Jac. Fos. Aye, there it is; 'tis like a mother's curse I fear, by the prevention of the state's As threads, which may be broken at her pleasure), 190 They, Yes-with many a pang ! But I can leave them, children as they are, To teach you to be less a child. From this Learn you to sway your feelings, when exacted By duties paramount; and 'tis our first On earth to bear. Jac. Fos. Mar. Have I not borne ? Too much From tyrannous injustice, and enough To teach you not to shrink now from a lot, Which, as compared with what you have undergone Of late, is mercy. Jac. Fos. Ah! you never yet Were far away from Venice, never saw Her beautiful towers in the receding distance, While every furrow of the vessel's track Seemed ploughing deep into your heart; you never So calmly with its gold and crimson glory, And after dreaming a disturbéd vision Of them and theirs, awoke and found them not. Let us think Of our departure from this much-loved city, i. 200 210 220 Jac. Fos. That 's sudden. Shall I not behold my father? He said not which. I would that you could bear Jac. Fos. Blame him not. Mar. Accumulated! 230 That of leaving What pangs are those they have spared you? Jac. Fos. Venice without beholding him or you, Which might have been forbidden now, as 'twas Mar. That is true, And thus far I am also the State's debtor, Jac. Fos. Curse it not. If I am silent, Who dares accuse my Country? Men and Angels! 240 The blood of myriads reeking up to Heaven, Though last, not least, thy silence! Couldst thou say Jac. Fos. Let us address us then, since so it must be, To our departure. Who comes here? VOL. V. M I did not deem this poor place could have drawn The last, were all men's merits well rewarded. As spy upon us, or as hostage for us? Lor. Neither are of my office, noble Lady! I am sent hither to your husband, to Announce "the Ten's" decree. Mar. That tenderness Has been anticipated: it is known. 250 Mar. I have informed him, not so gently, 260 Doubtless, as your nice feelings would prescribe, The indulgence of your colleagues; but he knew it. If you come for our thanks, take them, and hence ! The dungeon gloom is deep enough without you, And full of reptiles, not less loathsome, though Their sting is honester. Jac. Fos. I pray you, calm you: Repeat-not long. Lor. I said-for life. And I A year's imprisonment In Canea-afterwards the freedom of The whole isle. Jac. Fos. Both the same to me: the after Yes, Freedom as is the first imprisonment. Lor. If she so wills it. Mar. Who obtained that justice? Men: howsoever let him have my thanks But oppresses 281 For the only boon I would have asked or taken Lor. As they are offered. Mar. So much!-no more. He receives them May they thrive with him. Is this, sir, your whole mission? Because we have brief time for preparation, And you perceive your presence doth disquiet This lady, of a house noble as yours. Mar. Nobler! Lor. Mar. How nobler? As more generous ! We say the "generous steed" to express the purity 290 From those Venetians who have skirred 2 the coasts And why not say as soon the "generous man?” 1. [For "steeds of brass," compare Childe Harold, Canto IV. stanza xiii. line 1, Poetical Works, 1899, ii. 338, and 336, note 1.] 2. [The first and all subsequent editions read "skimmed the coasts." Byron wrote "skirred," a word borrowed from Shakespeare. Compare Siege of Corinth, line 692, Poetical Works, 1900, iii. 480, note 4.] More than in years; and mine, which is as old Of leaves and most mature of fruits, and there Again! still, Marina. See you not, he comes here to glut his hate With a last look upon our misery? Let him partake it! Jac. Fos. That were difficult. Mar. Nothing more easy. He partakes it now— Aye, he may veil beneath a marble brow 300 And sneering lip the pang, but he partakes it. 310 A few brief words of truth shame the Devil's servants No less than Master; I have probed his soul A moment, as the Eternal Fire, ere long, Will reach it always. See how he shrinks from me! I have pierced him to the core of his cold heart. I care not for his frowns! We can but die, Jac. Fos. This is mere insanity. Mar. It may be so; and who hath made us mad? Mar. 320 That 's false ! You came here to enjoy a heartless triumph 330 Your plots could make, and vengeance could desire us, |