No More Learning

_Guard_ (_coming forward_). Doge of Venice,
The Ten are in attendance on your Highness.

_Doge_. Then farewell, Angiolina! --one embrace--
Forgive the old man who hath been to thee
A fond but fatal husband--love my memory--
I would not ask so much for me still living,
But thou canst judge of me more kindly now,
Seeing my evil feelings are at rest. 100
Besides, of all the fruit of these long years,
Glory, and Wealth, and Power, and Fame, and Name,
Which generally leave some flowers to bloom
Even o'er the grave, I have nothing left, not even
A little love, or friendship, or esteem,
No, not enough to extract an epitaph
From ostentatious kinsmen; in one hour
I have uprooted all my former life,
And outlived everything, except thy heart,
The pure, the good, the gentle, which will oft 110
With unimpaired but not a clamorous grief[fs]
Still keep----Thou turn'st so pale! --Alas! she faints,
She has no breath, no pulse! --Guards! lend your aid--
I cannot leave her thus, and yet 'tis better,
Since every lifeless moment spares a pang.
When she shakes off this temporary death,
I shall be with the Eternal. --Call her women--
One look! --how cold her hand! --as cold as mine
Shall be ere she recovers. --Gently tend her,
And take my last thanks--I am ready now.
120

[_The Attendants of_ ANGIOLINA _enter, and surround
their Mistress, who has fainted. --Exeunt the_ DOGE,
_Guards, etc. , etc. _


SCENE III. --_The Court of the Ducal Palace; the outer gates
are shut against the people. --The_ DOGE _enters in his ducal
robes, in procession with the_ COUNCIL OF TEN _and other Patricians,
attended by the Guards, till they arrive at the top of the
"Giants' Staircase[469] (where the Doges took the oaths); the
the Executioner is stationed there with his sword. --On arriving, a_
CHIEF OF THE TEN _takes off the ducal cap from the Doge's head_.

_Doge_. So now the Doge is nothing, and at last
I am again Marino Faliero:
'Tis well to be so, though but for a moment,[ft]
Here was I crowned, and here, bear witness, Heaven!
With how much more contentment I resign
That shining mockery, the ducal bauble,
Than I received the fatal ornament.

_One of the Ten_. Thou tremblest, Faliero!

_Doge_. 'Tis with age, then. [470]

_Ben_. Faliero!