No More Learning

From the hour they made me Doge, the _Doge_ they _made_ me--
Farewell the past! I died to all that had been,
Or rather they to me: no friends, no kindness,
No privacy of life--all were cut off:
They came not near me--such approach gave umbrage; 350
They could not love me--such was not the law;
They thwarted me--'twas the state's policy;
They baffled me--'twas a patrician's duty;
They wronged me, for such was to right the state;
They could not right me--that would give suspicion;
So that I was a slave to my own subjects;
So that I was a foe to my own friends;
Begirt with spies for guards, with robes for power,
With pomp for freedom, gaolers for a council,
Inquisitors for friends, and Hell for life! 360
I had only one fount of quiet left,
And _that_ they poisoned! My pure household gods[429]
Were shivered on my hearth, and o'er their shrine
Sate grinning Ribaldry, and sneering Scorn. [dw]

_I. Ber_. You have been deeply wronged, and now shall be
Nobly avenged before another night.

_Doge_. I had borne all--it hurt me, but I bore it--
Till this last running over of the cup
Of bitterness--until this last loud insult,
Not only unredressed, but sanctioned; then, 370
And thus, I cast all further feelings from me--
The feelings which they crushed for me, long, long[dx]
Before, even in their oath of false allegiance!
Even in that very hour and vow, they abjured
Their friend and made a Sovereign, as boys make
_Playthings_, to do their pleasure--and be broken! [dy]
I from that hour have seen but Senators
In dark suspicious conflict with the Doge,
Brooding with him in mutual hate and fear;
They dreading he should snatch the tyranny 380
From out their grasp, and he abhorring tyrants.
To me, then, these men have no _private_ life,
Nor claim to ties they have cut off from others;
As Senators for arbitrary acts
Amenable, I look on them--as such
Let them be dealt upon.

_Cal_. And now to action!
Hence, brethren, to our posts, and may this be
The last night of mere words: I'd fain be doing!
Saint Mark's great bell at dawn shall find me wakeful!

_I. Ber_. Disperse then to your posts: be firm and vigilant; 390
Think on the wrongs we bear, the rights we claim.
This day and night shall be the last of peril!
Watch for the signal, and then march. I go
To join my band; let each be prompt to marshal
His separate charge: the Doge will now return
To the palace to prepare all for the blow.
We part to meet in Freedom and in Glory!

_Cal_. Doge, when I greet you next, my homage to you
Shall be the head of Steno on this sword!

_Doge_. No; let him be reserved unto the last, 400
Nor turn aside to strike at such a prey,[dz]
Till nobler game is quarried: his offence
Was a mere ebullition of the vice,
The general corruption generated
By the foul Aristocracy: he could not--
He dared not in more honourable days
Have risked it. I have merged all private wrath
Against him in the thought of our great purpose.
A slave insults me--I require his punishment
From his proud master's hands; if he refuse it, 410
The offence grows his, and let him answer it.

_Cal_. Yet, as the immediate cause of the alliance
Which consecrates our undertaking more,
I owe him such deep gratitude, that fain
I would repay him as he merits; may I?