No More Learning

_Doge_. From me fear nothing; out with it!

_I. Ber_. Know then, that there are met and sworn in secret
A band of brethren, valiant hearts and true;
Men who have proved all fortunes, and have long
Grieved over that of Venice, and have right
To do so; having served her in all climes,
And having rescued her from foreign foes,
Would do the same from those within her walls.
They are not numerous, nor yet too few
For their great purpose; they have arms, and means, 490
And hearts, and hopes, and faith, and patient courage.

_Doge_. For what then do they pause?

_I. Ber_. An hour to strike.

_Doge_ (_aside_). Saint Mark's shall strike that hour! [396]

_I. Ber_.
I now have placed
My life, my honour, all my earthly hopes
Within thy power, but in the firm belief
That injuries like ours, sprung from one cause,
Will generate one vengeance: should it be so,
Be our Chief now--our Sovereign hereafter.

_Doge_. How many are ye?

_I. Ber_. I'll not answer that
Till I am answered.

_Doge_. How, sir! do you menace? 500

_I. Ber_. No; I affirm. I have betrayed myself;
But there's no torture in the mystic wells
Which undermine your palace, nor in those
Not less appalling cells, the "leaden roofs,"
To force a single name from me of others.
The Pozzi[397] and the Piombi were in vain;
They might wring blood from me, but treachery never.
And I would pass the fearful "Bridge of Sighs,"
Joyous that mine must be the last that e'er
Would echo o'er the Stygian wave which flows 510
Between the murderers and the murdered, washing
The prison and the palace walls: there are
Those who would live to think on't, and avenge me.

_Doge_.