No More Learning

_Doge_. My own friends by blood and courtesy, 450
And many deeds and days--the Senators?

_I. Ber_. You passed their sentence, and it is a just one.

_Doge_. Aye, so it seems, and so it is to _you_;
You are a patriot, a plebeian Gracchus--[ea]
The rebel's oracle, the people's tribune--
I blame you not--you act in your vocation;[430]
They smote you, and oppressed you, and despised you;
So they have _me_: but _you_ ne'er spake with them;
You never broke their bread, nor shared their salt;
You never had their wine-cup at your lips: 460
You grew not up with them, nor laughed, nor wept,
Nor held a revel in their company;
Ne'er smiled to see them smile, nor claimed their smile
In social interchange for yours, nor trusted
Nor wore them in your heart of hearts, as I have:
These hairs of mine are grey, and so are theirs,
The elders of the Council: I remember
When all our locks were like the raven's wing,
As we went forth to take our prey around
The isles wrung from the false Mahometan; 470
And can I see them dabbled o'er with blood?
Each stab to them will seem my suicide.

_I. Ber_. Doge! Doge! this vacillation is unworthy
A child; if you are not in second childhood,
Call back your nerves to your own purpose, nor
Thus shame yourself and me. By Heavens! I'd rather
Forego even now, or fail in our intent,
Than see the man I venerate subside
From high resolves into such shallow weakness!
You have seen blood in battle, shed it, both 480
Your own and that of others; can you shrink then
From a few drops from veins of hoary vampires,
Who but give back what they have drained from millions?

_Doge_. Bear with me! Step by step, and blow on blow,
I will divide with you; think not I waver:
Ah! no; it is the _certainty_ of all
Which I must do doth make me tremble thus.
But let these last and lingering thoughts have way,
To which you only and the night are conscious,
And both regardless; when the Hour arrives, 490
'Tis mine to sound the knell, and strike the blow,
Which shall unpeople many palaces,
And hew the highest genealogic trees
Down to the earth, strewed with their bleeding fruit,
And crush their blossoms into barrenness:
_This will_ I--must I--have I sworn to do,
Nor aught can turn me from my destiny;
But still I quiver to behold what I
Must be, and think what I have been! Bear with me.

_I. Ber_. Re-man your breast; I feel no such remorse, 500
I understand it not: why should you change?
You acted, and you act, on your free will.

_Doge_. Aye, there it is--_you_ feel not, nor do I,
Else I should stab thee on the spot, to save
A thousand lives--and killing, do no murder;
You _feel_ not--you go to this butcher-work
As if these high-born men were steers for shambles:
When all is over, you'll be free and merry,
And calmly wash those hands incarnadine;
But I, outgoing thee and all thy fellows 510
In this surpassing massacre, shall be,
Shall see and feel--oh God! oh God! 'tis true,
And thou dost well to answer that it was
"My own free will and act," and yet you err,
For I will do this! Doubt not--fear not; I
Will be your most unmerciful accomplice!