When all the Chiefs
Have been disposed of.
Have been disposed of.
Byron
I die and pardon thee!
_Cal_. (_spitting at him_). [452] I die and scorn thee!
[_Exeunt_ ISRAEL BERTUCCIO _and_ PHILIP CALENDARO, _Guards, etc_.
_Ben_. Now that these criminals have been disposed of,
'Tis time that we proceed to pass our sentence
Upon the greatest traitor upon record
In any annals, the Doge Faliero!
The proofs and process are complete; the time
And crime require a quick procedure: shall 140
He now be called in to receive the award?
_The Giunta_. Aye, aye.
_Ben_. Avogadori, order that the Doge
Be brought before the Council.
_One of the Giunta_. And the rest,
When shall they be brought up?
_Ben_.
When all the Chiefs
Have been disposed of. Some have fled to Chiozza;
But there are thousands in pursuit of them,
And such precaution ta'en on terra firma,
As well as in the islands, that we hope
None will escape to utter in strange lands
His libellous tale of treasons 'gainst the Senate. 150
_Enter the_ DOGE _as Prisoner, with Guards, etc. , etc. _
_Ben_. Doge--for such still you are, and by the law
Must be considered, till the hour shall come
When you must doff the Ducal Bonnet from
That head, which could not wear a crown more noble
Than Empires can confer, in quiet honour,
But it must plot to overthrow your peers,
Who made you what you are, and quench in blood
A City's glory--we have laid already
Before you in your chamber at full length,
By the Avogadori, all the proofs 160
Which have appeared against you; and more ample
Ne'er reared their sanguinary shadows to
Confront a traitor. What have you to say
In your defence?
_Doge_. What shall I say to ye,
Since my defence must be your condemnation?
You are at once offenders and accusers,
Judges and Executioners! --Proceed
Upon your power.
_Ben_. Your chief accomplices
Having confessed, there is no hope for you.
_Doge_. And who be they?
_Ben_.
_Cal_. (_spitting at him_). [452] I die and scorn thee!
[_Exeunt_ ISRAEL BERTUCCIO _and_ PHILIP CALENDARO, _Guards, etc_.
_Ben_. Now that these criminals have been disposed of,
'Tis time that we proceed to pass our sentence
Upon the greatest traitor upon record
In any annals, the Doge Faliero!
The proofs and process are complete; the time
And crime require a quick procedure: shall 140
He now be called in to receive the award?
_The Giunta_. Aye, aye.
_Ben_. Avogadori, order that the Doge
Be brought before the Council.
_One of the Giunta_. And the rest,
When shall they be brought up?
_Ben_.
When all the Chiefs
Have been disposed of. Some have fled to Chiozza;
But there are thousands in pursuit of them,
And such precaution ta'en on terra firma,
As well as in the islands, that we hope
None will escape to utter in strange lands
His libellous tale of treasons 'gainst the Senate. 150
_Enter the_ DOGE _as Prisoner, with Guards, etc. , etc. _
_Ben_. Doge--for such still you are, and by the law
Must be considered, till the hour shall come
When you must doff the Ducal Bonnet from
That head, which could not wear a crown more noble
Than Empires can confer, in quiet honour,
But it must plot to overthrow your peers,
Who made you what you are, and quench in blood
A City's glory--we have laid already
Before you in your chamber at full length,
By the Avogadori, all the proofs 160
Which have appeared against you; and more ample
Ne'er reared their sanguinary shadows to
Confront a traitor. What have you to say
In your defence?
_Doge_. What shall I say to ye,
Since my defence must be your condemnation?
You are at once offenders and accusers,
Judges and Executioners! --Proceed
Upon your power.
_Ben_. Your chief accomplices
Having confessed, there is no hope for you.
_Doge_. And who be they?
_Ben_.
