Lor. 'Twas fit that some one of such different | Your services, the state allots the appanage thoughts Already mention'd in our former congress. From ours should be a witness, lest false tongues Three days are left you to remove from hence, Should whisper that a harsh majority Under the penalty to see confiscated Dreaded to have its acts beheld by others. All your own private fortune. Bar. And not less, I inust needs think, for the sake Doge. That last clause, Of humbling me for my vain opposition. I am proud to say, would not enrich the treasury. You are ingenious, Loredano, in Chief of the Ten. Your answer, Duke! Your modes of vengeance, nay, poetical, Lor. Your answer, Francis Foscari! A very Ovid in the art of hating ; Doge. If I could have foreseen that my old age. 'Tis thus (although a secondary object, Was prejudicial to the state, the chief Yet hate has nicroscopic eyes), to you Of the republic never would have shown I owe by way of foil to the more zealous, Himself so far ungrateful, as to place This undesired association in His own high dignity before his country; But this life having been so many years Not useless to that country, I would fain Yours! Have consecrated my last moments to her.. They speak your language, watch your nod, approve. But the decree being render'd, I obey. Your plans, and do your work. Are they not yours? Chief of the Ten. If you would have the three days Lor. You talk unwarily. 'Twere best they hear named extended, This from you. (not) We willingly will lengthen them to eight, Bar. Oh! they'll hear as much one day | As sign of our esteem. From louder tongues than mine; they have gone be- Doge. Not eight hours, signor, yond Nor even eight minutes-there's the ducal ring, Even their exorbitance of power: and when 1 Taking off his ring and cap. This happens in the most contemn'd and abject And there the ducal diadem. And so States, stung humanity will rise to check it. The Adriatic's free to wed another. Lor. You talk but idly. Chief of the Ten. You go not forth so quickly. Bar, That remains for proof. Doge. I am old, sir, Here come our colleagues. And even to move but slowly must begin To move betimes. Methinks I see amongst you You, by your garb, Chief of the Forty! Signor, [Exit Attendant. I am the son of Marco Memmo. Bar. The Duke is with his son. Doge. Ah! Chief of the Ten. If it be so, Your father was my friend.—But sons and fathers ! We will remit him till the rites are over. What, ho! my servants there! Let us return. 'Tis time enough to-morrow. Atten. My prince! Lor. (aside to Bar.) Now the rich man's he!l-fire! Doge. No prince upon your tongue, There are the princes of the prince! (Pointing to Unquench'd, unquenchable! I'll have it torn the Ten's deputation. Prepare (signors, So rashly? 'twill give scandal, Answer that ; [To the Ten. Lor. See, the Duke comes ! | It is your province.-Sirs, bestir yourselves : Enter the Doge. [To the Servants. Doge. I have obey'd your summons. There is one burthen which I beg you bear Chief of the Ten. We come once more to urge our With care, although 'tis past all further harmDoge. And I to answer. (past request. But I will look to that myself. ' . He means The body of his son. Doge. And call Marina, Chief of the Ten. Hear you then the last decree, My daughter! Enter Marina. Doge. Get thee ready, we must mourn To the point I know of old the forms of office, Elsewhere. And gentle preludes to strong acts.-Go on! Mar. , And everywhere. Chief of the Ten. You are no longer Doge; you Doge. True; but in freedoin, are released Without these jealous spies upon the great. From your imperial oath as sovereign; Signors, you may depart: what would you more! Your ducal robes must be put off ; but for | We are going : do you fear that we shall bear Doge. Lor. The palace with us! Its old wals, ten times Of yours, although the law does not, nor will, As old as I am, and I'ın very old, Farewell, sirs! Have served you, so have I, and I and they Bar. You shall not depart without Could tell a tale; but I invoke them not An escort fitting past and present rank. To fall upon you! else they would, as erst We will accompany, with due respect, The pillars of stone Dagon's temple on The Doge unto his private palace. Say! The Israelite and his Philistine foes. My brethren, will we not? Such power I do believe there inight cxist Different voices. Ay!-Ay! In such a curse as mine, provoked by such Doge. You shall not Lor. The present duke is Paschal Malipiero. By the same portals, but as citizen. Lor. St. Mark's great bell is soon about to toll | Which only ulcerate the heart the inore, Applying poisons there as antidotes. Pomp is for princes-I am none !—That's false, Ye will reverberate this peal; and I I am, but only to these gates.-Ah! Live to hear this !--the first Doge who e'er heard Lor. Hark! Such sound for his successor: happier he, [ The great bell of St. Mark's tolls. My attainted predecessor, stern Faliero Bar. The bell : This insult at the least was spared him. Chief of the Ten. St. Mark's, which tolls for the What! Of Malipiero. (election Do you regret a traitor! Doge. Well I recognise The sound! I heard it once, but once before, Envy the dead. And that is five and thirty years ago; Chief of the Ten. My lord, if you indeed Even then I was not young. Are bent upon this rash abandonment Bar, Sit down, my lord ! Of the state's palace, at the least retire You tremble. By the private staircase, which conducts you towards 'Tis the knell of my poor boy! The landing place of the canal. My heart aches bitterly. No. 1 I pray you sit. Marina ! let us go. Broad eminence I was invested duke. Mar. Most readily My services have called me up those steps, Doge (walks a few steps, then stops). I feel athirst The malice of my foes will drive me down them. - will no one bring me here There five and thirty years ago was I A cup of water? Install'd, and traversed these same halls, from which/ Bar. II never thought to be divorced except Mar. And I— A corse-a corse, it might be, fighting for them Lor. And I But not push'd hence by fellow-citizens. I The Doge takes a goblet from the hand of Loredano. But come; my son and I will go together Doge. I take yours, Loredano, from the hand He to his grave, and I to pray for mine. Most fit for such an hour as this. Chief of the Ten. What! thus in public! Lor. Why so? Doge. I was publicly Doge. 'Tis said that our Venetian crystal has Elected, and so will I be deposed. Such pure antipathy to poisons as To burst, if aught of venom touches it. You bore this goblet, and it is not broken. (perceive it. Doge. Then it is talse, or you are truc. Chief of the Ten. It must not be the people will For my own part, I credit nether, 'tis Doge. The people !-There's no people, you well] An idle legend. know it, Mar. You talk wildly, an i Else you dare not deal thus by them or me. Had better now be seated, nor as yet There is a populace, perhaps, whose looks you, Depart. Ah! now you look as look d my husband! May shame you; but they dare not groan or cursebar. He sinks !--support him --quick- chairSave with their hearts and eyes. support him! Chief of the Ten. You speak in passion, Doge. The bell tolls on ! let's hence-my brain's Else on fire ! Doge. You have reason. I have spoken much Bar. I do beseech you, lean upon us ! More than my wont : it is a foible which Doge. No! Was not of mine, but more excuses you, A sovereign should die standing. My poor boy! Inasmuch as it shows that I approach Off with your arms - That bell! A dotage which may justify this deed (The Doge drops down and dirt. Mar. My God! My God! Chief of the Ten. Best retain it for your children. Bar. (to Lor.) Behold! your work's completed! Mar. Ay, they are fatherless, I thank you. Chief of the Ten. Is there then Chief of the Ter. No aid? Call in assistance! Cannot comply with your request. His relics 'Tis all over. Shail be exposed with wonted pomp, and follow'd Chief of the Tex. If it be so, at least his obsequics Unto their home by the new Doge, not clad Shall be such as befits his name and nation, As Doge, but simply as a senator. His rank and his devotion to the duties Mar. I have heard of murderers, who have in. of the realm, while his age permitted him terr'd To do himself and them ful! justice. Brethren, Their victims; but ne'er heard, until this hour, Say, shall it not be so? Of so much splendour in hypocrisy O'er those they slew. I've heard of widows' tearsThe misery to die a subject where Alas! I have shed some-always thanks to you ! He reign'd: then let his funeral rites be princely. I've heard of heirs in sables-you have left none Chief of the Ten. We are agreed, then? To the deceased, so you would act the part All, except Lor., answer, Yes. Of such. Well, sirs, your will be done! as one day, Chief of the Ten. Heaven's peace be with him! I trust, Heaven's will be done too! Mar. Signors, your pardon : this is mockery! Chief of the Ten. Know you, lady, Juggle no more with that poor remnant, which, To whom ye speak, and perils of such speech? A moment since, while yet it had a soul, Mar. I know the former better than yourselves; The latter-like yourselves; and can face both. (A soul by whom you have increased your empire, Wish you more funerals? Bar, Heed not her rash words; From his high place, with such relentless coldness; Her circumstances inust excuse her bearing. And now, when he can neither know these honours, Chief of the Ten. We will not note them down. Nor would accept them if he could, you, signors, Bar. (turning to Lor., who is wriling upon his tablets.] What art thou writing, Purpose, with idle and superfluous pomp, With such an earnest brow, upon thy tablets? Lor. (pointing to the Doge's body.] That he has paid me !t Chief of the Ten. What debt did he owe you? Lor, A long and just one; Nature's debt and mine. Our purposes so readily. Mar. I know it, [Curtain falls. As far as touches torturing the living. I thought the dead had been beyond even you, • The Venetians appear to have had a particular turn for breaking the hearts of their Doges. The following Though (so:ne no doubt) consign'd to powers which is another instance of the kind in the Doge Marco BarResemble that you exercise on earth. [niay barigo: he was succeeded by his brother Agostino BarLeave him to me; you would have done so for barigo, whose chief merit is here mentioned.-Le doge, blessé de trouver constamment un contradicteur His dregs of life, which you have kindly shortend : et in censeur si amer et un censeur si amer dans son frère, lui dit un jour en It is my last of duties, and may prove plein conseil ; Messire Augustin, vous faites tout votre A dreary comfort in my desolation. possible pour hâter ma mort; vous vous flattez de me succéder; mais, si les autres vous connaissent aussi Grief is fantastical, and loves the dead, bien que je vous connais, ils n'auront garde de vous And the apparel of the grave. élire. Lådessus il se leva, ému de colère, rentra dans Chief of the Ten. Do you son appartement, et mourut quelques jours après. Ce frère, contre lequel il s'était emporté, fut précisément Pretend still to this office ? le successeur qu'on lui donna. C'était un inérite dont • Mar. I do, signor. on aimait à tenir compte ; surtout à un parent, de Though his possessions have been all consumed s'être mis en opposition avec le chef de la république." -DARU, Hist. de Venise, t. ii. p. 533. In the state's service, I liave still my dowry, | L'ha pagata,' An historical fact. See Hist, de Which shall be consecrated to his rites, Venise, par Ř DARU, t. ii. p. 411, And those of She stops with agitation.' CAIN: A MYSTER Y. 1821. Now the Serpent was more subtile than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made.'-GEN. iii. L TO SIR WALTER SCOTT, BART., THIS MYSTERY OF CAIN IS INSCRIBED, THE AUTHOR. PREFACE. The following scenes are entitled . A Mystery,' in conformity with the ancient title annexed to dramas upon similar subjects, which were styled 'Mysteries, or Moralities.' The author has by no means taken the same liberties with his subject which were common formerly, as may be seen by any reader curious enough to refer to those very profane productions, whether in English, French, Italian, or Spanish. The author has endeavoured to preserve the language adapted to his characters; and where it is (and this is but rarely) taken from actual Scripture, he has made as little alteration, even of words, as the rhythm would permit. The reader will recollect that the book of Genesis does not state that Eve was tempted by a demon, but by the serpent;' and that only because he was the most subtile of all the beasts of the field.' Whatever interpre. tation the Rabbins and the Fathers may have put upon this, I take the words as I find thein, and reply, with Bishop Watson upon similar occasions, when the Fathers were quoted to him, as Moderator in the schools of Cambridge, Behold the Book !'-holding up the Scripture. It is to be recollected that my present subject lias nothing to do with the New Testament, to which no reference can be here made without anachronism. With the poems upon similar topics I have not been recently familiar. Since I was twenty, I have never read Milton ; but I had read him so frequently before, that this may make little difference. Gesner's Death of Abell have never read since I was eight years of age, at Aberdeen. The general impression of my recollection is delight; but of the contents I remeniber only that Cain's wife was called Mahala, and Abel's Thirza : in the following pages I have called them. Adah' and 'Zillah,' the earliest female names which occur in Genesis; they were those of Lamech's wives: 'those of Cain and Abel are not called by their names. Whether, then, a coincidence of subject may have caused the same expression, I know nothing, and care as little. The reader will please to bear in mind (what few choose to recollect), that there is no allusion to a future state in any of the books of Moses, nor indeed in the Old Testament. For a reason for this extraordinary omission, he may consult Warburton's Divine Legation : whether satisfactory or not, no better has yet been assigned. I have therefore supposed it new to Cain, without, I hope, any perversion of Holy Writ. With regard to the language of Lucifer, it was difficult for me to make him talk like a clergyman upon the same subjects; but I have done what I could to restrain him within the bounds of spiritual politeness. If he disclaims having tempted Eve in the shape of the Serpent, it is only because the book of Genesis has not the most distant allusion to anything of the kind, but merely to the Serpent in his serpentine capacity. Note.-The reader will perceive that the author has partly adopted in this poem the notion of Cuvier, that the world had been destroyed several times before the creation of man. This speculation, derived from the different strata and the bones of enorious and unknown animals found in them, is not contrary to the Mosaic account, but rather confirms it; as no human bones have yet been discovered in those strata, although those of many known animals are found near the remains of the unknown. The assertion of Lucifer, that the pre-Adamite world was also peopled by rational beings inuch more intelligent than man, and proportionably powerful to the mammoth, etc. etc., is, of course, a poetical fiction to help him to make out his case. I ought to add, that there is a 'tramelogedia' of Alfieri, called Abele.--I have never read that, nor any other of the posthumous works of the writer, except his Life. DRAMATIS PERSONA. WOMEN. MEN SPIRITS, Eve. ACT I. The snake spoke truth; it was the tree of know. ledge; SCENE 1. The Land without Paradise. --Time, It was the tree of life : knowledge is good, And life is good : and how can both be evil? Eve. My boy, thou speakest as I spoke, in sin, sacrifice. Before thy birth: let me not see renew'd Adam. GOD, the Eternal | Infinite! All-wise ! My misery in thine. I have repented. Who out of darkness on the deep didst make Let me not see my offspring fall into Light on the waters with a word-all hail ! The snares beyond the walls of Paradise, Jehovah, with returning light, all hail ! Which e'en in Paradise destroyed his parents. Eve. God! who didst name the day, and separate Content thee with what is. Had we been so, Morning from night, till then divided never Thou now hadst been contented.-Oh, my son ! Who didst divide the wave from wave, and call Adam. Our orisons completed, let us hence, Part of Thy work the firmament-all hail! Each to his task of toil-not heavy, though Abel. God! who didst call the elements into Needful: the earth is young, and yields us kindly Earth, ocean, air, and fire, and with the day Her fruits with little labour. And night, and worlds, which these illuminate, Eve. Cain, my son, Or shadow, madest beings to enjoy them, Behold thy father cheerful and resign'd, And love both them and Thee--all hail! all hail! And do as he doth. (Exeunt Adam and Eve. Adah, God, the Eternal! Parent of all things! Zillah. Wilt thou not, my brother? Who didst create these best and beauteous beings, Abel. Why wilt thou wear this gloom upon thy To be beloved, more than all, save Thee brow, Let me love Thee and them :-All hail ! all hail ! Which can avail thee nothing, save to rouse Zillah. O God! who loving, making, blessing all, The Eternal anger? Yet didst permit the Serpent to creep in, Adah, My beloved Cain And drive iny father forth from Paradise, Wilt thou frown even on me? Keep us from further evil :-Hail! all hail I Cain, No, Adah! no; Adam. Son Cain, my first-born, wherefore art I sain would be alone a little while. thou silent? Abel, I'm sick at heart; but it will pass. Cain. Why should I speak? Precede me, brother-I will follow shortly. Adam. To pray. And you too, sisters, tarry not behind; Cain. Have ye not prayed? Your gentleness must not be harshly met: I'll follow you anon If not, I will Return to seek you here. Abel, The peace of God [Exeunt Abel, Zillah, and Adah. Cain, 'Tis better I should be so. Cain (solus). And this is Adam. Wherefore so? Life!-Toil! and wherefore should I toil!--because Cain. I have nought to ask. My father could not keep his place in Eden! Adam. Nor aught to thank for? What had I done in this ?-I was unborn: Cata. No. I sought not to be born; nor love the state Adam. Dost thou not live? To which that birth has brought me. Why did he Cait. Must I not die ? Yield to the serpent and the woman? or, Eve. Alas! Yielding, why suffer? What was there in this? The fruit of our forbidden tree begins The tree was planted, and why not for hiin! If not, why place him near it, where it grew, Cain. And wherefore pluck'd ye not the tree of And He is good.' How know I that? Because (life? He is all-powerful, must all-good, too, follow? Adam. Oh I my son, I judge but by the fruits-and they are bitterBlaspheme not: these are serpents' words. Which I must feed on for a fault not mine. Cain, Why not? Whom have we here ?-A shape like to the angels, Abel. |