The Works of Lord Byron Volume V Part 34

_Enter an Officer hastily_.

_Mem._ How now, friend, what seek you? 250

_Offi._ A leech. The prisoner has fainted. [_Exit Officer_.

_Mem._ Lady, 'Twere better to retire.

_Sen._ (_offering to a.s.sist her_), I pray thee do so.

_Mar._ Off! _I_ will tend him.

_Mem._ You! Remember, lady!

Ingress is given to none within those chambers Except "the Ten," and their familiars.

_Mar._ Well, I know that none who enter there return As they have entered--many never; but They shall not balk my entrance.

_Mem._ Alas! this Is but to expose yourself to harsh repulse, And worse suspense.

_Mar._ Who shall oppose me?

_Mem._ They 260 Whose duty 'tis to do so.

_Mar._ 'Tis _their_ duty To trample on all human feelings, all Ties which bind man to man, to emulate The fiends who will one day requite them in Variety of torturing! Yet I'll pa.s.s.

_Mem._ It is impossible.

_Mar._ That shall be tried.[ay]

Despair defies even despotism: there is That in my heart would make its way through hosts With levelled spears; and think you a few jailors Shall put me from my path? Give me, then, way; 270 This is the Doge's palace; I am wife Of the Duke's son, the _innocent_ Duke's son, And they shall hear this!

_Mem._ It will only serve More to exasperate his judges.

_Mar._ What Are _judges_ who give way to anger? they Who do so are a.s.sa.s.sins. Give me way. [_Exit_ MARINA.

_Sen._ Poor lady!

_Mem._ 'Tis mere desperation: she Will not be admitted o'er the threshold.

_Sen._ And Even if she be so, cannot save her husband.

But, see, the officer returns.

[_The Officer pa.s.ses over the stage with another person_.

_Mem._ I hardly 280 Thought that "the Ten" had even this touch of pity, Or would permit a.s.sistance to this sufferer.

_Sen._ Pity! Is't pity to recall to feeling The wretch too happy to escape to Death By the compa.s.sionate trance, poor Nature's last Resource against the tyranny of pain?

_Mem._ I marvel they condemn him not at once.

_Sen._ That's not their policy: they'd have him live, Because he fears not death; and banish him, Because all earth, except his native land, 290 To him is one wide prison, and each breath Of foreign air he draws seems a slow poison, Consuming but not killing.

_Mem._ Circ.u.mstance Confirms his crimes, but he avows them not.

_Sen._ None, save the Letter, which, he says, was written Addressed to Milan's duke, in the full knowledge That it would fall into the Senate's hands, And thus he should be re-conveyed to Venice.[45]

_Mem._ But as a culprit.

_Sen._ Yes, but to his country; And that was all he sought,--so he avouches. 300

_Mem._ The accusation of the bribes was proved.

_Sen._ Not clearly, and the charge of homicide Has been annulled by the death-bed confession Of Nicolas Erizzo, who slew the late Chief of "the Ten."[46]

_Mem._ Then why not clear him?

_Sen._ That They ought to answer; for it is well known That Almoro Donato, as I said, Was slain by Erizzo for private vengeance.

_Mem._ There must be more in this strange process than The apparent crimes of the accused disclose-- 310 But here come two of "the Ten;" let us retire.

[_Exeunt_ MEMMO _and Senator_.

_Enter_ LOREDANO _and_ BARBARIGO.

_Bar._ (_addressing_ LOR.).

That were too much: believe me, 'twas not meet The trial should go further at this moment.

_Lor._ And so the Council must break up, and Justice Pause in her full career, because a woman Breaks in on our deliberations?

_Bar._ No, That's not the cause; you saw the prisoner's state.

_Lor._ And had he not recovered?

_Bar._ To relapse Upon the least renewal.

_Lor._ 'Twas not tried.

_Bar._ 'Tis vain to murmur; the majority 320 In council were against you.

_Lor._ Thanks to _you_, sir, And the old ducal dotard, who combined The worthy voices which o'er-ruled my own.

_Bar._ I am a judge; but must confess that part Of our stern duty, which prescribes the Question,[47]

And bids us sit and see its sharp infliction, Makes me wish--

_Lor._ What?

_Bar._ That _you_ would _sometimes_ feel, As I do always.

_Lor._ Go to, you're a child, Infirm of feeling as of purpose, blown About by every breath, shook[48] by a sigh, 330 And melted by a tear--a precious judge For Venice! and a worthy statesman to Be partner in my policy.

_Bar._ He shed No tears.

_Lor._ He cried out twice.