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 passed 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 passion 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 pass 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_.
Noble 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.