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

belonging to the Republic.

First Citizen.

Second Citizen.

Third Citizen.

VINCENZO,

PIETRO,

BATTISTA,

}

Officers belonging to the Duca' Palace

Secretary of the Council of Ten.

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

Giunta, &c. &c.

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.

Pie. Too long - at least so thinks the Doge.
Bat.

These moments of suspense?

Pie.

How bears he

With struggling patience.

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

With all the apparel of the state; petitions,
Despatches, judgments, acts, reprieves, reports,
He sits as rapt in duty; 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 pause,
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.

Bat. 'T is said he is much moved, and doubtless 't was

Foul scorn in Steno to offend so grossly.

Pie. Ay, if a poor man: Steno 's a patrician,

Young, galliard, gay, and haughty.

Bat.

He will not be judged hardly?

Then you think

Pie.

'T were enough

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

What news, Vincenzo?

Enter VINCENZO.

Vin.

'T is

Decided; but as yet his doom's unknown :

I saw the president in act to seal

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

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

The Ducal Chamber.

MARINO FALIERO, Doge; and his Nephew, BERTUCCIO
FALIERO.

Ber. F. It cannot be but they will do you justice.
Doge. Ay, such as the Avogadori did,

Who sent up my appeal unto the Forty

To try him by his peers, his own tribunal.

Ber. F. His peers will scarce protect him; such an act Would bring contempt on all authority.

Doge. Know you not Venice? Know you not the Forty But we shall see anon.

Ber. F. (addressing VINCENZO, then entering.)

How now

what tidings?

Vin. I am charged to tell his highness that the court

Has pass'd its resolution, and that, soon

As the due forms of judgment are gone through,

The sentence will be sent up to the Doge;

In the mean time the Forty doth salute

The Prince of the Republic, and entreat
His acceptation of their duty.

Doge.

Yes

They are wond'rous dutiful, and ever humble.
Sentence is pass'd, you say?

Vin.

It is, your highness:

The president was sealing it, when I
Was call'd in, that no moment might be lost
In forwarding the intimation due