The Works of Lord Byron Volume V Part 50

_Doge_. Ah!

Your father was my friend.--But _sons_ and _fathers!_-- What, ho! my servants there!

_Atten._ My Prince!

_Doge_. No Prince-- 200 There are the princes of the Prince!

[_Pointing to the Ten's Deputation_ --Prepare To part from hence upon the instant.

_Chief of the Ten_. Why So rashly? 'twill give scandal.

_Doge_ (_to the Ten_). Answer that; It is your province.

[_To the Servants_.

--Sirs, bestir yourselves: There is one burthen which I beg you bear With care, although 'tis past all farther harm-- But I will look to that myself.

_Bar._ He means The body of his son.

_Doge_. And call Marina, My daughter!

_Enter_ MARINA.

_Doge_. Get thee ready, we must mourn Elsewhere.

_Mar._ And everywhere.

_Doge_. True; but in freedom, 210 Without these jealous spies upon the great.

Signers, you may depart: what would you more?

We are going; do you fear that we shall bear The palace with us? Its _old_ walls, ten times As _old_ as I am, and I'm very old, Have served you, so have I, and I and they Could tell a tale; but I invoke them not To fall upon you! else they would, as erst The pillars of stone Dagon's temple on The Israelite and his Philistine foes. 220 Such power I do believe there might exist In such a curse as mine, provoked by such As you; but I curse not. Adieu, good Signers!

May the next Duke be better than the present!

_Lor._ The _present_ Duke is Paschal Malipiero.

_Doge_. Not till I pa.s.s the threshold of these doors.

_Lor._ Saint Mark's great bell is soon about to toll For his inauguration.

_Doge_. Earth and Heaven!

Ye will reverberate this peal; and I Live to hear this!--the first Doge who e'er heard 230 Such sound for his successor: happier he, My attainted predecessor, stern Faliero-- This insult at the least was spared him.

_Lor._ What!

Do you regret a traitor?

_Doge_. No--I merely Envy the dead.

_Chief of the Ten_. My Lord, if you indeed Are bent upon this rash abandonment Of the State's palace, at the least retire By the private staircase, which conducts you towards The landing-place of the ca.n.a.l.

_Doge_. No. I Will now descend the stairs by which I mounted 240 To sovereignty--the Giants' Stairs, on whose Broad eminence I was invested Duke.

My services have called me up those steps, The malice of my foes will drive me down them.[79]

_There_ five and thirty years ago was I Installed, and traversed these same halls, from which I never thought to be divorced except A corse--a corse, it might be, fighting for them-- But not pushed hence by fellow-citizens.

But come; my son and I will go together-- 250 He to his grave, and I to pray for mine.

_Chief of the Ten_. What! thus in public?

_Doge_. I was publicly Elected, and so will I be deposed.

Marina! art thou willing?

_Mar._ Here's my arm!

_Doge_. And here my _staff_: thus propped will I go forth.

_Chief of the Ten_. It must not be--the people will perceive it.

_Doge_. The people,--There's no people, you well know it, Else you dare not deal thus by them or me.

There is a _populace_, perhaps, whose looks May shame you; but they dare not groan nor curse you, 260 Save with their hearts and eyes.

_Chief of the Ten_. You speak in pa.s.sion, Else----

_Doge_. You have reason. I have spoken much More than my wont: it is a foible which Was not of mine, but more excuses you, Inasmuch as it shows, that I approach A dotage which may justify this deed Of yours, although the law does not, nor will.

Farewell, sirs!

_Bar._ You shall not depart without An escort fitting past and present rank.

We will accompany, with due respect, 270 The Doge unto his private palace. Say!

My brethren, will we not?

_Different voices_. Aye!--Aye!

_Doge_. You shall not Stir--in my train, at least. I entered here As Sovereign--I go out as citizen By the same portals, but as citizen.

All these vain ceremonies are base insults, Which only ulcerate the heart the more, Applying poisons there as antidotes.

Pomp is for Princes--I am none!--That's false, I _am_, but only to these gates.--Ah!

_Lor._ Hark! 280 [_The great bell of St. Mark's tolls_.

_Bar._ The bell!

_Chief of the Ten_. St. Mark's, which tolls for the election Of Malipiero.

_Doge_. Well I recognise The sound! I heard it once, but once before, And that is five and thirty years ago; Even _then_ I _was not young_.

_Bar._ Sit down, my Lord!

You tremble.

_Doge_. 'Tis the knell of my poor boy!

My heart aches bitterly.

_Bar._ I pray you sit.

_Doge_. No; my seat here has been a throne till now.

Marina! let us go.

_Mar._ Most readily.