Memmo. I understand thee, bat I must, To love; but_no_no_no_it must have been not answer.

A fearful pang which wrung a groan from Marina (fiercely). True_none dare answer him. here save on the rack,

Senator. And feeling for thy husband's Or question save those

wrongs, wouldst thon Memmo (interrupting her) High-born Have him bear more than mortal pain, in dame! bethink theo

silence ? Where thou now art.

Marina. We all must bear tortures. I Marina. Where I now am !-It was

have not My husband's father's palace.

Left barren the great house of Foscari, Memmo. "The Duke's palace.

Though they sweep both the Doge and son Marina. And his son's prison ;-true, I

from life; have not forgot it;

I have endured as much in giving life And if there were no other nearer, bitterer To those who will succeed them as they can Remembrances, would thank the illustrious In leaving it: but mine were joyful pangs; Memmo

And yet they wrung me till I could hare For pointing out the pleasures of the place. shriek’d, Memmo. Be calnt !

But did not, for my hope was to bring forth Marina (looking up towards heaven). I Heroes, and would not welcome them with am; but oh, thou eternal God!

tears. Canst thou continue so, with such a world? Memmo. All's silent now. Memmo. Thy husband yet may be ab- Marina. Perhaps all's over, but solved.

I will not deem it: he hath nerved himself, Marina. He is,

And now defies them.
In heaven. I pray yon signor senator,
Speak not of that; you are a man of office,

Enter an Officer hastily.
So is the Doge: he has a son at stake, Memmo. How now, friend, what seek you!
Now, at this moment, and I have a husband, Officer. A leech. The prisoner has fainted.
Or had : they are there within, or were at

[Exit Officer. least

Memmo. Lady, An hour since, face to face, as judge and Twere better to retire. culprit :

Senator (offering to assist her). I pray Will he condemn him ?

thee do so. Memino. I trust, not.

Marina. O! I will tend him. Marina. But if

Memmo. You! Remember, lady! He does not, there are those will sentence Ingress is given to none within those both.

chambers, Memmo. They can.

Except the Ten, and their familiars. Marina. And with them power and will Marina. Well,

I know that none who enter there return In wickedness:-my husband 's lost ! As they have enter'd- many never; but Memmo. Not 80;

They shall not balk my entrance. Justice is judge in Venice.

Memmo. Alas! this Marina. If it were so

Is but to expose yourself to harsh repulse, There now would be no Venice. But let it And worse suspense. Live on, so the good die not, till the hour Marina. Who shall oppose me? Of nature's summons; but the Ten's is Memmo. They quicker,

Whosc duty 'tis to do so. And we must wait on't. Ah! a voice of wail ! Marina. 'Tis their duty

[A faint cry within. To trample on all human feelings, all Senator. Hark!

Ties which bind man to man, to emulate Memmo. Twas a cry of

The fiends, who willone day requite them in Marina. No, no; not my husband's- Variety of torturing ! Yet I'll pass. Not Foscari's.

Memmo. It is impossible. Memmo. The voice was

Marina. That shall be tried. Marina. Not his : no.

Despair defies even despotism : there is He shriek! No; that should be his father's That in my heart would make its way part,

through hosts Not his - not his-he'll die in silence. With levelld spears; and think you a few

[1 faint groan again within. jailors Memmo. What!

Shall put me from my path ? Give me, Again?

Marina. His voice! it seem'd so:I will not This is the Doge's palace; I am wife Believe it. Should he shrink, I cannot of the Duke's son, the innocent Duke's son,

And they shall hear this!

are one

then, way;

that part

Memmo. It will only serve

Lored. And so the Council must break More to exasperate his judges.

up, and Justice Marina. What

Pause in her full career, because a woman Are judges who give way to anger they Breaks in on our deliberations? Who do so are assassins. Give we way. Barb. No,

[Erit Marina. That's not the cause; you saw the prisoner's Senator. Poor lady!

state.
Memmo. "Tis mere desperation ; she Lored. And had he not recover'd ?
Will not be admitted o'er the threshold. Barb. To relapse
Senator. And

Upon the least renewal.
Even if she be so, cannot save her husband. Lored. 'Twas not tried.
But, see, the officer returns.

Barb. 'Tis vain to murmur; the majority [The officer passes over the stage In council were against you. with another person.

Lored. Thanks to you, sir, Memmo. I hardly

And the old ducal dotard, who combined Thought that the Ten had even this touch | The worthy voices which o'erruled my own. of pity,

Barb. I am a judge; but must confess Or would permit assistance to this sufferer.

Senator. Pity! Is 't pity to recal to feeling of our stern duty, which prescribes the The wretch too happy to escape to death question, By the compassionate trance, poor nature's And bids us sit and see its sharp infliction, last

Makes me wish Resource against the tyranny of pain ? Lored. What? Memmo. I marvel they condemn him not Barb. That You would sometimes feel, at once.

As I do always. Senator. That's not their policy: they'd Lored. Go to, you're a child, have him live,

Infirm of feeling as of purpose, blown Because he fears not death ; and banish him, About by every breath', shook by a sigh, Because all earth, except his native land, And melted by a tear--a precious judge To him is one wide prison, and each breath For Venice ! and a worthy statesman to Of foreign air he draws seems a slow poison, Be partner in my policy! Consuming but not killing.

Barb. He shed
Memmo. Circumstance

No tears.
Confirms his crimes, but he avows them not. Lored. He cried out twice.
Senator. None, save the letter, which he Barb. A saint had done so,
says was written,

Even with the crown of glory in his eye, Address'd to Milan's duke, in the full know- At such inhuman artifice of pain ledge

As was forced on him: but he did not cry That it would fall into the senate's hands, For pity; not a word nor groan escaped him, And thus he should be re-convey'd to Venice. And those two shrieks were not in suppliMemmo. But as a culprit.

cation, Senator. Yes, but to his country: But wrung from pangs, and follow'd by And that was all he sought, so he avouches.

no prayers. Memmo. The accusation of the bribes Lored. He mutter'd many times between was proved.

his teeth, Senator. Not clearly, and the charge of But inarticulately. homicide

Barb. That I heard not ;
Has been annull'd by thedeath-bed confession You stood more near him.
Of Nicolas Erizzo, who slew the late Lored. I did so.
Chief of the Ten.

Barb. Methought, · Memmo. Then why not clear him ? To my surprise too, you were touch'd with Senator. That

mercy, They ought to answer; for it is well known And were the first to call out for assistance That Almoro Donato, as I said,

When he was failing. Was slain by Erizzo for private vengeance.

Lored. I believed that swoon Memmo. There must be more in this His last. strange process than

Barb. And have I not oft heard thee name The apparent crimes of the accused disclose-- His and his father's death your nearest wish? But here come two of the Ten: let us Lored. If he dies innocent, that is to say, retire. (Exeunt Memmo and Senator. With his guilt unavow'd, he'll be lamented.

Barb. What, wouldst thou slay his Enter LOREDANO and BARBARIGO.

memory? Barb. (addressing Loredano) That were Lored. Wouldst thou have

too much: believe me, 'twas not meet His state descend to his children, as it must, The trial should go further at this moment. I If be die unattainted ?

Barb. War with them too?

Senator. Thus the act confirm'd Lored. With all their house, till theirs By you and by the Ten, gives peace to or mine are nothing.

Venice. Barb. And the deep agony of his pale wife, Doge. 'Tis long since she enjoy'd it: may And the repress'd convulsion of the high

it be And princely brow of his old father, which As long ere she resume her arms! Broke forth in a slight shuddering, though Senator. Tis almost rarely,

Thirty-four years of nearly ceaseless warfare Or in some clammy drops, soon wiped away With the Turk, or the powers of Italy; In stern serenity; these moved you not ? The state had need of some repose.

[Exit Loredano. Doge. No doubt: He's silent in his hate, as Foscari

I found her Queen of Ocean, and I leave her Was in his suffering; and the poor wretch Lady of Lombardy: it is a comfort moved me

That I have added to her diadem More by his silence than a thousand outcries The gems of Brescia and Ravenna; Crema Could have effected. 'Twas a dreadful sight And Bergamo no less are hers; her realm When his distracted wife broke through into By land has grown by thus much in my The hall of our tribunal, and beheld

reign, What we could scarcely look upon,long used While her sea-sway has not shrunk. To such sights. I must think no more of Senator. Tis most true, this,

And merits all our country's gratitude. Lost I forget in this compassion for

Doge. Perhaps so. Our focs their former injuries, and lose Scnator. Which should be made manifest. The hold of vengeance Loredano plans Doge. I have not complain'd, sir. For him and me; but mine would be content Senator. My good lord, forgive me. With-lesser retribution than he thirsts for, Doge. For what? And I would mitigate his deeper hatred Senator. My heart bleeds for you. To inilder thoughts; but, for the present, Doge. For me, signor? Foscari

Senator.

And for your-
Has a short hourly respite, granted at Doge. Stop!
The instance of the elders of the Council, Senator. It must have way, my lord:
Moved doubtless by his wifo's appearance in I have too many duties towards you
The hall, and his own sufferings. — Lo! And all your house, for past and present
they come:

kindness,
How feeble and forlorn! I cannot bear Not to feel deeply for your son.
To look on them again in this extremity : Doge. Was this
I'll hence, and try to soften Loredano. In your commission ?

[Exit Barbarigo. Senator. What my lord ?

Doge. This prattle

Of things you know not: but the treaty's A CT II.

signed ;

Return with it to them who sent you. SCENE 1.-llall in the Doge's Palace.

Senator. I obey. I had in charge, too, The Dogs and a SENATOR.

from the Council,

That you would fix an hour for their reSenator. Is it your pleasure to sign the

union. report

Doge. Say, when they will-now, even Now, or postpone it till to-morrow ?

at this moment, Doge. Now;

If it so please them: Iam the state's servant. I overlook d it yesterday: it wants

Senator. They would accord some time Merely the signature. Give me the pen

for your repose. [The Doge sits down and signs the Doge. I have no repose, that is, none paper.

which shall cause There, signor.

The loss of an hour's time unto the state. Senator (looking at the paper). You have Let them meet when they will, I shall be forgot; it is not sign'd.

found Doge. Not sign’d? Ah, I perceive my Where I should be, and what I have been ever. eyes begin

[Erit Senator. To wax more weak with age. I did not see

[The Doge remains in silence. That I had dipp'd the pen without effect. Senator (dipping the pen into the ink,

Enter an Attendant.
and placing the paper before the Attendant. Prince!
Doge). Your hand, too, shakes, Doge. Say on.
my lord: allow me, thus-

Attendant. The illustrious lady Foscari
Doge. Tis done, I thank you.

Requests an audience.

end,

Dogo. Bid her enter. Poor

Dogo. That answer only shows you know Marina! (Exit Attendant.

not Venice. [The Doge remains in silence as before. Alas! how should you ? she knows not

herself, Enter MARINA.

In all her mystery. Hear me---they who aim Marina. I have ventured, father, on At Foscari, aim no less at his father; Your privacy.

The sire's destruction would not save the son; Doge. I have none from you, my child. They work by different means to the same Command my time, when not commanded by The state.

And that is--but they have not conquer'd yet. Marina. I wish'd to speak to you of him. Marina. But they have crush'd. Doge. Your husband?

Doge. Nor crush'd as yet-I live. Marina. And your son.

Marina. And your son,-how long will Doge. Proceed, my daughter!

he live? Marina. I had obtained permission from Doge. I trust, the Ten

For all that yet is past, as many years To attend my husband for a limited number And happier than his father. The rash boy, Of hours.

With womanish impatience to return, Doge. Yon had so.

Hath ruin'd all by that detected letter; Marina. 'Tis revoked.

A high crime, which I neither can deny Doge. By whom?

Nor palliate, as parent or as Duke: Marina. The Ten. When we had Had he but borne a little, little longer

reach'd the Bridge of Sighs, His Candiote exile, I had hopes—he has Which I prepared to pass with Foscari,

quench'd them, The gloomy guardian of that passage first He must return. Demurrid: a messenger was sent back to Marina. To exile ? The Ten; but as the court no longer sate, Doge. I have said it. And no permission had been given in writing, Marina. And can I not go with him? I was thrust back, with the assurance that Doge. You well know Until that high tribunal re-assembled This prayer of yours was twice denied before The dungeon-walls must still divide us. By the assembled Ten, and hardly now Doge. True,

Will be accorded to a third request, The form has been omitted in the haste Since aggravated errors on the part With which the court adjourn'd, and till it of your lord render them still more austere. meets

Marina. Austere ? Atrocious! The old Tis dubious.

human fiends, Marina. Till it meets! and when it meets, With one foot in the grave, with dim eyes, They'll torture him again; and he and I

strange Must purchase by renewal of the rack To tears save drops of dotage, with long The interview of husband and of wife,

white The holiest tie beneath the heavens? – Oh And scanty hairs, and shaking hands, and God!

heads Dost thou see this?

As palsied as their hearts are hard, they Doge. Child-child

council, Marina (abruptly). Call me not child! Cabal, and put men's lives out, as if life You soon will have no children-you deserve Were no more than the feelings long

extinguish'd You, who can talk thus calmly of a son In their accursed bosoms. In circumstances which would call forth Doge. You know not

Marina. I do—I do- and so should you, Of blood from Spartans! Though these did methinks

That these are demons: could it be else that Their boys who died in battle, is it written Men, who have been of women born and That they beheld them perish piecemeal, nor

suckled Stretch'd forth a hand to save them ? Who have loved, or talkd at least of loveDoge. You behold me:

have given I cannot weep-I would I could; but if Their hands in sacred vows- have danced Each white hair on this head were a young

their babes life,

Upon their knees, perhaps have mourn'd This ducal cap the diadem of earth,

above them This ducal ring with which I wed the waves In pain, in peril, or in death-who are, A talisman to still them-I'd give all Or were at least in seeming human, could For him.

Do as they have done by yours, and you Marina With less he surely might be yourself, saved.

You, who abet them?

none

tears

not weep

he not so,

Doge. I forgive this, for

For what he suffers, not for what he did. You know not what you say.

"Tis ye who are all traitors, tyrant!-ye! Marina. You know it well,

Did you but love your country like this And feel it nothing.

victim, Doge. I have borne so much,

Who totters back in chains to tortures, and That words have ceased to shake me. Submits to all things rather than to exile, Marina. Oh, no doubt!

You'd fling yourselves before him, and You have seen your son's blood flow, and implore your flesh shook not;

His grace for your enormous guilt.
And, after that, what are a woman's words? Doge. He was
No more than woman's tears, that they Indeed all you have said. I better bore
should shake you.

The deaths of the two sons Heaven took Doge. Woman, this clamorous grief of

from me
thine, I tell thee,

Than Jacopo's disgrace.
Is no more in the balance weigh'd with that Marina. That word again?
Which- but I pity thee, my poor Marina ! Doge. Has he not been condemnd 3
Marina. Pity my husband, or I cast it Marina. Is none but guilt so?
from me;

Doge. Time may restore his memory-
Pity thy son! Thou pity!-'tis a word

I would hope so. Strange to thy heart - how came it on thy He was my pride, my-but 'tis useless nowlips?

I am not given to tears, but wept for joy Doge. I must bear these reproaches, When he was born: those drops were though they wrong me.

ominous. Couldst thuu but read

Marina. I say he's innocent: and were
Marina. Tis not upon thy brow,
Nor in thine eyes, nor in thine acts, - where Is our own blood and kin to shrink from us
then

In fatal moments ?
Should I behold this sympathy? or shall? Doge. I shrank not from him :

Doge (pointing downwards). There ! But I have other duties than a father's;
Marina. In the earth?

The state would not dispense me from those Doge. To which I am tending: when

duties;
It lies upon this heart, far lightlier, though Twice I demanded it, but was refused;
Loaded with marble, than the thoughts They must then be fulfill'd.
which press it

Enter an Attendant.
Now, you will know me better.
Marina. Are you, then,

Attendant. A message from
Indeed, thus to be pitied ?

The Ten.
Doge. Pitied! None

Doge. Who bears it?
Shall ever use that base word, with which Attendant. Noble Loredano.

Doge. He!-but admit him.
Cloke their soul's hoarded triumph, as a

[Exit Attendant. fit one

Marina. Must I then retire ? To mingle with my name; that name shall be, Doge. Perhaps it is not requisite, if this As far as I have borne it, what it was Concerns your husband, and if not-Well, When I received it.

signor, Marina. But for the poor children

Your pleasure! [To Loredano entering. Of him thou canst not, or thou wilt not save: Lored. I bear that of the Ten. You were the last to bear it.

Doge. They Doge. Would it were so !

Have chosen well their envoy. Better for him he never had been born,

Lored. Tis their choice Better for me.-I have seen our house dis- Which leads me here. honour'd.

Doge. It does their wisdom honour, Marina. That's false! A truer, nobler, And no less to their courtesy.- Proceed. trustier heart,

Lored. We have decided. More loving, or more loyal, never beat

Doge. We? Within a human breast. I would not change Lored. The Ten in council. My exiled, persecuted, mangled husband, Doge. What! have they met again, and Oppress'd but not disgraced, crush'd, over

met without whelm’d,

Apprizing me? Alive, or dead, for prince or paladin Lored. They wish'd to spare your In story or in fable, with a world

feelings, To back his suit. Dishonour'd !-he dis- No less than age. honour'd!

Doge. That's now -- when spared they I tell thee, Doge, 'tis Venice is dishonour'd;

either? His name shall be her foulest, worstreproacb, I thank them, notwithstanding.

men