Each stab to them will seem my suicide. I. Ber. Doge! Doge! this vacillation is unworthy

A child; if you are not in second childhood,

Call back your nerves to your own pur

pose, nor

Thus shame yourself and me. By Heavens! I'd rather

Forego even now, or fail in our intent, T'han see the man I venerate subside From high resolves into such shallow weakness!

You have seen blood in battle, shed it, both

Your own and that of others; can you shrink then

From a few drops from veins of hoary vampires,

Who but give back what they have drained from millions?

Doge. Bear with me! Step by step, and blow on blow,

I will divide with you; think not I

cave,

And the broad Moon hath brightened. What a stillness!

[Goes to an open lattice. And what a contrast with the scene I left,

Where the tall torches' glare, and silver lamps'

More pallid gleam along the tapestried walls, 30 Spread over the reluctant gloom which haunts

Those vast and dimly-latticed galleries A dazzling mass of artificial light, Which showed all things, but nothing as they were.

There Age essaying to recall the past, After long striving for the hues of Youth

At the sad labour of the toilet, and Full many a glance at the too faithful mirror,

Pranked forth in all the pride of ornament,

Forgot itself, and trusting to the falsehood

40

Of rolling drum, shrill trump, and hollow bell,

Peal in one wide alarum!- Go not forth,

Until the Tocsin's silent, nor even then Till I return!

Lioni. Again, what does this mean? Ber. Again, I tell thee, ask not; but by all

170 Thou holdest dear on earth or Heaven - by all

The Souls of thy great fathers, and thy hope

To emulate them, and to leave behind Descendants worthy both of them and thee

By all thou hast of blessed in hope or