 | Foscari |  |
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ACT IV.
SCENE I.
A Hall of Justice.Cosmo, Erizzo, Senators, and Officers.
Erizzo.
Is all prepared for trial?
Officer.
All. The Doge
Approaches.
Senator.
Will the Doge preside?
2nd Senator.
He comes.
How different from his step of yesterday!
How hurried, yet how slow!
Enter Doge and Count Zeno.
Zeno.
Let me assist
Your Highness.
Doge.
No.
Zeno.
His robes encumber him;
Support them.
Doge.
Why will you torment me, Sir,
With this officious care? These flowers are naught.
Go bring me pungent herbs, hyssop and rue
And rosemary; odours that keep in sense—
I have forgot my handkerchief.
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Take this.
Doge.
I am an old man newly stung with grief—
Thou hast forgiven me, Zeno? Are ye ready?
Where is the accuser?
Erizzo.
May it please your Highness
Call forth the prisoner.
Enter Foscari, guarded.
Cosmo.
Oh not thou good Doge;
Spare those white hairs!
Doge.
Dare not to pity me!
Sir, those white hairs are lichens on a rock.
I tell ye, Sirs, since yesternight my blood
Is dried up in my veins, my heart is turned
To stone; but I am Doge of Venice still
And know my office. Fear me not, Francesco!
Francesco Foscari—Sir, is he there?
My eyes are old and dim.
Foscari.
I am here Father!
Doge! I am here.
Doge.
Francesco Foscari
Thou art arraigned for the foul midnight murder
Of the senator Donato. Art thou innocent?
Or guilty?
Foscari.
Canst thou ask? The fresh-born babe
That knows not yet the guiltiness of thought,
Is not from such crime whiter.
Doge.
Gracious heaven
I thank thee! Now the weight is off my soul.
I sinned in my black fear. Where's the accuser?
Let him stand forth. Cosmo—Signor Donato,
Speak.
Erizzo.
Look with how calm and proud a mien
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His face against the wall.
Doge.
Speak, pr'y thee, speak.
Cosmo.
Alas! alas! I cannot. We were friends
Even from earliest childhood. I loved him—
Oh how I loved him! Aye and he loved me,
With a protecting love, the firmest love;
For stronger, bolder, hardier, he to me
Was as an elder brother. And his home
Was mine, and mine was his—Oh he has sate
A hundred times on that dear father's knee,
His little head nestling against that breast,
Where now—Oh Foscari, hadst thou slain me
My last word had been pardon! But my father,
And with a stedfast and unaltering cheek
To listen—
Foscari.
Cosmo! I am innocent.
Yet, Heaven knows, I grieve—
Cosmo.
Camilla's father—
Poor, poor Camilla!
Erizzo.
(aside)
Ah thou hast it now!
'Tis a fair woman's soft and liquid name
That stings thy soul! Good, good.—Ho! Officer!
[Apart to an Officer, giving him a paper.
Deliver that and bring the witness hither,
Look thou take no excuse.
[Exit Officer.
Doge.
Signor Donato,
I pray you check these pardonable tears.
Were this a place for passion, what's thy grief
Measured with mine? The death of all thy name
To this suspense, this agony, this shame,
That eats away the soul? What is thy grief—
Master thyself, I say. Francesco Foscari
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Produce thy proofs.
Erizzo.
Bring in the corse. My Lord
And ye, the equal judges, spare the son
This miserable duty. I can tell,
For I by chance was there, this tale of blood
And mystery. The late unhappy feud
Is known to all. Returning from St. Mark's
With my young kinsman in his Gondola—
For I had missed of mine—we landed close
To the Donato Palace, as the bell
Was tolling midnight. 'Twas an awful storm;
But by the flashing lightning we saw one
Leap from the balcony—a Cavalier
Splendid in dress and air. The lightning glared
Full on his face and habit, unconcealed
By hat or cloak, and instantly we knew
Francesco Foscari.
Zeno.
Art sure of that?
Cosmo.
Oh sure! Too sure!
Erizzo.
He passed so close Count Zeno,
That my cloak brushed his vest; but sprang aside,
As he had met an adder, and leaped down
Into a waiting Gondola. I called,
But Foscari answered not; and Cosmo spake,
Betwixt a sigh and smile, of fair Camilla,
Of their long loves, and of the morning's ire,
And how he hoped this dark and sudden cloud
Would speedily pass away. Even as he spake,
Whilst loitering on the steps, we heard a shriek
Within the house, so piercing, so prolonged,
So born of bitter anguish—to this hour
That shriek is ringing in mine ears! And when,
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The stairs, we saw Donato bathed in blood,
And poor Camilla lying on his breast,
Her arms strained round his neck, as if she tried
To keep in his dear life.
[The corse brought in.
The bloody witness
Of this foul deed is here.
Foscari.
Poor good old man!
This is a grievous sight.
Doge.
Oh! Would to Heaven
That I so lay, and so—I pray thee, on.
Where are thy proofs?
Erizzo.
They shall come soon enough.
Donato, rouse thee! Look upon those wounds!
Think on the honoured dead!
Cosmo.
I dare not think,
For thought is frenzy. Lords! The Count Erizzo
Hath told ye how we found the corse. This sword,
The well-known sword of Foscari, was plunged
Deep in his gory breast; beside him lay
This hat and cloak, the splendid soldier's garb
Of Foscari; no man had approached the house
Save only Foscari; and his last word,
Mingled with cries of murder and of help,
Was “Foscari.” Is that sword thine? Disown it,
And, against oath and proof and circumstance.
Thy word—thy naked word—Disown that sword,
And give me back the blessed faith that trusts
In man my fellow! Look upon it well.
Foscari.
'Tis mine.
Cosmo.
He's guilty. 'Twas the last faint hope
On this side Heaven.
Doge.
Cosmo! It is not his—
He knows not what he says—Give me the sword.
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'Tis mine; that which lay sheathed in victory
Before ye yesterday; that which I bore
Triumphing through the battle. What a blaze
Streamed from the sparkling steel—how bright, how pure,
How glorious, how like the light of Fame—
A wild and dazzling fire! Both, both are quenched.
The sword is mine; but of this foulest deed
I am as ignorant as the senseless blade.
Zeno.
Who heard Donato call on Foscari?
Erizzo.
Doge, thou hast asked for proofs, for witnesses;
I have one here. Officer, hast thou brought
The lady?
Officer.
She attends.
Erizzo.
Go lead her in.
[Exit Officer.
Cosmo.
What lady? Sure thou canst not mean—
Enter Officer leading Camilla.
Foscari.
Camilla!
Cosmo.
She walks as in a heavy dream; her senses
Are stupified by sorrow. Count Erizzo,
Why dids't thou send for her? Why bring her here?
Had we not breaking hearts enow before
Without poor, poor Camilla?
Erizzo.
She alone
Heard his last dying words. Lady Camilla!
Cosmo.
She neither sees nor hears; she is herself
A moving corse.
Erizzo.
Camilla! Speak to her.
Cosmo.
Sister! Heaven shield her senses! She is deaf
Even to my voice. Dear sister!
Erizzo.
Lead her towards
The body. So! she sees it.
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Father! Father!
Have I found thee dear father? Let me sit
Here at thy feet, and lean my aching head
Against thy knee—Oh how it throbs!—and bury
My face within thy cloak. What ails me, Father,
That my heart flutters so? Feel here—He's cold!
He's dead! He's dead!
Erizzo.
Camilla!
Camilla.
Who art thou?
Where am I? Wherefore have ye dragged me forth
Into the glare of day—Oh cruel! cruel!—
Amongst strange men? Where am I? Foscari! Now
I have a comforter. Have they not told thee
That I am fatherless? Dost weep for me?
For me?
Erizzo.
Leave him; he is a murderer.
Thy father's murderer!
Camilla.
Who dared say that?
Francesco, speak to me!
Erizzo.
Pollute her not!
Touch not her garments! Fly his very sight—
He slew thy Father.
Camilla.
Ha! Again! Again!
Cosmo, this man is false. Is he not Cosmo?
Is he not all one falsehood? Answer me.
I will kneel to thee, Cosmo, for a word,
A sign. Press but my hand. He lets it fall!
Cosmo.
Sister—I cannot tell her.
Erizzo.
Thou thyself
Art witness to his crime.
Camilla.
I never knew
Aught of him but his virtues.
Erizzo.
Noble lady,
Thou art before the assembled power of Venice,
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Answer me truly, lady—Didst thou hear
Thy murdered father call on Foscari?
Camilla.
Ah!—He is innocent.
Erizzo.
Didst thou not hear
Foscari's name mixed with his dying shriek?
Camilla.
He's innocent! Oh I would stake my life
On Foscari's innocence.
Doge.
Beloved child:
Camilla.
Ah! Art thou there? Release him; Set him free!
Thou art the Doge, the mighty Doge of Venice,
Thou hast the power to free him.—Save him now
From my hard kinsman! Save him! I remember,
When I was but a little child, I craved
The grace of a poor galley slave, and thou
Didst pardon him and set him free as air;—
Wilt thou not save thy son, and such a son,
Who is as clear of this foul sin as thou?
Cosmo, kneel with me!
Cosmo.
I have knelt for justice;
And now again—
Camilla.
For mercy! mercy!
Erizzo.
Answer!
Demand her answer, Doge. She is a witness,
Command her by thy power; thou art the Judge.
Doge.
I am, I am. Ye should have Dukes of stone,
But this is flesh. Camilla, I am not
A King, who wears fair mercy on the cross
Of his bright diadem; I have no power
Save as the whetted axe to strike and slay,
A will-less instrument of the iron law
Of Venice. Daughter—Thou that should'st have been
My daughter, we are martyrs at the stake,
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Who stands there, with so brave a constancy,
Patient, unfaltering? Let us chuse the right,
And leave the event to Heaven. Speak, my dear child.
Camilla.
Heaven guide me then! Lords, I am here an orphan,
The orphan of one day.—But yesternight—
Oh! did ye ever see a father die?
Cosmo.
Calm thee my sister.
Camilla.
And ye drag me hither—
Ye call me to bear witness—me, a woman;
A wretched helpless woman!—Against him,
Whom—ye are merciless—ye have no touch
Of pity or of manhood! Do your worst;
I will not answer ye.
Foscari.
Oh woman's love,
Pure nurse of kind and charitable thoughts,
Wiser than wisdom, instinct of the soul,
How do I bless thee holiest love! Camilla,
My brave and true Camilla, thou hast dropt
Balm in the festering wound. Yet answer them.
I cannot fear the truth. Ask her once more.
Erizzo.
Were not the last words that Donato spake
Foscari and murder?
Camilla.
Yes.
Erizzo.
Take her away;
She hath confessed enough.
Camilla.
Oh no! no! no!
Foscari is guiltless! Hear me!—He is guiltless!
Doge.
Canst thou prove that? Thy sweet face always brought
A comfort. Prove but that.
Erizzo.
(Aside.)
All curses on
The coward Celso! He'll escape me yet.
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The facts? The proofs? The witnesses?
Camilla.
His life;
My heart, my bursting heart. If I had seen
With these poor eyes that horror—had seen him
Stabbing—Oh, thoughts like these may make me mad,
But all the powers of earth and hell can never
Shake my true faith! Foscari! I will share
Thy fate, will die with thee, will be thy bride
Even in that fatal hour, and pass away
With thee to Heaven—So! so!
Foscari.
She sinks; she sinks;
Her strength is over-wrought. Oh die not yet
Till I may die with thee! Awake, revive,
My plighted love! The bridal hour will soon
Unite us my Camilla. Help! she faints.
Erizzo.
Fold her not thus within thy arms! Resign her!
Foscari.
To thee! While still this arm hath marrow in it!
To thee! Cosmo—thou—thou—Be tender of her,
Be very tender—'tis a broken flower—
And pardon her her love. Take her. The pain
Of death is over now. Proceed, my lords.
Zeno.
Let me support her, Cosmo. Thou dost stagger
Under her slender form.
Cosmo.
He spake to me,
He gazed on me—I felt the long sad look
Dwell on my face—he, at whose crime my soul
Shudders, he spake—and I—men would have thought
I was the guilty one! He bade me love
This dearest, wretchedest. Tell him—No! no!
Not even a last word.
[Exeunt Cosmo and Zeno, with Camilla.
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This hapless maid
Hath owned enough. Foscari, wilt thou confess
The murder?
Foscari.
I am innocent.
Erizzo.
Confess;
Or we must force confession. To the rack!
Doge.
Never whilst I have life! Am I not still
The Doge of Venice? Rather stretch these stiff
And withered limbs upon thy engines, Count!
Rather crack these old joints! I thought that I
Was steeled against all strokes—but this—
Erizzo.
The rack!
Foscari.
Bethink thee of the Roman fathers, Doge,
Of Brutus and of Manlius; thy son
Will not disgrace thee. Come, the rack, the rack!
I will front pain as a brave enemy,
And rush to the encounter. What is the sense
Of bodily agony to that which I
Endure even now? Disgrace, suspicion, scorn,
Hatred and haughty pity, and that last
Worst pang—her love, her misery. These are tortures!
Let me have something that a warrior's soul
May strive against and conquer. Come, the rack!
Doge.
Never.
Erizzo.
I must not hear thee, Doge. The question!
Re-enter Cosmo and Zeno.
Cosmo.
Stop, on your lives! Forbear this cruelty,
This cowardly cruelty! He will endure—
He will call up the courage of the field
And die before he groans. His eye surveys
That engine steadily, whose very sight
Makes my flesh creep. Remove it. Oh to see
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Remove it.
Erizzo.
Well. Proceed we then to sentence.
Zeno.
First listen to the prisoner. Foscari! speak.
Senator.
Yes; let us hear his tale. Defend thyself.
Foscari.
To ye who doubt! To ye who disbelieve!
Sir, there are spirits that can never stoop
To falsehood; not for wealth, or power, or fame,
Or life, or dearer love. Oh, were ye cast
In the old chivalrous mould, pure diamond souls
On which the dim polluting touch of doubt
Rests not a breathing time! Were ye built up
Of honour—But to ye—Why should I speak
When I have nothing but my knightly word
To prove me innocent?
Erizzo.
You are well paid
By this contempt, Count Zeno. Now to judgment.
[The Doge, Zeno, Erizzo, and the Senators retire to the back of the stage, leaving Cosmo and Foscari in the front.
Foscari.
Father! He passes on and doth not speak;
He cannot; he has no words,—nothing but tears.
Oh, what must the grief be that forces tears
From his proud heart—his proud and bursting heart!
The flame of youth burnt in him yesterday
At fourscore years; to-day hath made him old.
What groan was that? What other wretch? Donato!
Cosmo! Wilt thou not answer?
Cosmo.
Oh that voice
Which was such perfect music,—which seemed made
For truth and thought, fit organ, how it jars
My very soul! What would'st thou?
Foscari.
I would thank thee
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That rack—To have seen me stretched there, to direct
Each fresh progressive torture.—He had died
Before our eyes! I thank thee, sir. No more.
Unless a dying man, for I am sentenced—
Look how he sinks his head upon his clenched
And withered hands! I am condemned, and we
Shall meet no more. Thou wilt not join the headsman
To see the axe fall on my neck, nor follow
The shouting multitude who, yesterday,
Hail'd me a god, and, with like shouts, to-morrow
Will drag me to the block. We meet no more;
And as a dying man I fain would part
In charity. We were friends, Cosmo.—
Cosmo.
Friends!
I sinned in listening; but whilst he spake
A world of kindly thoughts, a gush of the deep
Old passionate love came o'er my heart—Forgive me
Oh blessed shade! Friends! Why thy crime were common
Wanting that damning dye—a simple murder!
What though of one kind, noble, generous,
Whose princely spirit scattered happiness
As the sun light—a single sin! But 'twas
My father, mine—avenging angel hear!—
Mine, that so loved thee.—
Foscari.
That, at the first glance
Of wild suspicion, the first crafty word
Of treacherous hate, doubted, accused, condemned—
Chasing through shameful trial to shameful death—
Yet daring to call down the wrath of God
On a false friend! Oh cunning self-deceit!
Oh wondrous cheat of blind mortality!
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To win a soul from heaven. They come. They come.
Now gentle death.
[The Doge, Erizzo, Zeno, and Senators advance.
Speak! I can better bear
Thy words than that long gaze of agony.
I am prepared.
Doge.
Oh why did I resume
This bonnet, which thy filial hand had plucked
From my old brow, this fatal coronet,
Predoomed to fall, that scorches me like fire—
Stings me like twisted serpents! Would I were
A naked slave, chained to his weary oar,
A worm that hath no sense but sufferance,
Any thing vilest and most miserable,
Rather than Doge of Venice! I must plunge
A dagger in thy breast. Francesco Foscari,
The council doth pronounce thee guilty.
Foscari.
Ha!
Erizzo.
It works. It works.
Doge.
Thou said'st thou wast prepared.
Foscari.
Aye—but the word!
The first sound of the word!
Doge.
The council doth condemn—
Foscari.
All, father? All?
Doge.
No; there were two—Count Zeno could not join
Guilty and Foscari; and I—my son,
Thou couldst not do this deed!
Foscari.
Thank heaven! Thank heaven!
Erizzo.
The sentence, Doge!
Foscari.
Yes, father. The one pang,
The worse than death,—the infamy is past.
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And with a merciful speed.
Erizzo.
Sir, thou will find
Justice hath bowed to mercy.
Cosmo.
Doge, the sentence!
Doge.
The penalty is death. But for thy rank,
Thy services and mine, it is exchanged
For banishment to Candia. Thou must live
In Canea, an exile, till thy days
Be ended, my dear son.
Foscari.
Live! Give me death!
Ye that give infamy, and dare to talk
Of mercy, give me death, painfullest death,
And I will thank ye—bless ye! Give me death!
Ye cannot give me life. Sooner the bay,
That wreathes the warrior's brows, shall spread and flourish
In a dark mine, shut up from sun and air,
Than I can live without a proud respect
A white unblemish'd name, the light and breath
Of honour. Death I say!—a murderer's death!
Ye dare not change the laws.
Cosmo.
Live, and repent.
Foscari.
Cosmo, if e'er you loved me, call on them
For justice—bloody justice! Doge of Venice,
Maintain the insulted laws! Send me to death,—
To instant death! Oh father, free thy son
From this dread load of misery! Would'st thou see
Thy only child shunned as a leper, father?
Sent out into the world a second Cain?
Oh give me death! death! death!
Doge.
I knew that life
Would be a lingering agony; and yet
To kill thee—my dear son! Oh prophecy
Accurst, I feel thee now!
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Remove the prisoner.
What! doth he struggle?
Doge.
Touch him not, vile slaves!
Foscari.
A moment pause, and ye may lead me hence
Tame as a fondled kid. Ye Senators,
Ye kings of Venice, I appeal from you
To the Supreme Tribunal.
Erizzo.
To thy father?
Foscari.
To Him that is in heaven. Ye are men,
Frail, erring, ignorant men, guided or driven
By every warring passion: some by love
Of the beloved Donati; some by hate
Of the high Foscari; by envy some;
Many by fear; and one by low ambition.
This ye call justice, lords! But I appeal
To the All-righteous Judge of earth and heaven,
Before whose throne condemners and condemned
All shall stand equal, at whose feet I swear,
By what my soul holds sacred—by the spurs
Of knighthood—by the Christian's holier Cross,
And by that old man's white and reverend locks,
That I am innocent. Ye, who disbelieve,
And ye who doubt, and ye, the grovelling few,
Believing who condemn, I shower on all
Contempt and pardon. Now, guards, to the prison.
Zeno.
Look to the Doge.
Foscari.
Zeno, when I am gone
Thou wilt be kind to him?
Zeno.
Even as a son!
Even as thyself.
Foscari.
Thou truest friend, farewell!
Zeno.
Look to the Doge
END OF THE FOURTH ACT.
| Foscari | |