SCENE I.
Grand Council Chamber. Doge and Senators discovered in debate.
Doge.
I would not counsel to severity.
If Venice be in danger, she has arms
To wield the sword against all threatening foes,
And hearts enough to bleed in her defence.
Loredano.
Should we not watch more jealous o’er her rights?
And rather crush rebellion in the bud,
Than pamper it into luxurious growth
By our delay? Spain looks with eager eye
To find some crevice in the wall of safety
Wherewith our vigilance hath hedged the state:—
France joins the envious league;—their minions lurk
Within the city’s bounds, to discontent
Stirring the populace.—But one way offers
Security—let laws too often slighted
Reign in full force.
Contarini.
It doth become us here
To feign sleep, but unclose a thousand eyes;
To treasure up each doubtful sign and word,
To write down sighs.
Loredano.
Let all suspected die!
Let the first breath of treason be the signal
To crush the offender.
Veniero.
For the guilty, arm
Your power with all its terrors. Be severe,
And firm, but frame not laws whose weight must fall
Upon a thousand innocent heads, to reach
One that deserves their penalty.
Loredano.
Would you bar
The course of justice?
Veniero.
Justice! ye misname
What is but cruelty. Is not your power
Already vast enough? If the pale slave
Whisper of you, he bends his brow to earth,
Lifting in awe his trembling hand toward heaven,
And mutters “Those above!” A power so boundless,
Why would you make but tyranny?
Loredano.
’Tis right
It should be so. The multitude esteem
Each god a tyrant, and all tyrants gods.
Not by the force of hostile powers without,
A state will fall, if in herself she bear not,
As doth the human frame, those hidden seeds
That ripen for destruction.—Ours the charge
To seek and root them out.—Look on the years
Of our brave ancestors. The sacred yoke
Of laws severe, inflexible and just,
They bore unmurmuring—and the citizen
Learned here the lesson to all Italy
Besides, unknown—to govern and obey!
‘On such a policy shone days of splendor:
Easy was then the task to put to rout
The Gallic fleets; to humble Frederick’s pride
In a single conflict—and on every tower
Raised by our foes beyond our country’s bounds,
To plant the Lion standard of St. Mark.
Asia then trembled for her kingdom’s safety,
Though Europe intervened; and ’gainst all Europe
Leagued for our injury, alone and armed
Stood forth the genius of Venetian power.’
Now times are changed. Now crime unblushing claims
Impunity. In this degenerate age,
Nor evils will be borne—nor remedies!
And we are branded with the name of tyrants,
By every worthless flatterer of the people
Who boasts himself a statesman, and would here
Let crime pass scatheless.
Veniero.
Nay—why fix you thus
Your glance on me? am I the “worthless flatterer”
Whom you would here denounce?
Loredano.
Even as you will—
Your conscience must reply.
Doge.
Nay—nay—my lords,
Descend not here to brawl. Retire—and let
The vote be taken.
[Contarini and Badoero count the votes.
Senators of Venice,
Ye to the public eye should be as gods,
Not men thus passion moved.
Contarini.
Fathers! the laws have triumphed.
Read the decree.
Badoero (reads.)
“It is hereby enacted, that if any Patrician be seen to hold intercourse in secret with the ambassadors of France or Spain, or pass their thresholds after sunset, he shall be held guilty of treason and shall suffer its penalty.”
Doge.
’Tis well; such is the Senate’s voice. And now
Another duty. Summon Foscarini.
[A guard goes out, and returns with Foscarini.
Antonio Foscarini!
To you our council hath decreed the trust
Of the embassy to Switzerland. We will
That you depart to-night.
Foscarini.
My gracious lord,
Humble, yet grateful, I receive the trust
You’re pleased to invest me with. My years are few,
Yet ripe for strict obedience.
Doge (rising.)
It grows late.
The council is dissolved.
[Exeunt all but Doge and Foscarini.
Small time remains
To show thee, Foscarini, ere we part,
The prince merged in the friend:—I was thy father’s.
Say, if my efforts can in aught avail
To do thee service?
Foscarini.
I do prize your goodness:
Will tax it for one boon. There is a maid
Within this town, I speak not of her beauty,
For that were idle, and you’d smile perchance,
At lover’s rhapsodies——
Doge.
Well, cut them short;
Her name?
Foscarini.
She is the daughter of Veniero;
All Venice knows his feud with Loredano,
Their strife and hate. My suit is briefly this—
From Loredano and his secret arts,
Protect Teresa and her sire.
Doge.
You ask
As if the Doge did govern here, and were not
Most bound to servitude. Yet will I watch
Over their safety.
Foscarini.
And if peril threaten,
Inform me of the danger?
Doge.
That I promise.
Foscarini.
Enough! with lighter heart I shall now leave
My native city. Fare you well!
Doge.
Heaven guard you.
[Exeunt severally.