The Works of Lord Byron Volume V Part 35

_Bar._ A Saint had done so, Even with the crown of Glory in his eye, At such inhuman artifice of pain As was forced on him; but he did not cry[az]

For pity; not a word nor groan escaped him, And those two shrieks were not in supplication, But wrung from pangs, and followed by no prayers. 340

_Lor._ He muttered many times between his teeth, But inarticulately.[49]

_Bar._ That I heard not: You stood more near him.

_Lor._ I did so.

_Bar._ Methought, To my surprise too, you were touched with mercy, And were the first to call out for a.s.sistance When he was failing.

_Lor._ I believed that swoon His last.

_Bar._ And have I not oft heard thee name His and his father's death your nearest wish?

_Lor._ If he dies innocent, that is to say, With his guilt unavowed, he'll be lamented. 350

_Bar._ What, wouldst thou slay his memory?

_Lor._ Wouldst thou have His state descend to his children, as it must, If he die unattainted?

_Bar._ War with _them_ too?

_Lor._ With all their house, till theirs or mine are nothing.

_Bar._ And the deep agony of his pale wife, And the repressed convulsion of the high And princely brow of his old father, which Broke forth in a slight shuddering, though rarely, Or in some clammy drops, soon wiped away In stern serenity; these moved you not? 360 [_Exit_ LOREDANO.

He's silent in his hate, as Foscari Was in his suffering; and the poor wretch moved me More by his silence than a thousand outcries Could have effected. 'Twas a dreadful sight When his distracted wife broke through into The hall of our tribunal, and beheld What we could scarcely look upon, long used To such sights. I must think no more of this, Lest I forget in this compa.s.sion for Our foes, their former injuries, and lose 370 The hold of vengeance Loredano plans For him and me; but mine would be content With lesser retribution than he thirsts for, And I would mitigate his deeper hatred To milder thoughts; but, for the present, Foscari Has a short hourly respite, granted at The instance of the elders of the Council, Moved doubtless by his wife's appearance in The hall, and his own sufferings.--Lo! they come: How feeble and forlorn! I cannot bear 380 To look on them again in this extremity: I'll hence, and try to soften Loredano.[ba]

[_Exit_ BARBARIGO.

ACT II.

SCENE I.--_A hall in the_ DOGE'S _Palace_.

_The_ DOGE _and a Senator_.

_Sen._ Is it your pleasure to sign the report Now, or postpone it till to-morrow?

_Doge_. Now; I overlooked it yesterday: it wants Merely the signature. Give me the pen-- [_The_ DOGE _sits down and signs the paper_.

There, Signor.

_Sen._ (_looking at the paper_). You have forgot; it is not signed.

_Doge_. Not signed? Ah, I perceive my eyes begin To wax more weak with age. I did not see That I had dipped the pen without effect.[bb]

_Sen._ (_dipping the pen into the ink, and placing the paper before the_ DOGE). Your hand, too, shakes, my Lord: allow me, thus--

_Doge_. 'Tis done, I thank you.

_Sen._ Thus the act confirmed 10 By you and by "the Ten" gives peace to Venice.

_Doge_. 'Tis long since she enjoyed it: may it be As long ere she resume her arms!

_Sen._ 'Tis almost Thirty-four years of nearly ceaseless warfare With the Turk, or the powers of Italy; The state had need of some repose.

_Doge_. No doubt: I found her Queen of Ocean, and I leave her Lady of Lombardy; it is a comfort[bc]

That I have added to her diadem The gems of Brescia and Ravenna; Crema[50] 20 And Bergamo no less are hers; her realm By land has grown by thus much in my reign, While her sea-sway has not shrunk.

_Sen._ 'Tis most true, And merits all our country's grat.i.tude.

_Doge_. Perhaps so.

_Sen._ Which should be made manifest.

_Doge_. I have not complained, sir.

_Sen._ My good Lord, forgive me.

_Doge_. For what?

_Sen._ My heart bleeds for you.

_Doge_. For me, Signor?

_Sen._ And for your----

_Doge_. Stop!

_Sen._ It must have way, my Lord: I have too many duties towards you And all your house, for past and present kindness, 30 Not to feel deeply for your son.

_Doge_. Was this In your commission?

_Sen._ What, my Lord?

_Doge_. This prattle Of things you know not: but the treaty's signed; Return with it to them who sent you.

_Sen._ I Obey. I had in charge, too, from the Council, That you would fix an hour for their reunion.

_Doge_. Say, when they will--now, even at this moment, If it so please them: I am the State's servant.

_Sen._ They would accord some time for your repose.

_Doge_. I have no repose, that is, none which shall cause 40 The loss of an hour's time unto the State.

Let them meet when they will, I shall be found _Where_ I should be, and _what_ I have been ever.

[_Exit Senator. The_ DOGE _remains in silence_.

_Enter an Attendant_.