The Works of Lord Byron Volume IV Part 56

_Doge_. Venice' Duke!

Who now is Duke in Venice? let me see him, That he may do me right.

_Ber. F._ If you forget Your office, and its dignity and duty.

Remember that of man, and curb this pa.s.sion.

The Duke of Venice----

_Doge_ (_interrupting him_). There is no such thing-- It is a word--nay, worse--a worthless by-word: 100 The most despised, wronged, outraged, helpless wretch, Who begs his bread, if 'tis refused by one, May win it from another kinder heart; But he, who is denied his right by those Whose place it is to do no wrong, is poorer Than the rejected beggar--he's a slave-- And that am I--and thou--and all our house, Even from this hour; the meanest artisan Will point the finger, and the haughty n.o.ble May spit upon us:--where is our redress? 110

_Ber. F._ The law, my Prince--

_Doge_ (_interrupting him_). You see what it has done; I asked no remedy but from the law--[386]

I sought no vengeance but redress by law-- I called no judges but those named by law-- As Sovereign, I appealed unto my subjects, The very subjects who had made me Sovereign, And gave me thus a double right to be so.

The rights of place and choice, of birth and service, Honours and years, these scars, these h.o.a.ry hairs, The travel--toil--the perils--the fatigues-- 120 The blood and sweat of almost eighty years, Were weighed i' the balance, 'gainst the foulest stain, The grossest insult, most contemptuous crime Of a rank, rash patrician--and found wanting!

And this is to be borne!

_Ber. F._ I say not that:-- In case your fresh appeal should be rejected, We will find other means to make all even.

_Doge_. Appeal again! art thou my brother's son?

A scion of the house of Faliero?

The nephew of a Doge? and of that blood 130 Which hath already given three dukes to Venice?

But thou say'st well--we must be humble now.

_Ber. F._ My princely Uncle! you are too much moved;-- I grant it was a gross offence, and grossly Left without fitting punishment: but still This fury doth exceed the provocation, Or any provocation: if we are wronged, We will ask justice; if it be denied, We'll take it; but may do all this in calmness-- Deep Vengeance is the daughter of deep Silence. 140 I have yet scarce a third part of your years, I love our house, I honour you, its Chief, The guardian of my youth, and its instructor-- But though I understand your grief, and enter In part of your disdain, it doth appal me To see your anger, like our Adrian waves, O'ersweep all bounds, and foam itself to air.

_Doge_. I tell thee--_must_ I tell thee--what thy father Would have required no words to comprehend?

Hast thou no feeling save the external sense 150 Of torture from the touch? hast thou no soul-- No pride--no pa.s.sion--no deep sense of honour?

_Ber. F._ 'Tis the first time that honour has been doubted, And were the last, from any other sceptic.

_Doge_. You know the full offence of this born villain, This creeping, coward, rank, acquitted felon, Who threw his sting into a poisonous libel,[db]

And on the honour of--Oh G.o.d! my wife, The nearest, dearest part of all men's honour, Left a base slur to pa.s.s from mouth to mouth 160 Of loose mechanics, with all coa.r.s.e foul comments, And villainous jests, and blasphemies obscene; While sneering n.o.bles, in more polished guise, Whispered the tale, and smiled upon the lie Which made me look like them--a courteous wittol, Patient--aye--proud, it may be, of dishonour.

_Ber. F._ But still it was a lie--you knew it false, And so did all men.

_Doge_. Nephew, the high Roman Said, "Caesar's wife must not even be suspected,"[387]

And put her from him.

_Ber. F._ True--but in those days---- 170

_Doge_. What is it that a Roman would not suffer, That a Venetian Prince must bear? old Dandolo[dc]

Refused the diadem of all the Caesars,[388]

And wore the ducal cap _I_ trample on-- Because 'tis now degraded.

_Ber. F._ 'Tis even so.

_Doge_. It is--it is;--I did not visit on The innocent creature thus most vilely slandered Because she took an old man for her lord, For that he had been long her father's friend And patron of her house, as if there were 180 No love in woman's heart but l.u.s.t of youth And beardless faces;--I did not for this Visit the villain's infamy on her, But craved my country's justice on his head, The justice due unto the humblest being Who hath a wife whose faith is sweet to him, Who hath a home whose hearth is dear to him-- Who hath a name whose honour's all to him, When these are tainted by the accursing breath Of Calumny and Scorn.

_Ber. F._ And what redress 190 Did you expect as his fit punishment?

_Doge_. Death! Was I not the Sovereign of the state-- Insulted on his very throne, and made A mockery to the men who should obey me?

Was I not injured as a husband? scorned As man? reviled, degraded, as a Prince?

Was not offence like his a complication Of insult and of treason?--and he lives!

Had he instead of on the Doge's throne Stamped the same brand upon a peasant's stool, 200 His blood had gilt the threshold; for the carle Had stabbed him on the instant.

_Ber. F._ Do not doubt it, He shall not live till sunset--leave to me The means, and calm yourself.

_Doge_. Hold, nephew: this Would have sufficed but yesterday; at present I have no further wrath against this man.

_Ber. F._ What mean you? is not the offence redoubled By this most rank--I will not say--acquittal; For it is worse, being full acknowledgment Of the offence, and leaving it unpunished? 210

_Doge_. It is _redoubled_, but not now by him: The Forty hath decreed a month's arrest-- We must obey the Forty.

_Ber. F._ Obey _them_!

Who have forgot their duty to the Sovereign?

_Doge_. Why, yes;--boy, you perceive it then at last; Whether as fellow citizen who sues For justice, or as Sovereign who commands it, They have defrauded me of both my rights (For here the Sovereign is a citizen); But, notwithstanding, harm not thou a hair 220 Of Steno's head--he shall not wear it long.

_Ber. F._ Not twelve hours longer, had you left to me The mode and means; if you had calmly heard me, I never meant this miscreant should escape, But wished you to suppress such gusts of pa.s.sion, That we more surely might devise together His taking off.

_Doge_. No, nephew, he must live; At least, just now--a life so vile as his Were nothing at this hour; in th' olden time[dd]

Some sacrifices asked a single victim, 230 Great expiations had a hecatomb.

_Ber. F._ Your wishes are my law: and yet I fain Would prove to you how near unto my heart The honour of our house must ever be.

_Doge_. Fear not; you shall have time and place of proof: But be not thou too rash, as I have been.

I am ashamed of my own anger now; I pray you, pardon me.

_Ber. F._ Why, that's my uncle!

The leader, and the statesman, and the chief Of commonwealths, and sovereign of himself! 240 I wondered to perceive you so forget All prudence in your fury at these years, Although the cause--

_Doge_. Aye--think upon the cause-- Forget it not:--When you lie down to rest, Let it be black among your dreams; and when The morn returns, so let it stand between The Sun and you, as an ill-omened cloud Upon a summer-day of festival: So will it stand to me;--but speak not, stir not,-- Leave all to me; we shall have much to do, 250 And you shall have a part.--But now retire, 'Tis fit I were alone.

_Ber. F._ (_taking up and placing the ducal bonnet on the table_).

Ere I depart, I pray you to resume what you have spurned, Till you can change it--haply, for a crown!

And now I take my leave, imploring you In all things to rely upon my duty, As doth become your near and faithful kinsman, And not less loyal citizen and subject.

[Exit BERTUCCIO FALIERO.

_Doge_ (_solus_). Adieu, my worthy nephew.--Hollow bauble!

[_Taking up the ducal cap_.

Beset with all the thorns that line a crown, 260 Without investing the insulted brow With the all-swaying majesty of Kings; Thou idle, gilded, and degraded toy, Let me resume thee as I would a vizor. [_Puts it on_.

How my brain aches beneath thee! and my temples Throb feverish under thy dishonest weight.

Could I not turn thee to a diadem?

Could I not shatter the Briarean sceptre Which in this hundred-handed Senate rules, Making the people nothing, and the Prince 270 A pageant? In my life I have achieved Tasks not less difficult--achieved for them, Who thus repay me! Can I not requite them?

Oh for one year! Oh! but for even a day Of my full youth, while yet my body served My soul as serves the generous steed his lord, I would have dashed amongst them, asking few In aid to overthrow these swoln patricians; But now I must look round for other hands To serve this h.o.a.ry head; but it shall plan 280 In such a sort as will not leave the task Herculean, though as yet 'tis but a chaos Of darkly brooding thoughts: my fancy is In her first work, more nearly to the light Holding the sleeping images of things For the selection of the pausing judgment.-- The troops are few in----

_Enter_ VINCENZO.

_Vin_. There is one without Craves audience of your Highness.