And now, when he can neither know these honours,
Nor would accept them if he could, you, signors,
Purpose, with idle and superfluous pomp,

To make a pageant over what you trampled.
A princely funeral will be your reproach,
And not his honour.

CHIEF OF THE TEN.

Lady, we revoke not

Our purposes so readily.

MARINA.

I know it,

As far as touches torturing the living.

I thought the dead had been beyond even you,
Though (some, no doubt) consign'd to powers
Resemble that you exercise on earth.

which

Leave him to me; you would have done so for
His dregs of life, which you have kindly shorten'd:
It is
my last of duties, and may prove

A dreary comfort in my desolation.

Grief is fantastical, and loves the dead,
And the apparel of the

grave.

CHIEF OF THE TEN.

may

Pretend still to this office?

Do you

MARINA.

I do, signor.

Though his possessions have been all consumed
In the state's service, I have still my dowry,
Which shall be consecrated to his rites,

And those of

(She stops with agitation.

Ay, they are fatherless, I thank you.

CHIEF OF THE TEN.

We

Cannot comply with your request. His relics

Shall be exposed with wonted pomp, and follow'd
Unto their home by the new Doge, not clad

As Doge, but simply as a senator.

MARINA.

I have heard of murderers, who have interr'd
Their victims; but ne'er heard, until this hour,
Of so much splendour in hypocrisy

O'er those they slew. I've heard of widows' tears-
Alas! I have shed some-always thanks to you!
I've heard of heirs in sables-you have left none
To the deceased, so you would act the part

Of such. Well, sirs, your will be done! as one day,
I trust, Heaven's will be done too!

CHIEF OF THE TEN.

Know you, lady,

To whom ye speak, and perils of such speech?

MARINA.

I know the former better than yourselves;
The latter-like yourselves; and can face both.
Wish
you more funerals?

BARBARIGO.

Heed not her rash words;

Her circumstances must excuse her bearing.

CHIEF OF THE TEN.

We will not note them down.

BARBARIGO (Turning to LOREDANO, who is writing upon his tablets.) What art thou writing,

With such an earnest brow, upon thy tablets?

LOREDANO (Pointing to the DOGE's body.)

That he has paid me! 4

CHIEF OF THE TEN.

What debt did he owe you?

LOREDANO.

A long and just one; Nature's debt and mine.

(Curtain falls.

L'ha pagata? An historical fact. See the History of Venice, by

P. Daru, page 411, vol. II.