Category: Poetry
Poems, translated and original
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.
Chapters
1. SCENE I.
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.
2. SCENE II.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 l...
3. SCENE III.’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 S...
4. SCENE I.No league so strong But discord may dissever it. Come--come! Veniero, you and I are gone too far, And yet not far enough, for each to hope Safety alone. We need yet firmer ties...
5. SCENE II.Go for the present: deck the hall of mirth As may become her state who bids the guests; And your own emulous skill. For this poor person, I’ll care for it alone. [_Exeunt attend...
6. SCENE III.We look to search out guilt among the people, And lo! it greets us on our very threshold! Who would have thought that one so widely trusted, A hero in our wars, one who has born...
7. SCENE IV.Set down the lamp--there--where its beams may pierce Farthest into the gloom. ‘Alack, the rays ‘Faint ere they half can journey to these walls, ‘Though sooth, they are not spaci...
8. SCENE I.No--we judged The youth should know naught of his lady’s falsehood. ’Twas vaguely urged, that matters of deep import Required his presence here; that enemies Were laboring ’gain...
9. SCENE II.I cannot write to him! If I would guide The pen, my hand refuses to record The tale it ought to tell. Oh, fatal hand! Which soon must seal my shame, well dost thou shrink To do...
10. SCENE III.Once more in Venice! How my native air Takes from these limbs their weariness! What were The breezes of the rugged Alps, to this, So bland--so wooing? All, in loveliness The sam...
11. SCENE IV.Once more we welcome all! Let mirth reign here, Since ne’er a day hath dawned, of joy like this! And Loredano too--I craved his presence; Why comes he not? I harbor no resentmen...
12. SCENE I.Am I so changed, that you scarce know me, sir? Then doth my mirror flatter, for it tells me Of features yet unaltered; and in truth They might be--for short space of time hath p...
13. SCENE II.Let him believe me false! Let him believe I spurned at truth--if such a thought can heal The bitter wound I planted in his breast! But mine--why--let it fester, and grow rank, A...
14. SCENE III.She would repel me! but I’ll see her once Before we part for ever: claim her pardon. How could I deem her worthless! Oh, what wild Playthings of fortune we--who if the cup We dr...
15. SCENE I.Need we look beyond The act itself? Did not the late decree Pronounce it death for a patrician To speak with foreign ministers, or enter Beneath his roof under the veil of night?
16. SCENE II.No--’twould but endanger Yourselves--and serve not him. Pray you--be patient ’Till they have reached the palace; then surround it, And with your prayers, which more than threats...
17. SCENE III.Are the inquisitors slow to doom the guilty? Yet hear one truth which haply may console you. Even in strict trial he would not reveal The motive that impelled him to the act For...
18. SCENE IV.Why? my arrest, my punishment, methinks, Should mark me out for envy--since the bolt Of vengeance from the state in this resembles Heaven’s winged lightnings--that it ever strik...
19. SCENE V.Not so. Should we anticipate the hour ’Twould show that we have feared them--that we heed The voice of faction. Let our first decree Be sacredly observed. (_To_ LOREDANO.) Shall...