Remember
that of man, and curb this passion.
Byron
F.
_ For the sake
Of Heaven and all its saints, my Lord--
_Doge_. Away! 90
Oh, that the Genoese were in the port!
Oh, that the Huns whom I o'erthrew at Zara[385]
Were ranged around the palace!
_Ber. F. _ 'Tis not well
In Venice' Duke to say so.
_Doge_. Venice' Duke!
Who now is Duke in Venice? let me see him,
That he may do me right.
_Ber. F. _ If you forget
Your office, and its dignity and duty.
Remember that of man, and curb this passion.
The Duke of Venice----
_Doge_ (_interrupting him_). There is no such thing--
It is a word--nay, worse--a worthless by-word: 100
The most despised, wronged, outraged, helpless wretch,
Who begs his bread, if 'tis refused by one,
May win it from another kinder heart;
But he, who is denied his right by those
Whose place it is to do no wrong, is poorer
Than the rejected beggar--he's a slave--
And that am I--and thou--and all our house,
Even from this hour; the meanest artisan
Will point the finger, and the haughty noble
May spit upon us:--where is our redress? 110
_Ber. F. _ The law, my Prince--
_Doge_ (_interrupting him_). You see what it has done;
I asked no remedy but from the law--[386]
I sought no vengeance but redress by law--
I called no judges but those named by law--
As Sovereign, I appealed unto my subjects,
The very subjects who had made me Sovereign,
And gave me thus a double right to be so.
The rights of place and choice, of birth and service,
Honours and years, these scars, these hoary hairs,
The travel--toil--the perils--the fatigues-- 120
The blood and sweat of almost eighty years,
Were weighed i' the balance, 'gainst the foulest stain,
The grossest insult, most contemptuous crime
Of a rank, rash patrician--and found wanting!
And this is to be borne!
_Ber. F. _ I say not that:--
In case your fresh appeal should be rejected,
We will find other means to make all even.
_Doge_. Appeal again! art thou my brother's son?
A scion of the house of Faliero?
Of Heaven and all its saints, my Lord--
_Doge_. Away! 90
Oh, that the Genoese were in the port!
Oh, that the Huns whom I o'erthrew at Zara[385]
Were ranged around the palace!
_Ber. F. _ 'Tis not well
In Venice' Duke to say so.
_Doge_. Venice' Duke!
Who now is Duke in Venice? let me see him,
That he may do me right.
_Ber. F. _ If you forget
Your office, and its dignity and duty.
Remember that of man, and curb this passion.
The Duke of Venice----
_Doge_ (_interrupting him_). There is no such thing--
It is a word--nay, worse--a worthless by-word: 100
The most despised, wronged, outraged, helpless wretch,
Who begs his bread, if 'tis refused by one,
May win it from another kinder heart;
But he, who is denied his right by those
Whose place it is to do no wrong, is poorer
Than the rejected beggar--he's a slave--
And that am I--and thou--and all our house,
Even from this hour; the meanest artisan
Will point the finger, and the haughty noble
May spit upon us:--where is our redress? 110
_Ber. F. _ The law, my Prince--
_Doge_ (_interrupting him_). You see what it has done;
I asked no remedy but from the law--[386]
I sought no vengeance but redress by law--
I called no judges but those named by law--
As Sovereign, I appealed unto my subjects,
The very subjects who had made me Sovereign,
And gave me thus a double right to be so.
The rights of place and choice, of birth and service,
Honours and years, these scars, these hoary hairs,
The travel--toil--the perils--the fatigues-- 120
The blood and sweat of almost eighty years,
Were weighed i' the balance, 'gainst the foulest stain,
The grossest insult, most contemptuous crime
Of a rank, rash patrician--and found wanting!
And this is to be borne!
_Ber. F. _ I say not that:--
In case your fresh appeal should be rejected,
We will find other means to make all even.
_Doge_. Appeal again! art thou my brother's son?
A scion of the house of Faliero?
