Teresa Contarini/Act I

SCENE I
Scene Venice

''Grand Council Chamber. Doge and Senators discovered in debate.''

Doge
 * I would not counsel to severity.
 * If Venice be in danger, she has arms
 * To wield the sword against all threatening foes,
 * And hearts enough to bleed in her defence.

Loredano
 * Should we not watch more jealous o'er her rights?
 * And rather crush rebellion in the bud,
 * Than pamper it into luxurious growth
 * By our delay? Spain looks with eager eye
 * To find some crevice in the wall of safety
 * Wherewith our vigilance hath hedged the state:---
 * France joins the envious league;---their minions lurk
 * Within the city's bounds, to discontent
 * Stirring the populace.---But one way offers
 * Security---let laws too often slighted
 * Reign in full force.

Contarini
 * It doth become us here
 * To feign sleep, but unclose a thousand eyes;
 * To treasure up each doubtful sign and word,
 * To write down sighs.

Loredano
 * Let all suspected die!
 * Let the first breath of treason be the signal
 * To crush the offender.

Veniero
 * For the guilty, arm
 * Your power with all its terrors. Be severe,
 * And firm, but frame not laws whose weight must fall
 * Upon a thousand innocent heads, to reach
 * One that deserves their penalty.

Loredano
 * Would you bar
 * The course of justice?

Veniero
 * Justice! ye misname
 * What is but cruelty. Is not your power
 * Already vast enough? If the pale slave
 * Whisper of you, he bends his brow to earth,
 * Lifting in awe his trembling hand toward heaven,
 * And mutters " Those above! " A power so boundless,
 * Why would you make but tyranny?

Loredano
 * 'Tis right
 * It should be so. The multitude esteem
 * Each god a tyrant, and all tyrants gods.
 * Not by the force of hostile powers without,
 * A state will fall, if in herself she bear not,
 * As doth the human frame, those hidden seeds
 * That ripen for destruction.---Ours the charge
 * To seek and root them out.---Look on the years
 * Of our brave ancestors. The sacred yoke
 * Of laws severe, inflexible and just,
 * They bore unmurmuring---and the citizen
 * Learned here the lesson to all Italy
 * Besides, unknown---to govern and obey!
 * 'On such a policy shone days of splendor:
 * Easy was then the task to put to rout
 * The Gallic fleets; to humble Frederick's pride
 * In a single conflict---and on every tower
 * Raised by our foes beyond our country's bounds,
 * To plant the Lion standard of St. Mark.
 * Asia then trembled for her kingdom's safety,
 * Though Europe intervened; and 'gainst all Europe
 * Leagued for our injury, alone and armed
 * Stood forth the genius of Venetian power.'
 * Now times are changed. Now crime unblushing claims
 * Impunity. In this degenerate age,
 * Nor evils will be borne---nor remedies!
 * And we are branded with the name of tyrants,
 * By every worthless flatterer of the people
 * Who boasts himself a statesman, and would here
 * Let crime pass scatheless.

Veniero
 * Nay---why fix you thus
 * Your glance on me? am I the "worthless flatterer"
 * Whom you would here denounce?

Loredano
 * Even as you will---
 * Your conscience must reply.

Doge
 * Nay---nay---my lords,
 * Descend not here to brawl. Retire---and let
 * The vote be taken.

[Contarini and Badoero count the votes.
 * Senators of Venice,
 * Ye to the public eye should be as gods,
 * Not men thus passion moved.

Contarini
 * Fathers! the laws have triumphed.
 * Read the decree.

Badoero ( reads. )
 * "It is hereby enacted, that if any Patrician be seen to hold intercourse in secret with the ambassadors of France or Spain, or pass their thresholds after sunset, he shall be held guilty of treason and shall suffer its penalty."

Doge
 * 'Tis well; such is the Senate's voice. And now
 * Another duty. Summon Foscarini.

[ A guard goes out, and returns with Foscarini.
 * Antonio Foscarini!
 * To you our council hath decreed the trust
 * Of the embassy to Switzerland. We will
 * That you depart to-night.

Foscarini
 * My gracious lord,
 * Humble, yet grateful, I receive the trust
 * You're pleased to invest me with. My years are few,
 * Yet ripe for strict obedience.

Doge ( rising )


 * It grows late.
 * The council is dissolved.

[ Exeunt all but Doge and Foscarini.
 * Small time remains
 * To show thee, Foscarini, ere we part,
 * The prince merged in the friend:---I was thy father's.
 * Say, if my efforts can in aught avail
 * To do thee service?

Foscarini
 * I do prize your goodness:
 * Will tax it for one boon. There is a maid
 * Within this town, I speak not of her beauty,
 * For that were idle, and you'd smile perchance,
 * At lover's rhapsodies--

Doge
 * Well, cut them short;
 * Her name?

Foscarini
 * She is the daughter of Veniero;
 * All Venice knows his feud with Loredano,
 * Their strife and hate. My suit is briefly this---
 * From Loredano and his secret arts,
 * Protect Teresa and her sire.

Doge
 * You ask
 * As if the Doge did govern here, and were not
 * Most bound to servitude. Yet will I watch
 * Over their safety.

Foscarini
 * And if peril threaten,
 * Inform me of the danger?

Doge
 * That I promise.

Foscarini
 * Enough! with lighter heart I shall now leave
 * My native city. Fare you well!

Doge
 * Heaven guard you.

[ Exeunt severally.

SCENE II
A Street.---Enter Vincentio and Leonardo, with other citizens.

Vincentio
 * Talk not of patience here! On every pleasure
 * Some spy doth watch, in mirth's unguarded hour
 * To seize stray thoughts which haply may transgress
 * The straitened bounds of prudence.

Leonardo
 * Hush! you tread
 * Close on its limits now. The mighty ones
 * Are like the gods, invisible and present.

Vincentio
 * Aye, like the gods too, that their cunning visits
 * Their destined victims with a wholesome madness!
 * By Heaven! I'd rather grapple with the Hun,
 * Or serve the turbaned Turk, than linger life out
 * In such concealed bondage! 'Twas but now,
 * Even at the masque, I saw the peering eyes
 * Of that dark villain, Steno, fixed upon me.
 * I've marked him oft---he serves the state in secret!
 * Mine arm ached for the dagger, as I watched
 * His lowering face.

Leonardo
 * Are you alone in fear?
 * Our Senators--

Vincentio
 * Are tigers clothed in robes.

Leonardo
 * Not all. Yet when the voice of mirth is heard,
 * If they appear, in terror steals away
 * Each startled reveller, and all around
 * Is silent as the grave---

Vincentio
 * To which they doom
 * The luckless murmurers.

Leonardo
 * Hush! some one approaches.
 * The Signor Loredano, and another.
 * In converse, too.

Vincentio
 * Some double, unheard crime
 * They ponder.

Leonardo
 * Let us go.

[ Exeunt.

[Enter Contarini and Loredano.

Contarini
 * Chafe not at idle words.

Loredano
 * I am not wont
 * To let them move me. In another age
 * The stain of insult must be washed with blood,
 * Or it grew rank, and spread unsightliness
 * On him that bore it. Now, though thrice reviled,
 * Thrice, at the banquet, in these times the steel
 * 'Tis dangerous to wield. Hate is resisted
 * By wisdom.

Contarini
 * And let wisdom vanquish hate.
 * And now to softer themes. Wilt go with me
 * Where pleasure ever waits to greet the guest?

Loredano
 * The lady Fiorilla's?

Contarini
 * Fiorilla!
 * Shame! in a tone where bitterness so lately
 * Hath dwelt, to breathe her name---were not that name
 * Of power to sweeten all! Hear but her voice---
 * Oh! the dull spheres, to hear it, might descend,
 * Lessoned by music sweeter than their own!
 * 'Twill charm the evil spirit from your soul,
 * As the enamored bard of old beguiled
 * Hell's guilty prisoners to a transient bliss,
 * And won the bride he loved from Pluto's arms!

Loredano
 * You love this syren?

Contarini
 * Nay---to shrines so fair,
 * Kneeling, we offer passionate vows, but dream not
 * Of single worship. Would the sun in heaven,
 * That fills the world with glory, treasure up
 * His gathered beams for one poor mortal's gaze?
 * Or if he might, would not the dazzling tide
 * O'erwhelm his votary? Florilla's charms
 * Were never made for one---and all who share
 * The sunlight of her smile, may bask in safety;
 * It shines on all alike.

Loredano
 * You know I seek not
 * A lady's favor. May your hopes grow ripe
 * Beneath her cherishing glance!

Contarini
 * My dearest hopes
 * Are elsewhere fixed.

Loredano
 * So fickle a gallant!

Contarini
 * Your pardon! The majestic flower that spreads
 * Its beauties to the open eye of day
 * All may admire, and quaff its bounteous fragrance.
 * But love we less some gentle, shrinking bud,
 * That blooms but for our gaze?

Loredano
 * Ha! and who plays
 * The treasured blossom to your miser's bower?

Contarini
 * A lovely, and a stately one; full soon
 * To be transplanted to that genial soil.
 * To night my vows I pay where hundreds more
 * Will emulate my worship. Will you go?

Loredano
 * I'll join you soon.

[ Exit Loredano.

Contarini
 * He'll serve my purpose well.
 * His anger is well-timed: it gives a color
 * To my intent, which makes all doubly sure.
 * This for the marble that so meetly yawns
 * For secret accusations. Loredano
 * Must aid my labors, while I reap the fruit.

[ Exit.

SCENE III
A Garden--- Teresa appears, descending the steps of a balcony.

Teresa
 * 'Tis sunset, and he is not here; though wont
 * To anticipate the hour! It matters not.
 * How lovely is the silvery, deepening twilight!
 * There needs but some faint sound, in melody
 * Stealing upon the silence---some fond whisper
 * Which makes us sigh for quiet in return,
 * To muse upon its meaning!
 * ( A strain of music without, which continues for some moments. )

Enter Foscarini.

Foscarini
 * She listens like a goddess, fresh from heaven,
 * To airs that breathe nought heavenly save her name.
 * The winds that wanton, lady, o'er thy lips,
 * Steal thence the fragrance that with prodigal wings
 * They lavish round the world!

Teresa
 * Flatterer! thy boldness
 * I would rebuke, but that thy tones have music
 * That charms away reproof.

Foscarini
 * Oh! woman, woman!
 * Who marking on your cheek the sudden brightness,
 * The brow that strives so vainly to compel
 * Disdain to sit there---who could deem you loved not
 * The voice of homage? Nay---sweet monitor--

Teresa
 * I never feigned disdain.

Foscarini
 * Nor felt it?

Teresa
 * Never
 * Toward you.

Foscarini
 * Why thanks; and well may I be proud,
 * Who merit scorn so richly; rashly seeking
 * To win such excellence, as other eyes
 * Are blinded while they gaze on!

Teresa
 * Again, again!

Foscarini
 * Forgive me---it is hard to measure words
 * When the heart overflows. Mine own Teresa!
 * Do I not love---have I not loved thee long?
 * As we do ever love all gentle things,
 * All glorious things, and holy---the rich flowers---
 * The brilliant morn---the far and smiling heaven!
 * All these grow sometimes pale;---heaven is o'ercast---
 * The dawn is clouded---and the fickle flowers
 * Are blighted ere their bloom be ripe!---Oh, tell me,
 * Who shall ensure to love, in chilling absence,
 * Exemption from their change?

Teresa
 * It owns no change.
 * To speak like you in figures,---wears the sky
 * A fainter hue, because some cloud awhile
 * Obscures its glory to terrestrial eyes?
 * But wherefore talk of absence?

Foscarini
 * We must part.

Teresa
 * Part!

Foscarini
 * For a time. Let it not blanch thy cheek,
 * Though, sooth, that hue of fear is dearer far
 * Than were ten thousand roses.

Teresa
 * Has my favor
 * O'erwearied you so soon?

Foscarini
 * Nay: thou dost wrong
 * Thy favor, to say thus. What could have power
 * To lure me from thy presence, save the trust
 * That short-lived sorrow should a harvest yield
 * Of rich, enduring bliss?

[ Music heard at a distance.
 * Hark! 'Tis the gondola
 * That waits to bear me hence. I must not linger.
 * Come with me for a space; and as we go
 * I'll tell thee of my hopes---hopes that will banish
 * Intrusive fear, and clothe the rugged peaks
 * Of wild Helvetia's Alps with smiles and flowers,
 * Breathing Elysian fragrance o'er their snows!

[Exeunt.