 | Foscari |  |
63
ACT V.
SCENE I.
An Apartment in the Donato Palace.Cosmo and Erizzo.
Cosmo.
Gone to the prison! No! my lord Erizzo.
I know Camilla.
Erizzo.
Well—I might mistake.
Cosmo.
Straight from her father's bier, where all night long
She watch'd and wept, to seek—Go to, thou'rt wrong!
Thou'rt wrong.
Erizzo.
Think no more of it. Doth the Senate
Meet to-day?
Cosmo.
Was she veil'd?
Erizzo.
Who?
Cosmo.
Whom thou saw'st.
She—not my sister!—Was she veil'd?
Erizzo.
She was.
Cosmo.
How couldst thou know her?
Erizzo.
By the pliant grace
Of the young form—the goddess step—the charm
Of motion. With such port the queenly swan
Glides o'er the waters. Dost thou not remember
When Foscari once—
64
Avoid that name. Avoid it.
Erizzo.
She's here.
Enter Camilla.
Cosmo.
And veil'd! Whence com'st thou, sister? speak.
Why hast thou borne those tears and that wan face
Abroad amongst the happy? Whence com'st thou?
Camilla.
From one whose heart drops blood for this great grief.
Cosmo.
Whence?
Camilla.
From St. Mark's.
Cosmo.
The Doge! The poor old Doge!
Erizzo.
The Doge! It was not by the Ducal chambers
That I this morning saw—
Camilla.
My lord Erizzo,
I seek not to deceive ye. I have seen
The Doge. But 'twas another wretcheder
Of whom I spake,—one who hath long to live.
I come from where beneath the leaden roofs
Foscari lies.
Cosmo.
And she can speak that name
Sighingly, fondly! She can cast aside
Even maiden modesty! Forgive me, friend,
That trusting her I doubted thee. Approach not!
Thou art contaminate.
Camilla.
He's innocent!
Turn not away, shake me not off, as though
I were some loathed reptile. Cosmo! Brother!
We two are left alone in the wide world,
And I, that sate upon that rainbow throne
Of happiness, I am fallen, fallen.
Cosmo.
What would'st thou?
65
Her tears are daggers. Speak.
Camilla.
And thou wilt listen?
Cosmo.
Patient as infancy.
Camilla.
He goes to-night;
And I—nay, start not.
Cosmo.
What of thee?
Camilla.
And I—
We were betroth'd; he goes a sentenc'd wretch—
But innocent, most innocent! He goes
To scorn, to exile, and to misery,
And I—I came to say farewell to thee
My brother—I go with him.
Cosmo.
Ha!
Erizzo.
She raves.
Look how she trembles; she is overwatched;
This is a frenzy.
Camilla.
Sir, I am not mad;
I'm a Donato born, and drank in courage
Even with my mother's milk. What if I shake!
Within this trembling frame there is a heart
As firm as thine. Speak to me ere we part,
My brother! Speak to me, whatever words,
However bitter! Any thing but silence,
Cold withering silence!
Cosmo.
Sister!
Camilla.
Bless thee, bless thee,
For that kind word!
Cosmo.
My sister, sit thee down.—
Misery hath brought her to this pass.—Camilla,
We had a father once:—he's slain. Would'st thou
Join this white hand, which he so lov'd to mould
Within his own, the soft and dimpled hand,
With one—
66
Oh pure as thine! Believe it, Cosmo;
Pure as thine own!
Cosmo.
We have no father now,
And we should love each other. Stay with me.
I am no tyrant-brother: I'll not force
Thy blooming beauty to some old man's bed
For high alliance; I'll not plunge thy youth
Into that living tomb where the cold nun
Chants daily requiems, that thy dower may swell
My coffers; I but ask of thee to stay
With me in thy dear Venice, thy dear home,
Thy mistress, mine. I'll be to thee, Camilla,
A father, brother, lover. Stay with me.
I will be very kind to thee.
Camilla.
Oh cruel!
This kindness is the rack.
Cosmo.
I would but save thee
From exile, penury, shame—
Camilla.
He said so.
Cosmo.
He!
Camilla.
Aye, he urg'd all that thou canst say against
Himself and me—in vain. My heart is firm.
I go. But love me still, oh love me still
My brother!
Cosmo.
Listen.
Camilla.
He said all.
Cosmo.
Camilla!
I'd save thee from a crime, a damning crime—
Did he say that? From such a parricide,
Such unimagin'd sin—I tell thee, girl,
The Roman harlot, she the infamous
That crush'd her father with her chariot wheels,
She'll be forgotten in thy monstrous guilt,
Whitened by thy black shame.
67
Oh father, father,
I call upon thee! Look on me from heav'n,
Search my whole soul—'tis white. Oh when some tale
Of woman's truth brought tears into my eyes,
How often hath he said—Be thou, too, faithful
In weal or woe! And now—farewell! farewell!
Cosmo, my heart is breaking—Say farewell,
Only farewell!
Cosmo.
Stay with me.
Camilla.
No.
Cosmo.
Then go,
Outcast of earth and heaven, of God and man!
Abandon'd, spurn'd, abhorr'd, accurst! Go forth
A murderer's bride—worse! worse! What impious priest
Will dare profane the holy words that join
The pure of heart and hand for ye, for ye,
The parricides—Oh that she had but died
Innocent in her childhood.
Camilla.
One day, brother,
Thou'lt grieve for this. Now bless thee!
[Exit Camilla.
Cosmo.
Stay!
Erizzo.
She's gone.
Cosmo.
Why let her go, foul stain upon our house!
She was his daughter still, and yesterday
An Angel! And he loved her and she him
With such a dotage! 'Twas a sight to see
How ere the pretty babe could speak its will,
The chubby hands would cling and fix themselves
Round its dear father's neck. Mother, or nurse,
Or I, the elder child that played with her
Full half the day, were nothing if she caught
One glimpse of that dear father.
68
Now she'll hang
Around his murderer's neck.
Cosmo.
Do ye all forget.
That I'm her brother? Ho, Camilla!
Erizzo.
'Twill be
A triumph 'mid their shame to these misproud
Revengeful Foscari to bear off thus
The glory of your house.
Cosmo.
I'll rescue her.
Where is she? Is she gone? What ho, Camilla!
I'll follow her to the end of the earth. The laws
Give me a father's power. I'll save her yet.
Camilla! Ho, Camilla!
Erizzo.
You must seek her
With him. The time draws near.
[Cosmo rushes out.
Now, Foscari,
I have thee at my feet.
[Exit.
SCENE II.
The Sea Shore.Doge, Foscari, Guards.
Foscari.
Here then we part. Those Guards—send them away,
Let them not listen to the last faint word,
Nor gaze on the last lingering look Why doubt'st thou?
Fear me not—I'll be a true prisoner.
I am a Foscari still, bound by one chain,
Honour. Send them away.
Doge.
Leave us.
[Exeunt Guards.
69
Aye, now
My soul is free again. That tallest slave
Stood brushing against my vest—he with the hard
Cold stony eyes—and I—let not that man
Go with me.
Doge.
He shall not.
Foscari.
How can I waste
A word on such a reptile! I'd a world
Of sad and loving things to say to thee,
But there's a weight just here—Oh father! father!
I thought to have been a comfort to thy age,
But I was born to spread a desolation
On all I love.
Doge.
I would not change my son,
Banished although he be, with the proudest sire
In Christendom. But we must part. These men
Are merciless.
Foscari.
Implore no grace of them.
And yet to leave this brave and tender heart
To wither in its princely solitude,
Friendless, companionless.
Doge.
Age hath one friend,
One sure friend—Death.
Foscari.
Oh I shall not be by
To close thine eyes or kneel beside thy couch,
Or gather from thy lips the last fond sound
Of blessing or of pardon. Bless me now,
Parting is dying.
Doge.
Bless thee, my dear son.
Enter Camilla.
Camilla!
Foscari.
Bless her too. She is thy daughter;
She goes with me to exile.
70
She is blest
In her high constancy. Beloved child
Thy virtuous love hath softened the sharp pang
Of this dread hour.
Camilla.
Father! My only Father!
Foscari, the bark awaits us.
Foscari.
What, already?
Camilla.
All is prepared.
Doge.
I should have told thee so;
But when I would have said, Go! go! my tongue
Clave to my mouth.
Foscari.
Already! Write to me
Often. Is that forbidden? Yet the Doge
May ask my Candiote jailer if his prisoner
Be strictly kept. Then I shall sometimes see,
For surely he will shew it me, thy name,
Thy writing, something thou hast touched. 'Twill be
A comfort.
Doge.
I will write to thee.
Foscari.
And think
Of me when the pale moon lets fall her cold
And patient light upon the Adrian wave
That sighs and trembles. Think of me then.
Doge.
Always.
By sun, or moon, or star; in the bright day
In the night's darkness, but one single thought
Will dwell in my old heart—My banished son.
Camilla.
Alas! Francesco, why wilt thou prolong
This useless agony?
Foscari.
He hath not said
Farewell. One last embrace, one blessing more—
The last!
Camilla.
What step is that?
71
Zeno.
I crave your pardon:
But I must pray the Doge to come with me
Straight to the Senate. 'Tis an earnest business.
I do beseech your Highness. Leave him, Foscari!
Cling not together as your very souls
Were interlaced. The Senate, Doge, demands thee.
Foscari.
The Senate! What! hath he another son
To try, to torture, to condemn? Hath he
Another heart to break? Yet go. For once
Their cruelty is mercy. Go.
Doge.
Whilst still
These eyes may gaze on thee! Ere yonder cloud
Shall pass across the sun, a darker cloud
Will wrap me in its blackness; then the throne,
The judgment seat, the grave—no matter where
The old man rests his bones!—One dim eclipse
Will shadow all—but now—say to the senate
That at their bidding I am sending forth
My son to exile.
Foscari.
Go! go!
Zeno.
Doge, thy duty,
Thy princely duty calls thee.
Doge.
To that word,
Which was to me a god, have I not offered
My child upon the altar? Is the sacrifice
Still incomplete? Farewell! farewell!
Zeno.
Francesco,
Embark not till ye hear from me.—My lord,
This way.
Doge.
I pray you pardon me—I'm old—
I'm very old.
[Exeunt Doge and Zeno
Camilla.
Nay sit not shivering there
Upon the ground. Hast thou no word for me,
72
Foscari.
Is he gone? Quite gone? For ever?
Camilla.
Take comfort.
Foscari.
Is he gone? I did not say
Farewell, nor God be with thee! When men part
From common friends for a slight summer voyage
They cry Heaven speed thee! and I could not say
Farewell to my dear father, nor call down
One benison on that white reverend head
Which I shall never see again. There breathes not
A wretch so curst as I.
Camilla.
Foscari, the lips
That I have kissed are cold.
Foscari.
Oh bruised flower,
Whose very wounds do shed an odorous balm!
My gentle comforter! could I forget
Thy misery! Forgive me.
Camilla.
I have left
His bier, his bloody bier.
Foscari.
Aye, there it is!
Fortune, and friends, and home, to fly from them
Were nothing—but she leaves the unburied corse
Of her dead father, the dear privilege
To sit and watch till the last hour, to strew
His body with sweet flowers like a bank in spring
Making death beautiful, to follow him
To his cold bed, and drop slow heavy tears
To the bell's knolling. She leaves grief to go
With me, whom the world calls—Oh matchless love,
Life could not pay thee! Matchless, matchless love!
Camilla.
He, that blest spirit, knows thy innocence:
And I—I never doubted.
Foscari.
Matchless love!
We'll never part, we'll live and die together,
73
Where are the guards, the ship? My heart beats high
At thy exceeding truth. We shall set forth
As to a victory.
Enter Cosmo, and Erizzo.
Cosmo.
She's here! She's here.
Move not a step. Dare not to stir. Camilla,
Follow me.
Foscari.
Who is he that dares obstruct
The mandate of the Senate? I'm an exile
Travelling to banishment. All Venice knows
The piteous story of the Doge's son
Condemned by his own father, and of her
His true and faithful love. Now leave us, Sir;
Let us depart in peace.
Cosmo.
Murderer! Ravisher!
I seek my sister.
Foscari.
She stands there. Ask her
Whom she will follow.
Camilla.
He knows well. Francesco,
The whole world shall not part us.
Foscari.
Mine! Mine own!
My very own! I've lost wealth, country, home,
Fame, friends, and father; I have nothing left
Save thee, my dear one; but with thee I'm rich,
And great, and happy. Now let us go forth
Into our banishment. Give me thy hand,
My wife.
Cosmo.
Camilla, I command thee stay—
The laws of Venice give to me a power
Absolute as a father's. Loose her, Sir.
Let go her hand. I warn ye part. They'll drive me
74
Let's end this quarrel bravely.
Camilla.
Heed him not!
Foscari.
Calm thee! He is thy brother.
Cosmo.
I disclaim her.
Foscari.
Tremble not so! I am unarmed, Camilla.
Cosmo.
Dost hold her as a shield before thy breast?
Dost palter with me, coward?
Foscari.
(breaking from Camilla)
Off!—A sword!
A sword for charity!
Camilla.
Help! Help! The Doge!
The guard! Stay with them! Part them! Leave them not!
Hold them asunder, Count, and in my prayers
Thou shalt be sainted! Help.
[Camilla rushes out.
Foscari.
Give me a sword!
Cosmo.
Aye his or mine. I am so strongly armed
In my most righteous cause. I would encounter
A mailed warrior with a willow wand.
Erizzo.
There is my weapon.
Foscari.
Why thou wast my foe!
But this is such a bounty as might shame
The princely hand of friendship. Not the blade
Girt by a crowned Duke around my loins,
An Emperor's gift, the day I won my spurs
In the Suabian victory, not that knightly sword
Was welcomer than this.
Cosmo.
Foscari, come on!
Foscari.
I would thou wert a soldier!
Cosmo.
Now.
[They fight, and Foscari falls.
Erizzo.
The fates
Work for me.—Ha!
Cosmo.
Erizzo.
Erizzo.
Is he dead?
75
Alas! Alas! Lift up his head.
Camilla.
(behind the scene)
Here! Here!
Canst thou not hasten.
Enter Camilla and the Doge.
(entering)
Foscari! He's slain!
Oh bloody, bloody brother! Kill me too!
Be merciful! Help!
Cosmo.
Doth he live?
Camilla.
Away!
Thy hands are bloody!—Help, Doge Foscari!
Help Father!—The old man stands stiffening there
Into a statue—He'll die first Off! Off!
Wouldst kill him o'er again?—He bleeds to death!
Father, it is thy blood.
Doge.
My son! My son!
Who hath done this?
Camilla.
He is not dead. Support him.
See how his eye-lids quiver. Foscari!
'Tis I, thy wife!
Foscari.
Mine own!
Cosmo.
Thanks gracious Heaven!
Enter Zeno and Guards.
Zeno.
Seize Count Erizzo, Guard. Have ye not heard—
What spectacle is this?—Know ye not, Sirs,
That Foscari is guiltless, that the murderer
Is found?
Foscari.
Hear that! I'm innocent! Hear that!
The murderer is found! Nay, hold me not—
I'm well—I'm strong. Father, there is no stain
In the long line of Foscari! Camilla,
My Faithfullest—
Doge.
He falls.
76
There wanted this
To crown the brimming cup of my despair.
We should have been the happiest two, Francesco,
Since the first pair in Paradise—but he
That was my brother—
Cosmo.
Peace. Who slew Donato?
Zeno.
Celso, bribed by Erizzo to destroy
Francesco Foscari by Donato crossed
Slew him, and aided by the sword and cloak
Dropped by Francesco, cast this deed of horror
On the most innocent.
Cosmo.
Hath he confessed?
Zeno.
All. Seize Erizzo, bind him.
Erizzo.
There's no need.
The work is done, well done—Signor Donato,
I thank thee still for that—and such revenge
Is cheaply bought with life.
Cosmo.
Oh, damned viper!
Erizzo.
Aye! Do ye know me? Not a man of ye
But is my tool or victim. I'm your master.
This was my aim when old Donato died,
And but that Celso dared not cope with Foscari
And sought to catch him in a subtler springe
I had been now your Doge. And I am more.
I am your master, Sirs. Look where he lies
The towering Foscari, who yesterday
Stood statelier than the marble gods of Rome
In their proud beauty. Hearken! It is mute,
The tongue which darted words of fiery scorn
And cold contempt, and bitter pardon—dared
To hurl on me fierce pardon! Ha! he shivers!
His stout limbs writhe! The insect that is born
And dies within an hour would not change lives
With Foscari. I am content. For thee
77
Great Doge of Venice!
Doge.
Aye, I am the Doge;
Lead him to instant death.
[Exit Erizzo guarded.
My son!
Cosmo.
'Tis I
That am the only murderer of the earth—
I that slew him. Bring racks and axes—
Doge.
Live!
I pardon thee. He pardons thee. Live, Cosmo;
It is thy Prince's last behest. I've been
O'erlong a crowned slave. Go! dross to dross.
[Flinging off the Ducal Bonnet.
And bruise the stones of Venice! Tell the senate
There lies their diadem. Now I am free!
Now I may grieve and pity like a man!
May weep, and groan, and die! My heart may burst
Now! Start not, Zeno—Didst thou never hear
Of a broken heart? Look there.
Zeno.
Hush! He revives.
Camilla.
My Foscari!
Foscari.
Camilla! Is't Camilla?
Is she not weeping? What canst thou weep now
When honour is redeemed and a bright name?
Why there should be no tear in all the world;
Gladness is come from Heaven.
Camilla.
Death! Death!
Foscari.
This joy
Is life. Who talked of death? I cannot die
In such a happiness. I'm well.
Zeno.
He sinks;
Support him.
Cosmo.
Is he dead?
78
Beloved son.
How art thou?
Foscari.
Strong at heart. What are those shapes
That hover round us? There! There! There!
Doge.
Thy friends.
Foscari.
Friends! Have they heard that I am innocent?
That I'm no murderer? That I do not shame
My father's glory? Let it be proclaimed—
Tell Venice—tell—
[dies.
Zeno.
He's gone.
Camilla.
Mine! Still mine own!
Bury me with him! He is mine.
THE END.
| Foscari | |