Читать книгу Teresa Contarini - Elizabeth F. Ellet - Страница 5

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Scene Venice

Grand Council Chamber. Doge and Senators discovered in debate.

Doge

I would not counsel to severity.If Venice be in danger, she has armsTo 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 growthBy our delay? Spain looks with eager eyeTo find some crevice in the wall of safetyWherewith our vigilance hath hedged the state:---France joins the envious league;---their minions lurkWithin the city's bounds, to discontentStirring the populace.---But one way offersSecurity---let laws too often slightedReign in full force.

Contarini

It doth become us hereTo 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 signalTo crush the offender.

Veniero

For the guilty, armYour power with all its terrors. Be severe,And firm, but frame not laws whose weight must fallUpon a thousand innocent heads, to reachOne that deserves their penalty.

Loredano

Would you barThe course of justice?

Veniero

Justice! ye misnameWhat is but cruelty. Is not your powerAlready vast enough? If the pale slaveWhisper 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 rightIt should be so. The multitude esteemEach 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 seedsThat ripen for destruction.---Ours the chargeTo seek and root them out.---Look on the yearsOf our brave ancestors. The sacred yokeOf laws severe, inflexible and just,They bore unmurmuring---and the citizenLearned here the lesson to all ItalyBesides, unknown---to govern and obey!'On such a policy shone days of splendor:Easy was then the task to put to routThe Gallic fleets; to humble Frederick's prideIn a single conflict---and on every towerRaised 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 EuropeLeagued for our injury, alone and armedStood forth the genius of Venetian power.'Now times are changed. Now crime unblushing claimsImpunity. 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 peopleWho boasts himself a statesman, and would hereLet crime pass scatheless.

Veniero

Nay---why fix you thusYour 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 letThe 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 nowAnother duty. Summon Foscarini.

[ A guard goes out, and returns with Foscarini.

Antonio Foscarini!To you our council hath decreed the trustOf the embassy to Switzerland. We willThat you depart to-night.

Foscarini

My gracious lord,Humble, yet grateful, I receive the trustYou'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 remainsTo show thee, Foscarini, ere we part,The prince merged in the friend:---I was thy father's.Say, if my efforts can in aught availTo do thee service?

Foscarini

I do prize your goodness:Will tax it for one boon. There is a maidWithin 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 askAs if the Doge did govern here, and were notMost bound to servitude. Yet will I watchOver their safety.

Foscarini

And if peril threaten,Inform me of the danger?

Doge

That I promise.

Foscarini

Enough! with lighter heart I shall now leaveMy native city. Fare you well!

Doge

Heaven guard you.

[ Exeunt severally.