Duchess Faliero[fg]
Requests admission to the Giunta's presence.
Requests admission to the Giunta's presence.
Byron
270
_Doge_. Noble Venetians! stir me not with questions.
I am resigned to the worst; but in me still
Have something of the blood of brighter days,
And am not over-patient. Pray you, spare me
Further interrogation, which boots nothing,
Except to turn a trial to debate.
I shall but answer that which will offend you,
And please your enemies--a host already;
'Tis true, these sullen walls should yield no echo:
But walls have ears--nay, more, they have tongues; and if 280
There were no other way for Truth to o'erleap them,[fe]
You who condemn me, you who fear and slay me,
Yet could not bear in silence to your graves
What you would hear from me of Good or Evil;
The secret were too mighty for your souls:
Then let it sleep in mine, unless you court
A danger which would double that you escape.
Such my defence would be, had I full scope
To make it famous; for true _words_ are _things_,
And dying men's are things which long outlive, 290
And oftentimes avenge them; bury mine,
If ye would fain survive me: take this counsel,
And though too oft ye make me live in wrath,
Let me die calmly; you may grant me this;
I deny nothing--defend nothing--nothing
I ask of you, but silence for myself,
And sentence from the Court!
_Ben_. This full admission
Spares us the harsh necessity of ordering
The torture to elicit the whole truth. [ff]
_Doge_. The torture! you have put me there already, 300
Daily since I was Doge; but if you will
Add the corporeal rack, you may: these limbs
Will yield with age to crushing iron; but
There's that within my heart shall strain your engines.
_Enter an_ OFFICER.
_Officer_. Noble Venetians!
Duchess Faliero[fg]
Requests admission to the Giunta's presence.
_Ben_. Say, Conscript Fathers,[458] shall she be admitted?
_One of the Giunta_. She may have revelations of importance
Unto the state, to justify compliance
With her request.
_Ben_. Is this the general will? 310
_All_. It is.
_Doge_. Oh, admirable laws of Venice!
Which would admit the wife, in the full hope
That she might testify against the husband.
What glory to the chaste Venetian dames!
But such blasphemers 'gainst all Honour, as
Sit here, do well to act in their vocation.
Now, villain Steno! if this woman fail,
I'll pardon thee thy lie, and thy escape,
And my own violent death, and thy vile life.
_Doge_. Noble Venetians! stir me not with questions.
I am resigned to the worst; but in me still
Have something of the blood of brighter days,
And am not over-patient. Pray you, spare me
Further interrogation, which boots nothing,
Except to turn a trial to debate.
I shall but answer that which will offend you,
And please your enemies--a host already;
'Tis true, these sullen walls should yield no echo:
But walls have ears--nay, more, they have tongues; and if 280
There were no other way for Truth to o'erleap them,[fe]
You who condemn me, you who fear and slay me,
Yet could not bear in silence to your graves
What you would hear from me of Good or Evil;
The secret were too mighty for your souls:
Then let it sleep in mine, unless you court
A danger which would double that you escape.
Such my defence would be, had I full scope
To make it famous; for true _words_ are _things_,
And dying men's are things which long outlive, 290
And oftentimes avenge them; bury mine,
If ye would fain survive me: take this counsel,
And though too oft ye make me live in wrath,
Let me die calmly; you may grant me this;
I deny nothing--defend nothing--nothing
I ask of you, but silence for myself,
And sentence from the Court!
_Ben_. This full admission
Spares us the harsh necessity of ordering
The torture to elicit the whole truth. [ff]
_Doge_. The torture! you have put me there already, 300
Daily since I was Doge; but if you will
Add the corporeal rack, you may: these limbs
Will yield with age to crushing iron; but
There's that within my heart shall strain your engines.
_Enter an_ OFFICER.
_Officer_. Noble Venetians!
Duchess Faliero[fg]
Requests admission to the Giunta's presence.
_Ben_. Say, Conscript Fathers,[458] shall she be admitted?
_One of the Giunta_. She may have revelations of importance
Unto the state, to justify compliance
With her request.
_Ben_. Is this the general will? 310
_All_. It is.
_Doge_. Oh, admirable laws of Venice!
Which would admit the wife, in the full hope
That she might testify against the husband.
What glory to the chaste Venetian dames!
But such blasphemers 'gainst all Honour, as
Sit here, do well to act in their vocation.
Now, villain Steno! if this woman fail,
I'll pardon thee thy lie, and thy escape,
And my own violent death, and thy vile life.
