_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 210 Saw day go down upon your native spires[bo]
So calmly with its gold and crimson glory, And after dreaming a disturbed vision Of them and theirs, awoke and found them not.
_Mar._ I will divide this with you. Let us think Of our departure from this much-loved city, (Since you must _love_ it, as it seems,) and this Chamber of state, her grat.i.tude allots you.
Our children will be cared for by the Doge, And by my uncles; we must sail ere night. 220
_Jac. Fos._ That"s sudden. Shall I not behold my father?
_Mar._ You will.
_Jac. Fos._ Where?
_Mar._ Here, or in the ducal chamber-- He said not which. I would that you could bear Your exile as he bears it.
_Jac. Fos._ Blame him not.
I sometimes murmur for a moment; but He could not now act otherwise. A show Of feeling or compa.s.sion on his part Would have but drawn upon his aged head Suspicion from "the Ten," and upon mine Acc.u.mulated ills.
_Mar._ Acc.u.mulated! 230 What pangs are those they have spared you?
_Jac. Fos._ That of leaving Venice without beholding him or you, Which might have been forbidden now, as "twas Upon my former exile.
_Mar._ That is true, And thus far I am also the State"s debtor, And shall be more so when I see us both Floating on the free waves--away--away-- Be it to the earth"s end, from this abhorred, Unjust, and----
_Jac. Fos._ Curse it not. If I am silent, Who dares accuse my Country?
_Mar._ Men and Angels! 240 The blood of myriads reeking up to Heaven, The groans of slaves in chains, and men in dungeons, Mothers, and wives, and sons, and sires, and subjects, Held in the bondage of ten bald-heads; and Though last, not least, _thy silence! Couldst thou_ say Aught in its favour, who would praise like _thee_?
_Jac. Fos._ Let us address us then, since so it must be, To our departure. Who comes here?
_Enter_ LOREDANO _attended by Familiars_.
_Lor._ (_to the Familiars_). Retire, But leave the torch. [_Exeunt the two Familiars_.
_Jac. Fos._ Most welcome, n.o.ble Signor.
I did not deem this poor place could have drawn 250 Such presence hither.
_Lor._ "Tis not the first time I have visited these places.
_Mar._ Nor would be The last, were all men"s merits well rewarded.
Came you here to insult us, or remain[bp]
As spy upon us, or as hostage for us?
_Lor._ Neither are of my office, n.o.ble Lady!
I am sent hither to your husband, to Announce "the Ten"s" decree.
_Mar._ That tenderness Has been antic.i.p.ated: it is known.
_Lor._ As how?
_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: What can avail such words?
_Mar._ To let him know That he is known.
_Lor._ Let the fair dame preserve Her s.e.x"s privilege.
_Mar._ I have some sons, sir, Will one day thank you better.
_Lor._ You do well 270 To nurse them wisely. Foscari--you know Your sentence, then?
_Jac. Fos._ Return to Candia?
_Lor._ True-- For life.
_Jac. Fos._ Not long.
_Lor._ I said--for _life_.
_Jac. Fos._ And I Repeat--not long.
_Lor._ A year"s imprisonment In Canea--afterwards the freedom of The whole isle.
_Jac. Fos._ Both the same to me: the after Freedom as is the first imprisonment.
Is"t true my wife accompanies me?
_Lor._ Yes, If she so wills it.
_Mar._ Who obtained that justice?
_Lor._ One who wars not with women.
_Mar._ But oppresses 280 Men: howsoever let him have _my_ thanks For the only boon I would have asked or taken From him or such as he is.
_Lor._ He receives them As they are offered.
_Mar._ May they thrive with him So much!--no more.
_Jac. Fos._ 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 n.o.ble as yours.
_Mar._ n.o.bler!
_Lor._ How n.o.bler?
_Mar._ As more generous!
We say the "generous steed" to express the purity 290 Of his high blood. Thus much I"ve learnt, although Venetian (who see few steeds save of bronze),[67]
From those Venetians who have skirred[68] the coasts Of Egypt and her neighbour Araby: And why not say as soon the "_generous man_?"