our Venetian crystal has Such pure antipathy to poisons as To burst, if aught of venom touches it. You bore this goblet, and it is not broken. Lor. Well, sir! Doge.‍Then it is false, or you are true. For my own part, I credit neither; 'tis[193] An idle legend. Mar.‍You talk wildly, and Had better now be seated, nor as yet Depart. Ah! now you look as looked my husband! Bar. He sinks!—support him!—quick—a chair—support him! Doge. The bell tolls on!—let's hence—my brain's on fire! Bar. I do beseech you, lean upon us! Doge.‍No! A Sovereign should die standing. My poor boy! Off with your arms!—That bell![80] [The Doge drops down and dies. Mar.‍My God! My God! Bar. (to Lor.). Behold! your work's completed! Chief of the Ten.‍Is there then No aid? Call in assistance! Att.‍'Tis all over. Chief of the Ten. If it be so, at least his obsequies Shall be such as befits his name and nation, His rank and his devotion to the duties Of the realm, while his age permitted him To do himself and them full justice. Brethren, Say, shall it not be so? Bar.‍He has not had The misery to die a subject where[bv] He reigned: then let his funeral rites be princely.[81] Chief of the Ten. We are agreed, then? All, except Lor., answer,‍Yes.[194] Chief of the Ten. Heaven's peace be with him! Mar. Signers, your pardon: this is mockery. Juggle no more with that poor remnant, which, A moment since, while yet it had a soul, (A soul by whom you have increased your Empire, And made your power as proud as was his glory), You banished from his palace and tore down From his high place, with such relentless coldness; And now, when he can neither know these honours, Nor would accept them if he could, you, Signors, Purpose, with idle and superfluous pomp, To make a pageant over what you trampled. A princely funeral will be your reproach, And not his honour. Chief of the Ten.‍Lady, we revoke not Our purposes so readily. Mar.‍I know it, As far as touches torturing the living. I thought the dead had been beyond even you, Though (some, no doubt) consigned to powers which may Resemble that you exercise on earth. Leave him to me; you would have done so for His dregs of life, which you have kindly shortened: It is my last of duties, and may prove A dreary comfort in my desolation.[bw] Grief is fantastical, and loves the dead, And the apparel of the grave. Chief of the Ten.‍Do you Pretend still to this office? Mar.‍I do, Signor. Though his possessions have been all consumed In the State's service, I have still my dowry, Which shall be consecrated to his rites, And those of——[She stops with agitation. Chief of the Ten.‍Best retain it for your children. Mar. Aye, they are fatherless, I thank you. Chief of the Ten.‍We Cannot comply with your request. His relics Shall be exposed with wonted pomp, and followed Unto their home by the new Doge, not clad[195] As Doge, but simply as a senator. Mar. I have heard of murderers, who have interred Their victims; but ne'er heard, until this hour, Of so much splendour in hypocrisy O'er those they slew.[82] I've heard of widows' tears— Alas! I have shed some—always thanks to you! I've heard of heirs in sables—you have left none To the deceased, so you would act the part Of such. Well, sirs, your will be done! as one day, I trust, Heaven's will be done too![bx] Chief of the Ten.‍Know you, Lady, To whom ye speak, and perils of such speech? Mar. I know the former better than yourselves; The latter—like yourselves; and can face both. Wish you more funerals? Bar.‍Heed not her rash words; Her circumstances must excuse her bearing. Chief of the Ten. We will not note them down. Bar. (turning to Lor., who is writing upon his tablets). What art thou writing, With such an earnest brow, upon thy tablets? Lor. (pointing to the Doge's body). That he has paid me![83][196] Chief of the Ten. What debt did he owe you? Lor. A long and just one; Nature's debt and mine.[84]