The Works of Lord Byron Volume IV Part 57

_Doge_. I'm unwell-- I can see no one, not even a patrician-- Let him refer his business to the Council. 290

_Vin_. My Lord, I will deliver your reply; It cannot much import--he's a plebeian, The master of a galley, I believe.

_Doge_. How! did you say the patron of a galley?[389]

That is--I mean--a servant of the state: Admit him, he may be on public service.

[_Exit_ VINCENZO.

_Doge_ (_solus_). This patron may be sounded; I will try him.

I know the people to be discontented: They have cause, since Sapienza's[390] adverse day, When Genoa conquered: they have further cause, 300 Since they are nothing in the state, and in The city worse than nothing--mere machines, To serve the n.o.bles' most patrician pleasure.

The troops have long arrears of pay, oft promised, And murmur deeply--any hope of change Will draw them forward: they shall pay themselves With plunder:--but the priests--I doubt the priesthood Will not be with us; they have hated me Since that rash hour, when, maddened with the drone, I smote the tardy Bishop at Treviso,[391] 310 Quickening his holy march; yet, ne'ertheless, They may be won, at least their Chief at Rome, By some well-timed concessions; but, above All things, I must be speedy: at my hour Of twilight little light of life remains.

Could I free Venice, and avenge my wrongs, I had lived too long, and willingly would sleep Next moment with my sires; and, wanting this, Better that sixty of my fourscore years Had been already where--how soon, I care not-- 320 The whole must be extinguished;--better that They ne'er had been, than drag me on to be The thing these arch-oppressors fain would make me.

Let me consider--of efficient troops There are three thousand posted at----

_Enter_ VINCENZO _and_ ISRAEL BERTUCCIO.

_Vin_. May it please Your Highness, the same patron whom I spake of Is here to crave your patience.

_Doge_. Leave the chamber, Vincenzo.-- [_Exit_ VINCENZO.

Sir, you may advance--what would you?

_I. Ber_. Redress.

_Doge_. Of whom?

_I. Ber_. Of G.o.d and of the Doge.

_Doge_. Alas! my friend, you seek it of the twain 330 Of least respect and interest in Venice.

You must address the Council.

_I. Ber_. 'Twere in vain; For he who injured me is one of them.

_Doge_. There's blood upon thy face--how came it there?

_I. Ber_. 'Tis mine, and not the first I've shed for Venice, But the first shed by a Venetian hand: A n.o.ble smote me.

_Doge_. Doth he live?

_I. Ber_. Not long-- But for the hope I had and have, that you, My Prince, yourself a soldier, will redress Him, whom the laws of discipline and Venice 340 Permit not to protect himself:--if not-- I say no more.

_Doge_. But something you would do-- Is it not so?

_I. Ber_. I am a man, my Lord.

_Doge_. Why so is he who smote you.

_I. Ber_. He is called so; Nay, more, a n.o.ble one--at least, in Venice: But since he hath forgotten that I am one, And treats me like a brute, the brute may turn-- 'Tis said the worm will.

_Doge_. Say--his name and lineage?

_I. Ber_. Barbaro.

_Doge_. What was the cause? or the pretext?

_I. Ber_. I am the chief of the a.r.s.enal,[392] employed 350 At present in repairing certain galleys But roughly used by the Genoese last year.

This morning comes the n.o.ble Barbaro[393]

Full of reproof, because our artisans Had left some frivolous order of his house, To execute the state's decree: I dared To justify the men--he raised his hand;-- Behold my blood! the first time it e'er flowed Dishonourably.

_Doge_. Have you long time served?

_I. Ber_. So long as to remember Zara's siege, 360 And fight beneath the Chief who beat the Huns there, Sometime my general, now the Doge Faliero.--

_Doge_. How! are we comrades?--the State's ducal robes Sit newly on me, and you were appointed Chief of the a.r.s.enal ere I came from Rome; So that I recognised you not. Who placed you?

_I. Ber_. The late Doge; keeping still my old command As patron of a galley: my new office Was given as the reward of certain scars (So was your predecessor pleased to say): 370 I little thought his bounty would conduct me To his successor as a helpless plaintiff; At least, in such a cause.

_Doge_. Are you much hurt?

_I. Ber_. Irreparably in my self-esteem.

_Doge_. Speak out; fear nothing: being stung at heart, What would you do to be revenged on this man?

_I. Ber_. That which I dare not name, and yet will do.

_Doge_. Then wherefore came you here?

_I. Ber_. I come for justice, Because my general is Doge, and will not See his old soldier trampled on. Had any, 380 Save Faliero, filled the ducal throne, This blood had been washed out in other blood.

_Doge_. You come to me for justice--unto _me!_ The Doge of Venice, and I cannot give it; I cannot even obtain it--'twas denied To me most solemnly an hour ago!

_I. Ber_. How says your Highness?

_Doge_. Steno is condemned To a month's confinement.

_I. Ber_. What! the same who dared To stain the ducal throne with those foul words, That have cried shame to every ear in Venice? 390

_Doge_. Aye, doubtless they have echoed o'er the a.r.s.enal, Keeping due time with every hammer's clink, As a good jest to jolly artisans; Or making chorus to the creaking oar, In the vile tune of every galley-slave, Who, as he sung the merry stave, exulted _He_ was not a shamed dotard like the Doge.

_I. Ber_. Is't possible? a month's imprisonment!

No more for Steno?

_Doge_. You have heard the offence, And now you know his punishment; and then 400 You ask redress of _me_! Go to the Forty, Who pa.s.sed the sentence upon Michel Steno; They'll do as much by Barbaro, no doubt.

_I. Ber_. Ah! dared I speak my feelings!

_Doge_. Give them breath.

Mine have no further outrage to endure.

_I. Ber_. Then, in a word, it rests but on your word To punish and avenge--I will not say _My_ petty wrong, for what is a mere blow, However vile, to such a thing as I am?-- But the base insult done your state and person. 410