No, Lady, there are others who would die
Rather than breathe in slavery!
Rather than breathe in slavery!
Byron
He hath been guilty, but there may be mercy.
_Ben_. Not in this case with justice.
_Ang_. Alas! Signor,
He who is only just is cruel; who
Upon the earth would live were all judged justly?
_Ben_. His punishment is safety to the State.
_Ang_. He was a subject, and hath served the State;
He was your General, and hath saved the State;
He is your Sovereign, and hath ruled the State. [fi]
_One of the Council_. He is a traitor, and betrayed the State.
_Ang_. And, but for him, there now had been no State 370
To save or to destroy; and you, who sit
There to pronounce the death of your deliverer,
Had now been groaning at a Moslem oar,
Or digging in the Hunnish mines in fetters!
_One of the Council_.
No, Lady, there are others who would die
Rather than breathe in slavery!
_Ang_. If there are so
Within _these_ walls, _thou_ art not of the number:
The truly brave are generous to the fallen! --
Is there no hope?
_Ben_. Lady, it cannot be.
_Ang_. (_turning to the Doge_).
Then die, Faliero! since it must be so; 380
But with the spirit of my father's friend.
Thou hast been guilty of a great offence,
Half cancelled by the harshness of these men.
I would have sued to them, have prayed to them.
Have begged as famished mendicants for bread,
Have wept as they will cry unto their God
For mercy, and be answered as they answer,--
Had it been fitting for thy name or mine,
And if the cruelty in their cold eyes
Had not announced the heartless wrath within. 390
Then, as a Prince, address thee to thy doom!
_Doge_. I have lived too long not to know how to die!
_Ben_. Not in this case with justice.
_Ang_. Alas! Signor,
He who is only just is cruel; who
Upon the earth would live were all judged justly?
_Ben_. His punishment is safety to the State.
_Ang_. He was a subject, and hath served the State;
He was your General, and hath saved the State;
He is your Sovereign, and hath ruled the State. [fi]
_One of the Council_. He is a traitor, and betrayed the State.
_Ang_. And, but for him, there now had been no State 370
To save or to destroy; and you, who sit
There to pronounce the death of your deliverer,
Had now been groaning at a Moslem oar,
Or digging in the Hunnish mines in fetters!
_One of the Council_.
No, Lady, there are others who would die
Rather than breathe in slavery!
_Ang_. If there are so
Within _these_ walls, _thou_ art not of the number:
The truly brave are generous to the fallen! --
Is there no hope?
_Ben_. Lady, it cannot be.
_Ang_. (_turning to the Doge_).
Then die, Faliero! since it must be so; 380
But with the spirit of my father's friend.
Thou hast been guilty of a great offence,
Half cancelled by the harshness of these men.
I would have sued to them, have prayed to them.
Have begged as famished mendicants for bread,
Have wept as they will cry unto their God
For mercy, and be answered as they answer,--
Had it been fitting for thy name or mine,
And if the cruelty in their cold eyes
Had not announced the heartless wrath within. 390
Then, as a Prince, address thee to thy doom!
_Doge_. I have lived too long not to know how to die!
