DRAMATIS PERSONE.

MEN.

MARINO FALIERO, Doge of Venice.

BERTUCCIO FALIERO, Nephew of the Doge.

LIONI, a Patrician and Senator.

BENINTENDE, Chief of the Council of Ten.

MICHEL STENO, One of the three Capi of the Forty.
ISRAEL BERTUCCIO, Chief of

the Arsenal,

PHILIP CALENDARO,

DAGOLINO,

BERTRAM,

Conspirators.

Signor of the Night,{"Signore di Notte," one of the Offi

cers belonging to the Republic.

First Citizen.

Second Citizen.

Third Citizen.

VINCENZO,

PIETRO,

BATTISTA,

Officers belonging to the Ducal Palace.

Secretary of the Council of Ten.

Guards, Conspirators, Citizens, The Council of Ten, The

MARINO FALIERO.

ACT I.

SCENE I.

An Antechamber in the Ducal Palace.

PIETRO speaks, in entering, to Battista.

Pie. Is not the messenger return'd?
Bat.

Not yet;

I have sent frequently, as you commanded,
But still the Signory is deep in council,
And long debate on Steno's accusation. (1)
Pie. Too long-at least so thinks the Doge.
Bat.

These moments of suspense?

Pie.

How bears he

With struggling patience. (2)

Placed at the ducal table, cover'd o'er

With all the apparel of the state; petitions,
Despatches, judgments, acts, reprieves, reports,

(1) [See Appendix, Note (A.)]

(2) [Original MS. -"With seeming patience."]

He sits as rapt in duty;(1) but whene'er
He hears the jarring of a distant door,
Or aught that intimates a coming step,
Or murmur of a voice, his quick eye wanders,
And he will start up from his chair, then
And seat himself again, and fix his gaze
Upon some edict; but I have observed
For the last hour he has not turn'd a leaf.

pause,

['twas

Bat. 'Tis said he is much moved,—and doubtless Foul scorn in Steno to offend so grossly.

Pie. Ay, if a poor man: Steno's a patrician, Young, galliard, gay, and haughty. (2)

Bat.

He will not be judged hardly?

Pie.

Then you think

'Twere enough

-What news, Vincenzo?

He be judged justly; but 'tis not for us
To anticipate the sentence of the Forty.
Bat. And here it comes.

Vin.

Enter VINCENZO.

Decided; but as yet his doom's unknown:
I saw the president in act to seal

'Tis

The parchment which will bear the Forty's judgment Unto the Doge, and hasten to inform him. [Exeunt.

(1) [MS. -"He sits as deep in duty."]

(2) [MS..

Young, galliard, gay, and haughty.”]

gallant,