Chorus of Mortals. Then to Jehovah raise Oh son of Noah! mercy on thy kind! What, wilt thou leave us all-all-all behind? While safe amidst the elemental strife, A Mortal (offering her infant to Japhet). Oh let this child embark! I brought him forth in woe, But thought it joy To see him to my bosom clinging so. What hath he done- To move Jehovah's wrath or scorn? My boy, And roll the waters o'er his placid breath? Or cursed be-with Him who made The forest's trees (coeval with the hour When Paradise upsprung, Ere Eve gave Adam knowledge for her dower, Or Adam his first hymn of slavery sung), Their summer-blossomsby the surges lopp'd, And shut out God from our beseeching eyes. And view, all floating o'er the Element, The corpses of the world of thy young days: Time-space-eternity-life-deathThe vast known and immeasurable unknown. He made, and can unmake; And shall I, for a little gasp of breath, Blaspheme and groan? No; let me die, as I have lived, in faith, Nor quiver, though the universe may quake! Chorus of Mortals. Where shall we fly? Not to the mountains high; For now their torrents rush with double roar, Enter a Woman. My father and my father's tent, My brethren and my brethren's herds, The little rivulet which freshen'd all No more are to be seen. When to the mountain-cliff I climb'd this morn, I turn'd to bless the spot, And not a leaf appear'd about to fall;- Japhet. To die! in youth to die; Than to behold the universal tomb Am thus condemn'd to weep above in vain: Why, when all perish, why must I remain? [The Waters rise: Men fly in every direc tion; many are overtaken by the waves; the Chorus of Mortals disperses in search of safety up the Mountains; JAPHET remains upon a rock, while the Ark floats towards him in the distance. "Doge Foscari, my debtor for the deaths Lored. It is written thus. Barb. And will you leave it unerased? And how? (Two Senators pass over the stage, as Lored. You see the number is complete. Barb. (solus). Follow thee! I have fol- Thy path of desolation, as the wave Who shrieks within its riven ribs, as gush Might move the elements to pause, and yet Thy foes,must be thy victims: wilt thou beat Enter Guards, with young FOSCARI as Guard. Let him rest. Signor, take time. J. Foscari. I thank thee, friend, I'm feeble; But thou mayst stand reproved. Guard. I'll stand the hazard. Enter an Officer, who whispers BARBARIGO. In this brief parley, and must now redeem it Guard. There, sir, 'tis J. Foscari. Like a boy-Oh Venice! J. Foscari. Limbs! how often have they Bounding o'er yon blue tide, as I have The gondola along in childish race, While the fair populace of crowding beauties, The wave all roughen'd; with a swimmer's Flinging the billows back from my drench'd hair, J. Foscari. That's kind: -- I meet some And laughing from my lip the audacious pity, but no mercy; This is the first. Guard. And might be last, did they Who rule behold us. Barb. (advancing to the guard) There Yet fear not; I will neither be thy judge We'll in together. Look well to the prisoner! brine, With a far-dashing stroke, and drawing deep Our house's foe, and one of my few judges. My track like a sea-bird.—I was a boy then. Guard. Be a man now: there never was | And the cold drops strain through my brow more need Guard. And the third time will slay you. J. Foscari. Let them do so, So I be buried in my birth-place; better Be ashes here than aught that lives elsewhere. Guard. And can you so much love the soil which hates you? J. Foscari. The soil! Oh no, it is the Which persecutes me; but my native earth Officer. Bring in the prisoner! The third time they have tortured me:then lend me Thine arm. J. Foscari. You!-you are he Officer. As you please, signor ; The sentence was not of my signing, but I dared not disobey the Council when They J. Foscari. Bade thee stretch me on their horrid engine. I pray thee touch me not—that is, just now; The time will come they will renew that order, But keep off from me till 'tis issued. As I look upon thy hands my curdling limbs Quiver with the anticipated wrenching, as if But onward-I have borne it-I can bear it.How looks my father? Officer. With his wonted aspect. J. Foscari. So does the earth, and sky, the blue of ocean, The brightness of our city, and her domes, unknown Who govern, and the unknown and the unnumber'd Judged and destroy'd in silence,—all things wear The self-same aspect, to my very sire! [Exeunt Jacopo Foscari, Officer, etc. Enter MEMMO and another Senator. Memmo. He's gone—we are too late:~ think you the Ten Will sit for any length of time to-day? Senator. They say the prisoner is most obdurate, Persisting in his first avowal; but Memmo. And that is much; the secrets Of yon terrific chamber are as hidden From us, the premier nobles of the state, As from the people. Senator. Save the wonted rumours, Which (like the tales of spectres that are rife Near ruin'd buildings) never have been proved, Nor wholly disbelieved: men know as little Of the state's real acts as of the grave's Unfathom'd mysteries. Memmo. But with length of time We gain a step in knowledge, and I look Forward to be one day of the decemvirs. Senator. Or Doge? Memmo. Why, no, not if I can avoid it. Senator. 'Tis the first station of the state, and may Be lawfully desired, and lawfully Memmo. To such Memmo. I understand thee, but I must not answer. Marina (fiercely). True_none dare answer here save on the rack, Or question save those To love; but_no_no_no_it must have been A fearful pang which wrung a groan from him. Senator. And feeling for thy husband's wrongs, wouldst thou Memmo (interrupting her). High-born Have him bear more than mortal pain, in dame! bethink thee Where thou now art. Marina. Where I now am!—It was My husband's father's palace. Memmo. The Duke's palace. Marina. And his son's prison;-true, I have not forgot it; And if there were no other nearer, bitterer Remembrances, would thank the illustrious Memmo For pointing out the pleasures of the place. Memmo. Be calm! silence? Marina. We all must bear tortures. I have not Left barren the great house of Foscari, Though they sweep both the Doge and son from life; I have endured as much in giving life But did not, for my hope was to bring forth tears. Memmo. All's silent now. Marina. Perhaps all's over, but I will not deem it: he hath nerved himself, And now defies them. Enter an Officer hastily. Memmo. How now, friend, what seek you? Officer. A leech. The prisoner has fainted. [Exit Officer. Memmo. Lady, Twere better to retire. Senator (offering to assist her). I pray thee do so. Marina. Off! I will tend him. Memmo. You! Remember, lady! He does not, there are those will sentence Ingress is given to none within those Is but to expose yourself to harsh repulse, Marina. Who shall oppose me? Whose duty 'tis to do so. Marina. 'Tis their duty To trample on all human feelings, all Marina. That shall be tried. He shriek! No; that should be his father's That in my heart would make its way through hosts |