The
prisoner
has fainted.
Byron
Should he shrink, I cannot cease
To love; but--no--no--no--it must have been
A fearful pang, which wrung a groan from him.
_Sen. _ And, feeling for thy husband's wrongs, wouldst thou
Have him bear more than mortal pain in silence?
_Mar. _ We all must bear our tortures. I have not
Left barren the great house of Foscari, 240
Though they sweep both the Doge and son from life;
I have endured as much in giving life
To those who will succeed them, as they can
In leaving it: but mine were joyful pangs:
And yet they wrung me till I _could_ have shrieked,
But did not; for my hope was to bring forth
Heroes, and would not welcome them with tears.
_Mem. _ All's silent now.
_Mar. _ Perhaps all's over; but
I will not deem it: he hath nerved himself,
And now defies them.
_Enter an Officer hastily_.
_Mem. _ How now, friend, what seek you? 250
_Offi. _ A leech.
The prisoner has fainted. [_Exit Officer_.
_Mem. _ Lady,
'Twere better to retire.
_Sen. _ (_offering to assist her_), I pray thee do so.
_Mar. _ Off! _I_ will tend him.
_Mem. _ You! Remember, lady!
Ingress is given to none within those chambers
Except "the Ten," and their familiars.
_Mar. _ Well,
I know that none who enter there return
As they have entered--many never; but
They shall not balk my entrance.
_Mem.
To love; but--no--no--no--it must have been
A fearful pang, which wrung a groan from him.
_Sen. _ And, feeling for thy husband's wrongs, wouldst thou
Have him bear more than mortal pain in silence?
_Mar. _ We all must bear our tortures. I have not
Left barren the great house of Foscari, 240
Though they sweep both the Doge and son from life;
I have endured as much in giving life
To those who will succeed them, as they can
In leaving it: but mine were joyful pangs:
And yet they wrung me till I _could_ have shrieked,
But did not; for my hope was to bring forth
Heroes, and would not welcome them with tears.
_Mem. _ All's silent now.
_Mar. _ Perhaps all's over; but
I will not deem it: he hath nerved himself,
And now defies them.
_Enter an Officer hastily_.
_Mem. _ How now, friend, what seek you? 250
_Offi. _ A leech.
The prisoner has fainted. [_Exit Officer_.
_Mem. _ Lady,
'Twere better to retire.
_Sen. _ (_offering to assist her_), I pray thee do so.
_Mar. _ Off! _I_ will tend him.
_Mem. _ You! Remember, lady!
Ingress is given to none within those chambers
Except "the Ten," and their familiars.
_Mar. _ Well,
I know that none who enter there return
As they have entered--many never; but
They shall not balk my entrance.
_Mem.
