The Works of Lord Byron Volume V Part 47

The victims are not equal; he has seen His sons expire by natural deaths, and I My sires by violent and mysterious maladies. 280 I used no poison, bribed no subtle master Of the destructive art of healing, to Shorten the path to the eternal cure.

His sons--and he had four--are dead, without _My_ dabbling in vile drugs.

_Bar._ And art thou sure He dealt in such?

_Lor._ Most sure.

_Bar._ And yet he seems All openness.

_Lor._ And so he seemed not long Ago to Carmagnuola.

_Bar._ The attainted And foreign traitor?

_Lor._ Even so: when _he_, After the very night in which "the Ten" 290 (Joined with the Doge) decided his destruction, Met the great Duke at daybreak with a jest, Demanding whether he should augur him "The good day or good night?" his Doge-ship answered, "That he in truth had pa.s.sed a night of vigil, In which" (he added with a gracious smile) "There often has been question about you."[76]

'Twas true; the question was the death resolved Of Carmagnuola, eight months ere he died; And the old Doge, who knew him doomed, smiled on him 300 With deadly cozenage, eight long months beforehand-- Eight months of such hypocrisy as is Learnt but in eighty years. Brave Carmagnuola Is dead; so is young Foscari and his brethren-- I never _smiled_ on _them_.

_Bar._ Was Carmagnuola Your friend?

_Lor._ He was the safeguard of the city.

In early life its foe, but in his manhood, Its saviour first, then victim.

_Bar._ Ah! that seems The penalty of saving cities. He Whom we now act against not only saved 310 Our own, but added others to her sway.

_Lor._ The Romans (and we ape them) gave a crown To him who took a city: and they gave A crown to him who saved a citizen In battle: the rewards are equal. Now, If we should measure forth the cities taken By the Doge Foscari, with citizens Destroyed by him, or _through_ him, the account Were fearfully against him, although narrowed To private havoc, such as between him 320 And my dead father.

_Bar._ Are you then thus fixed?

_Lor._ Why, what should change me?

_Bar._ That which changes me.

But you, I know, are marble to retain A feud. But when all is accomplished, when The old man is deposed, his name degraded, His sons all dead, his family depressed, And you and yours triumphant, shall you sleep?

_Lor._ More soundly.

_Bar._ That's an error, and you'll find it Ere you sleep with your fathers.

_Lor._ They sleep not In their accelerated graves, nor will 330 Till Foscari fills his. Each night I see them Stalk frowning round my couch, and, pointing towards The ducal palace, marshal me to vengeance.

_Bar._ Fancy's distemperature! There is no pa.s.sion More spectral or fantastical than Hate; Not even its opposite, Love, so peoples air With phantoms, as this madness of the heart.

_Enter an Officer_.

_Lor._ Where go you, sirrah?

_Offi._ By the ducal order To forward the preparatory rites For the late Foscari's interment.

_Bar._ Their 340 Vault has been often opened of late years.

_Lor._ 'Twill be full soon, and may be closed for ever!

_Offi._ May I pa.s.s on?

_Lor._ You may.

_Bar._ How bears the Doge This last calamity?

_Offi._ With desperate firmness.

In presence of another he says little, But I perceive his lips move now and then; And once or twice I heard him, from the adjoining Apartment, mutter forth the words--"My son!"

Scarce audibly. I must proceed. [_Exit Officer_.

_Bar._ This stroke Will move all Venice in his favour.

_Lor._ Right! 350 We must be speedy: let us call together The delegates appointed to convey The Council's resolution.

_Bar._ I protest Against it at this moment.

_Lor._ As you please-- I'll take their voices on it ne'ertheless, And see whose most may sway them, yours or mine.

[_Exeunt_ BARBARIGO _and_ LOREDANO.

ACT V.

SCENE I.--_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.

_Doge_. What 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 10 To overtake me.

_Enter the Deputation, consisting of six of the Signory and the Chief of the Ten_.

n.o.ble 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.