The Works of Lord Byron Volume IV Part 55

_Pie_. With struggling patience.[cw]

Placed at the Ducal table, covered o'er With all the apparel of the state--pet.i.tions, Despatches, judgments, acts, reprieves, reports,-- He sits as rapt in duty; but whene'er[cx] 10 He hears the jarring of a distant door, Or aught that intimates a coming step,[cy]

Or murmur of a voice, his quick eye wanders, And he will start up from his chair, then pause, And seat himself again, and fix his gaze Upon some edict; but I have observed For the last hour he has not turned a leaf.

_Bat_. 'Tis said he is much moved,--and doubtless 'twas Foul scorn in Steno to offend so grossly.

_Pie_. Aye, if a poor man: Steno's a patrician, 20 Young, galliard, gay, and haughty.[cz]

_Bat_. Then you think He will not be judged hardly?

_Pie_. 'Twere enough He be judged justly; but 'tis not for us To antic.i.p.ate the sentence of the Forty.

_Bat_. And here it comes.--What news, Vincenzo?

_Enter_ VINCENZO.

_Vin_. 'Tis Decided; but as yet his doom's unknown: I saw the President in act to seal The parchment which will bear the Forty's judgment Unto the Doge, and hasten to inform him.

[_Exeunt_.

SCENE II.--The Ducal Chamber.

MARINO FALIERO, _Doge; and his Nephew_, BERTUCCIO FALIERO.[381]

_Ber. F._ It cannot be but they will do you justice.

_Doge_. Aye, such as the Avogadori[382] did, Who sent up my appeal unto the Forty To try him by his peers, his own tribunal.

_Ber. F._ His peers will scarce protect him; such an act Would bring contempt on all authority.

_Doge_. Know you not Venice? Know you not the Forty?

But we shall see anon.

_Ber. F._ (_addressing_ VINCENZO, _then entering_.) How now--what tidings?

_Vin_. I am charged to tell his Highness that the court Has pa.s.sed its resolution, and that, soon 10 As the due forms of judgment are gone through, The sentence will be sent up to the Doge; In the mean time the Forty doth salute The Prince of the Republic, and entreat His acceptation of their duty.

_Doge_. Yes-- They are wond'rous dutiful, and ever humble.

Sentence is pa.s.sed, you say?

_Vin_. It is, your Highness: The President was sealing it, when I Was called in, that no moment might be lost In forwarding the intimation due 20 Not only to the Chief of the Republic, But the complainant, both in one united.

_Ber. F._ Are you aware, from aught you have perceived, Of their decision?

_Vin_. No, my Lord; you know The secret custom of the courts in Venice.

_Ber. F._ True; but there still is something given to guess, Which a shrewd gleaner and quick eye would catch at; A whisper, or a murmur, or an air More or less solemn spread o'er the tribunal.

The Forty are but men--most worthy men, 30 And wise, and just, and cautious--this I grant-- And secret as the grave to which they doom The guilty: but with all this, in their aspects-- At least in some, the juniors of the number-- A searching eye, an eye like yours, Vincenzo, Would read the sentence ere it was p.r.o.nounced.

_Vin_. My Lord, I came away upon the moment, And had no leisure to take note of that Which pa.s.sed among the judges, even in seeming; My station near the accused too, Michel Steno, 40 Made me--

_Doge_ (_abruptly_). And how looked _he_? deliver that.

_Vin_. Calm, but not overcast, he stood resigned To the decree, whate'er it were;--but lo!

It comes, for the perusal of his Highness.

_Enter the_ SECRETARY _of the Forty_.

_Sec_. The high tribunal of the Forty sends Health and respect to the Doge Faliero,[da]

Chief magistrate of Venice, and requests His Highness to peruse and to approve The sentence pa.s.sed on Michel Steno, born Patrician, and arraigned upon the charge 50 Contained, together with its penalty, Within the rescript which I now present.

_Doge_. Retire, and wait without.

[_Exeunt_ SECRETARY _and_ VINCENZO.]

Take thou this paper: The misty letters vanish from my eyes; I cannot fix them.

_Ber. F._ Patience, my dear Uncle: Why do you tremble thus?--nay, doubt not, all Will be as could be wished.

_Doge_. Say on.

_Ber. F._ (_reading_). "Decreed In council, without one dissenting voice, That Michel Steno, by his own confession, Guilty on the last night of Carnival 60 Of having graven on the ducal throne The following words--"[383]

_Doge_. Would'st thou repeat them?

Would'st _thou_ repeat them--_thou_, a Faliero, Harp on the deep dishonour of our house, Dishonoured in its Chief--that Chief the Prince Of Venice, first of cities?--To the sentence.

_Ber. F._ Forgive me, my good Lord; I will obey-- (_Reads_) "That Michel Steno be detained a month In close arrest."[384]

_Doge_. Proceed.

_Ber. F._ My Lord, 'tis finished.

_Doge_. How say you?--finished! Do I dream?--'tis false-- 70 Give me the paper--(_s.n.a.t.c.hes the paper and reads_)-- "'Tis decreed in council That Michel Steno"--Nephew, thine arm!

_Ber. F._ Nay, Cheer up, be calm; this transport is uncalled for-- Let me seek some a.s.sistance.

_Doge_. Stop, sir--Stir not-- 'Tis past.

_Ber. F._ I cannot but agree with you The sentence is too slight for the offence; It is not honourable in the Forty To affix so slight a penalty to that Which was a foul affront to you, and even To them, as being your subjects; but 'tis not 80 Yet without remedy: you can appeal To them once more, or to the Avogadori, Who, seeing that true justice is withheld, Will now take up the cause they once declined, And do you right upon the bold delinquent.

Think you not thus, good Uncle? why do you stand So fixed? You heed me not:--I pray you, hear me!

_Doge_ (_dashing down the ducal bonnet, and offering to trample upon it, exclaims, as he is withheld by his nephew_).

Oh! that the Saracen were in St. Mark's!

Thus would I do him homage.

_Ber. F._ For the sake Of Heaven and all its saints, my Lord--

_Doge_. Away! 90 Oh, that the Genoese were in the port!

Oh, that the Huns whom I o'erthrew at Zara[385]

Were ranged around the palace!

_Ber. F._ 'Tis not well In Venice' Duke to say so.