Elizabeth F. Ellet

“ Dost think I prize my name and fame so lightly, To leave it longer in thy keeping? Look--- The doors are barred. Teresa
Your name and fame! I'll blast it! I'll blast it! not a tongue in this wide Venice But shall dwell on, and scoff at your disgrace! I'll publish it abroad! I will proclaim To all---aye all---and none will dream of doubt, Myself a thing of guilt, that the black stain May reach through me to you, and all you boast! It shall cling to you ever---with its deep And damning blight---and none shall cancel it! Then I will triumph! Contarini
Nay! she is distraught! Teresa---listen! ”

“ Contarini
As you will! You are a queen here, and in queenly right You shall control us all; your regal pleasure The law that we obey. Foscarini (aside)
She does not smile! Her falsehood bears with it the sting, remorse! Contarini
Would music please my noble bride? Teresa (aside)
These lights! My brain grows sick beneath their weary glare! Leave me, I pray you! Nay---nay---heed me not! Let me not mar your mirth! Contarini
I will not leave you: I am too proud to stand beside you. Foscarini (in a low tone)
Aye! She may betray you too! Teresa (aside)
That voice---that voice! ”

“ Veniero
Ungrateful girl! and may not pleasure dwell With pomp? Or dost thou deem his years too many? And know'st not that to such as he, his passion Is an idolatry? Oh! when time has checked The blood's swift current, and made pale the brow With lofty thought, and blanched stern manhood's locks, Love comes with boundless power, and sways the heart A sole, unrivalled sovereign. How doth youth Wear his soft yoke? More lightly than he wears The pageant plume, which every fickle wind Stirs at its will, to be thrown careless by, When he shall weary of its pride! ”

“ Foscarini
You know him not; he'd spurn you, and his slaves Would scoff at you. No---no---I choose my death, Rather than your disgrace! Teresa (clinging to him)
Break not my hold! I caused thy danger---I alone! I'll shield thee With my entwining arms. They shall not strike--- Or if they do---mine---mine---shall be the death! Foscarini
Love! love! my fate Preserves me for embrace so blest as this, Only when I must break from it! Oh! death Would have such sweetness thus! ”

“ But should I not be proud To deck you for your nuptials? Teresa (shuddering)
No! Matilda
Look not So sadly. True---you love not Contarini;--- But who among us thinks to wed for love, When wealth, and rank, and power, and all that's dear To woman's heart, do beckon us to seize them! Oh! trust me! love's a bauble, fit to toy with--- But like the shining plaything of the child, To be thrown by, when riper years bestow Far richer gifts, and teach him 'Twas a trifle He prized before! Teresa
Nay, nay---I need not this. My heart is senseless. It is cold---cold---cold! ”

“ The wife of Contarini! Contarini
Sirs, I pray you, Heed not her words, but yield her to my keeping--- And------ Teresa
To his keeping? his---the murderer! Let him not touch me with his blood-stained hands! My lord! Oh, keep me from his grasp! I'll tell thee All---all! and if my words are wild and wayward, They are truth! If perchance my tongue doth falter, 'Tis not 'he weakness of the conscious soul! Hold! hold! and hear me!' Veniero
My poor child!' Teresa
No child! No child of thine! Who was't I called father? Not one who caused all this! Fie! fie! do fathers Thus immolate their children? ”

“ Enter the Doge, Badoero, Contarini, Teresa, Matilda, and others.
Veniero
Once more we welcome all! Let mirth reign here, Since ne'er a day hath dawned, of joy like this! And Loredano too---I craved his presence; Why comes he not? I harbor no resentments In this glad hour. When happiness o'erflows The heart, its tide doth sweep all evil thoughts Like wrecks, away. He should be welcome here. ”

“ He has bent To sue, who could command; and offers you His greatness and his power, claiming your hand The purchase of such gifts. Teresa
Oh---never! never! Veniero
Come---come---displease me not. What state is proffered That you should slight the boon? A princely one! Why---not a maid in Venice but will gaze In envy on your pomp, as you flaunt by, A queen in all but name! Wed Contarini! The great---the proud! him that would never deign To bend his glance on beauty, emulous To court it! Teresa
Nay---my father! happiness Dwells not with pride! ”

“ The rose perchance Upon her cheek wears not a bloom so rich; Her brow may be less haughty---but 'Tis moulded In form as perfect. Fiorilla
Gallant cavalier! Why in seclusion veil such matchless charms? Contarini
She seeks it. Fiorilla
Undisturbed to muse, no doubt, On you, to greet you with a dearer welcome When you invade her solitude. Happy bridegroom! Whom no tormenting sprite of jealousy Can haunt! whose treasured flower will yield its sweets To him alone---none other! ”

“ If thine Ausonian heaven denies the strength That nerves a mountain race of sterner mould, It gives thee charms whose very softness wins All hearts to worship! Enter Vincentio
By this light---Vincentio? Whence come you, signor? Vincentio
Foscarini? Foscarini
Aye! What news are stirring? Vincentio
None---of note. Foscarini
You come I augur by your garb---from some late festival? Vincentio
A bridal. One of our first citizens To-night doth wed his daughter---and assembles The prime of Venice. Light, and flowers, and smiles, Soon wearied me---who am not wont to toy My hours away in mirth. ”

“ Teresa
My father, go not with them! Some wrong is here. Nay, Signors, ye have sought A culprit---not Veniero, old Veniero, Whose head is grey in service of the state! The friend of Contarini, too! but now He parted hence. Steno
If he be innocent, Let him before the council vindicate His slandered fame, and be dismissed with honor: The guiltless can have nought to dread. Veniero
No more, Teresa! He speaks well. On false pretence St. Mark will ne'er condemn one who has prized His interests so dearly. Let us part. Await here my return, which I will hope Mine innocence shall speed. ”

“ And, Contarini, Darest thou not speak for him, who wast so late His loved and honored guest? or art thou leagued In bitter compact with this scorner here To rob me of his life? Loredano
Let her begone; Must she insult us? Come, the hour draws nigh. Badoero
Your pardon. Heed not words that sorrow utters. She did not mean offence. Teresa
My lord---my lord! There's mercy in your looks; nay they are human. Are you my father's judge? Badoero
Pray you, retire, And be at peace. Teresa
You will not heed the terms "Traitor" and "treachery!" They mean nought---at least Nought---coupled with his name! ”

“ Is not your power Already vast enough? If the pale slave Whisper 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? ”

“ I well can guess Its meaning! (To Foscarini) Dost thou not fear the torture? Foscarini
Ye may tear Emulous, these wretched limbs; your power can never Reach to the soul, unless your hatred dare To chronicle as words the groans that falter Upon the blood-stained lip; here, I repeat it, I will die silent! Badoero
To a gentle judge Give gentle answer. By thy noble country, The honor of thine ancestors, all great In arms and council---by these walls, defended With blood of thine illustrious sire---I pray thee, Spare thine own fame! ”

“ Enter Badoero, Loredano, and Contarini
Loredano
We look to search out guilt among the people, And lo! it greets us on our very threshold! Who would have thought that one so widely trusted, A hero in our wars, one who has borne Honors unnumbered from the generous state, Could prove himself a traitor? ”

“ As we do ever love all gentle things, All glorious things, and holy---the rich flowers--- The brilliant morn---the far and smiling heaven! All these grow sometimes pale;---heaven is o'ercast--- The dawn is clouded---and the fickle flowers Are blighted ere their bloom be ripe!---Oh, tell me, Who shall ensure to love, in chilling absence, Exemption from their change? ”

“ No---Foscarini---no! You could not do so wild, so fierce a wrong, Because the blossom of young life is blighted, To pluck its stem of verdure from the root! Live---for my sake! Hence from this wretched city, Where you are watched, and sought for, as the bloodhound Doth seek his prey! Go---go! we may not meet On earth again. ”

“ Foscarini
You are mine! Good spirits have heard Our vows, and sealed those bonds, which mortal hands Can never loose. Far from this hated land Shine skies as bright---and fields as verdant bloom To bless the fond and true. Escape with me. The ship is waiting---let it bear us far To some propitious clime, where no regrets Or misery shall pursue us. ”

“ Contarini
Proud, wayward girl, remember Whom 'Tis you taunt! Teresa
Full well, my lord, I know There can be few like you. Within yon halls, Some there must be, to whom the voice of justice Shall not unheeded speak. To them I trust--- To Heaven---and to the strength of innocence, And not to you! ”

“ Would the sun in heaven, That fills the world with glory, treasure up His gathered beams for one poor mortal's gaze? Or if he might, would not the dazzling tide O'erwhelm his votary? Florilla's charms Were never made for one---and all who share The sunlight of her smile, may bask in safety; It shines on all alike. ”

“ On every pleasure Some spy doth watch, in mirth's unguarded hour To seize stray thoughts which haply may transgress The straitened bounds of prudence. Leonardo
Hush! you tread Close on its limits now. The mighty ones Are like the gods, invisible and present. Vincentio
Aye, like the gods too, that their cunning visits Their destined victims with a wholesome madness! By Heaven! I'd rather grapple with the Hun, Or serve the turbaned Turk, than linger life out In such concealed bondage! ”

“ Your pardon! The majestic flower that spreads Its beauties to the open eye of day All may admire, and quaff its bounteous fragrance. But love we less some gentle, shrinking bud, That blooms but for our gaze? ”

“ She listens like a goddess, fresh from heaven, To airs that breathe nought heavenly save her name. The winds that wanton, lady, o'er thy lips, Steal thence the fragrance that with prodigal wings They lavish round the world! ”

“ My lord---my lord---the dying speak not falsely!' Doge
It must be so. We have been deceived. (To Badoero) Signor, will you delay the execution? (Tumult and shouts heard without) Badoero (to Memmo)
Whence is this tumult, sir? Memmo
The guards have seized Vincentio, him who stirred the multitude To factious rage without. Contarini
Unheard of treason! Loredano
Move not, I pray you. But a moment past, Ye spoke, if I mistake not, of deferring The prisoner's execution? Badoero
First secure That daring felon. Quell the stir without; That we seem not to yield grace to rebellion. ”

“ Business attends us. Nay, we are not used To admit such counsellors. Teresa
Are you the judges Who fain would close your ears against defence, The culprit's right? Away! there is no place Where innocence may not plead against the wrong Which threatens it---wrong that will harm alike The judges and the accused. I pray you, signors, A word! ye will go hence the imputed crime To judge of one who------ Loredano
Who hath wronged the state. Teresa
No---no! ye do mistake---he never did! Know ye of whom ye speak? 'Tis Veniero, The patriot, the patrician! He do wrong? ”

“ Steeled in an apathy more deep than wo, Which even keen thought can never pierce again. What nights of feverish unrest I've borne, What days of weeping and of bitterness, When I have schooled me to a mocking calmness, While my heart ached within! ”

“ In another age The stain of insult must be washed with blood, Or it grew rank, and spread unsightliness On him that bore it. Now, though thrice reviled, Thrice, at the banquet, in these times the steel 'Tis dangerous to wield. Hate is resisted By wisdom. ”

“ From her veiled lips Her words came slow and solemn, as the oracle Speaks from its cloudy shrine.---Oh! much I fear The fathers of our city are grown stern, And sacrifice to gold and foul ambition Treasures of youthful love. ”

“ Bearing the solemn charge--- A nation's safety---laden with the prayers Of suppliant millions, on his truth who rest Their hopes---their all---yet ready to fling down The mighty burthen, if it impede the way To some light goal of pleasure! ”

“ But, pardon me--- I know not how this artifice may prevent The nuptials of proud Contarini! Fiorilla
Know you That Foscarini loves the maid, and she Returns his passion, bitterly detesting His haughty rival! Let the youthful lover Come at the latest hour---his presence crosses These ill starred nuptials. Leonardo
And you, fairest lady--- Forgive me---is a false admirer worth Such stratagem to regain? Fiorilla
Hear me, Leonardo. You see me but the gay and fickle dame Whose smiles are showered on all ”

“ The multitude esteem Each 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 seeds That ripen for destruction.---Ours the charge To seek and root them out.---Look on the years Of our brave ancestors. ”

“ 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 people Who boasts himself a statesman, and would here Let crime pass scatheless. ”