It was ever thus
With me; the hour of agitation came
In the first glimmerings of a purpose, when
Passion had too much room to sway; but in
The hour of action I have stood as calm
As were the dead who lay around me: this
They knew who made me what I am, and trusted
To the subduing power which I preserved 100
Over my mood, when its first burst was spent.
With me; the hour of agitation came
In the first glimmerings of a purpose, when
Passion had too much room to sway; but in
The hour of action I have stood as calm
As were the dead who lay around me: this
They knew who made me what I am, and trusted
To the subduing power which I preserved 100
Over my mood, when its first burst was spent.
Byron
Then it is time to strike upon the bell.
Are the men posted?
_Ber. F. _ By this time they are;
But they have orders not to strike, until
They have command from you through me in person. 70
_Doge_. 'Tis well. --Will the morn never put to rest
These stars which twinkle yet o'er all the heavens?
I am settled and bound up, and being so,
The very effort which it cost me to
Resolve to cleanse this Commonwealth with fire,
Now leaves my mind more steady. I have wept,
And trembled at the thought of this dread duty;
But now I have put down all idle passion,
And look the growing tempest in the face,
As doth the pilot of an Admiral Galley:[438] 80
Yet (wouldst thou think it, kinsman? ) it hath been
A greater struggle to me, than when nations
Beheld their fate merged in the approaching fight,
Where I was leader of a phalanx, where
Thousands were sure to perish--Yes, to spill
The rank polluted current from the veins
Of a few bloated despots needed more
To steel me to a purpose such as made
Timoleon immortal,[439] than to face
The toils and dangers of a life of war. 90
_Ber. F. _ It gladdens me to see your former wisdom
Subdue the furies which so wrung you ere
You were decided.
_Doge_.
It was ever thus
With me; the hour of agitation came
In the first glimmerings of a purpose, when
Passion had too much room to sway; but in
The hour of action I have stood as calm
As were the dead who lay around me: this
They knew who made me what I am, and trusted
To the subduing power which I preserved 100
Over my mood, when its first burst was spent.
But they were not aware that there are things
Which make revenge a virtue by reflection,
And not an impulse of mere anger; though
The laws sleep, Justice wakes, and injured souls
Oft do a public right with private wrong,
And justify their deeds unto themselves. --
Methinks the day breaks--is it not so? look,
Thine eyes are clear with youth;--the air puts on
A morning freshness, and, at least to me, 110
The sea looks greyer through the lattice.
_Ber. F. _ True,
The morn is dappling in the sky. [er][440]
_Doge_. Away then!
See that they strike without delay, and with
The first toll from St. Mark's, march on the palace
With all our House's strength; here I will meet you;
The Sixteen and their companies will move
In separate columns at the self-same moment:
Be sure you post yourself at the great Gate:
I would not trust "the Ten" except to us--
The rest, the rabble of patricians, may 120
Glut the more careless swords of those leagued with us.
Remember that the cry is still "Saint Mark!
The Genoese are come--ho! to the rescue!
Saint Mark and Liberty! "--Now--now to action!
Are the men posted?
_Ber. F. _ By this time they are;
But they have orders not to strike, until
They have command from you through me in person. 70
_Doge_. 'Tis well. --Will the morn never put to rest
These stars which twinkle yet o'er all the heavens?
I am settled and bound up, and being so,
The very effort which it cost me to
Resolve to cleanse this Commonwealth with fire,
Now leaves my mind more steady. I have wept,
And trembled at the thought of this dread duty;
But now I have put down all idle passion,
And look the growing tempest in the face,
As doth the pilot of an Admiral Galley:[438] 80
Yet (wouldst thou think it, kinsman? ) it hath been
A greater struggle to me, than when nations
Beheld their fate merged in the approaching fight,
Where I was leader of a phalanx, where
Thousands were sure to perish--Yes, to spill
The rank polluted current from the veins
Of a few bloated despots needed more
To steel me to a purpose such as made
Timoleon immortal,[439] than to face
The toils and dangers of a life of war. 90
_Ber. F. _ It gladdens me to see your former wisdom
Subdue the furies which so wrung you ere
You were decided.
_Doge_.
It was ever thus
With me; the hour of agitation came
In the first glimmerings of a purpose, when
Passion had too much room to sway; but in
The hour of action I have stood as calm
As were the dead who lay around me: this
They knew who made me what I am, and trusted
To the subduing power which I preserved 100
Over my mood, when its first burst was spent.
But they were not aware that there are things
Which make revenge a virtue by reflection,
And not an impulse of mere anger; though
The laws sleep, Justice wakes, and injured souls
Oft do a public right with private wrong,
And justify their deeds unto themselves. --
Methinks the day breaks--is it not so? look,
Thine eyes are clear with youth;--the air puts on
A morning freshness, and, at least to me, 110
The sea looks greyer through the lattice.
_Ber. F. _ True,
The morn is dappling in the sky. [er][440]
_Doge_. Away then!
See that they strike without delay, and with
The first toll from St. Mark's, march on the palace
With all our House's strength; here I will meet you;
The Sixteen and their companies will move
In separate columns at the self-same moment:
Be sure you post yourself at the great Gate:
I would not trust "the Ten" except to us--
The rest, the rabble of patricians, may 120
Glut the more careless swords of those leagued with us.
Remember that the cry is still "Saint Mark!
The Genoese are come--ho! to the rescue!
Saint Mark and Liberty! "--Now--now to action!
