The Works of Lord Byron Volume IV Part 64

_I. Ber_. Let us away--hark--the Hour strikes.

_Doge_. On--on-- It is our knell, or that of Venice.--On.

_I. Ber_. Say rather, 'tis her Freedom's rising peal 120 Of Triumph. This way--we are near the place.

[_Exeunt_.

SCENE II.--_The House where the Conspirators meet._

DAGOLINO, DORO, BERTRAM, FEDELE TREVISANO, CALENDARO, ANTONIO DELLE BENDE, ETC., ETC.

_Cal_. (_entering_). Are all here?

_Dag_. All with you; except the three On duty, and our leader Israel, Who is expected momently.

_Cal_. Where's Bertram?

_Ber_. Here!

_Cal_. Have you not been able to complete The number wanting in your company?

_Ber_. I had marked out some: but I have not dared To trust them with the secret, till a.s.sured That they were worthy faith.

_Cal_. There is no need Of trusting to their faith; _who_, save ourselves And our more chosen comrades, is aware 10 Fully of our intent? they think themselves Engaged in secret to the Signory,[421]

To punish some more dissolute young n.o.bles Who have defied the law in their excesses; But once drawn up, and their new swords well fleshed In the rank hearts of the more odious Senators, They will not hesitate to follow up Their blow upon the others, when they see The example of their chiefs, and I for one Will set them such, that they for very shame 20 And safety will not pause till all have perished.

_Ber_. How say you? _all!_

_Cal_. Whom wouldst thou spare?

_Ber_. _I spare?_ I have no power to spare. I only questioned, Thinking that even amongst these wicked men There might be some, whose age and qualities Might mark them out for pity.

_Cal_. Yes, such pity As when the viper hath been cut to pieces, The separate fragments quivering in the sun, In the last energy of venomous life, Deserve and have. Why, I should think as soon 30 Of pitying some particular fang which made One in the jaw of the swoln serpent, as Of saving one of these: they form but links Of one long chain; one ma.s.s, one breath, one body; They eat, and drink, and live, and breed together, Revel, and lie, oppress, and kill in concert,-- So let them die as _one!_[do]

_Dag_. Should _one_ survive, He would be dangerous as the whole; it is not Their number, be it tens or thousands, but The spirit of this Aristocracy 40 Which must be rooted out; and if there were A single shoot of the old tree in life, 'Twould fasten in the soil, and spring again To gloomy verdure and to bitter fruit.

Bertram, we must be firm!

_Cal_. Look to it well Bertram! I have an eye upon thee.

_Ber_. Who Distrusts me?

_Cal_. Not I; for if I did so, Thou wouldst not now be there to talk of trust: It is thy softness, not thy want of faith, Which makes thee to be doubted.

_Ber_. You should know 50 Who hear me, who and what I am; a man Roused like yourselves to overthrow oppression; A kind man, I am apt to think, as some Of you have found me; and if brave or no, You, Calendaro, can p.r.o.nounce, who have seen me Put to the proof; or, if you should have doubts, I'll clear them on your person!

_Cal_. You are welcome, When once our enterprise is o'er, which must not Be interrupted by a private brawl.

_Ber_. I am no brawler; but can bear myself 60 As far among the foe as any he Who hears me; else why have I been selected To be of your chief comrades? but no less I own my natural weakness; I have not Yet learned to think of indiscriminate murder Without some sense of shuddering; and the sight Of blood which spouts through h.o.a.ry scalps is not To me a thing of triumph, nor the death Of man surprised a glory. Well--too well I know that we must do such things on those 70 Whose acts have raised up such avengers; but If there were some of these who could be saved From out this sweeping fate, for our own sakes And for our honour, to take off some stain Of ma.s.sacre, which else pollutes it wholly, I had been glad; and see no cause in this For sneer, nor for suspicion!

_Dag_. Calm thee, Bertram, For we suspect thee not, and take good heart.

It is the cause, and not our will, which asks Such actions from our hands: we'll wash away 80 All stains in Freedom's fountain!

_Enter_ ISRAEL BERTUCCIO, _and the_ DOGE, _disguised_.

_Dag_. Welcome, Israel.

_Consp_. Most welcome.--Brave Bertuccio, thou art late-- Who is this stranger?

_Cal_. It is time to name him.

Our comrades are even now prepared to greet him In brotherhood, as I have made it known That thou wouldst add a brother to our cause, Approved by thee, and thus approved by all, Such is our trust in all thine actions. Now Let him unfold himself.

_I. Ber_. Stranger, step forth!

[_The Doge discovers himself_.

_Consp_. To arms!--we are betrayed--it is the Doge! 90 Down with them both! our traitorous captain, and The tyrant he hath sold us to.

_Cal_. (_drawing his sword_). Hold! hold!

Who moves a step against them dies. Hold! hear Bertuccio--What! are you appalled to see A lone, unguarded, weaponless old man Amongst you?--Israel, speak! what means this mystery?

_I. Ber_. Let them advance and strike at their own bosoms, Ungrateful suicides! for on our lives Depend their own, their fortunes, and their hopes.

_Doge_. Strike!--If I dreaded death, a death more fearful 100 Than any your rash weapons can inflict, I should not now be here: Oh, n.o.ble Courage!

The eldest born of Fear, which makes you brave Against this solitary h.o.a.ry head!

See the bold chiefs, who would reform a state And shake down senates, mad with wrath and dread At sight of one patrician! Butcher me!

You can, I care not.--Israel, are these men The mighty hearts you spoke of? look upon them!

_Cal_. Faith! he hath shamed us, and deservedly, 110 Was this your trust in your true Chief Bertuccio, To turn your swords against him and his guest?

Sheathe them, and hear him.

_I. Ber_. I disdain to speak.

They might and must have known a heart like mine Incapable of treachery; and the power They gave me to adopt all fitting means To further their design was ne'er abused.

They might be certain that who e'er was brought By me into this Council had been led To take his choice--as brother, or as victim. 120

_Doge_. And which am I to be? your actions leave Some cause to doubt the freedom of the choice.

_I. Ber_. My Lord, we would have perished here together, Had these rash men proceeded; but, behold, They are ashamed of that mad moment's impulse, And droop their heads; believe me, they are such As I described them.--Speak to them.

_Cal_. Aye, speak; We are all listening in wonder.[dp]

_I. Ber_. (_addressing the conspirators_). You are safe, Nay, more, almost triumphant--listen then, And know my words for truth.

_Doge_. You see me here, 130 As one of you hath said, an old, unarmed, Defenceless man; and yesterday you saw me Presiding in the hall of ducal state, Apparent Sovereign of our hundred isles,[dq][422]

Robed in official purple, dealing out The edicts of a power which is not mine, Nor yours, but of our masters--the patricians.

Why I was there you know, or think you know; Why I am _here_, he who hath been most wronged, He who among you hath been most insulted, 140 Outraged and trodden on, until he doubt If he be worm or no, may answer for me, Asking of his own heart what brought him here?

You know my recent story, all men know it, And judge of it far differently from those Who sate in judgement to heap scorn on scorn.

But spare me the recital--it is here, Here at my heart the outrage--but my words, Already spent in unavailing plaints, Would only show my feebleness the more, 150 And I come here to strengthen even the strong, And urge them on to deeds, and not to war With woman's weapons; but I need not urge you.

Our private wrongs have sprung from public vices, In this--I cannot call it commonwealth, Nor kingdom, which hath neither prince nor people, But all the sins of the old Spartan state[dr]