ZENTURIONE. Two amongst us have not taken swords. ASSERATO. My brothers cannot bear the sight of blood--pray spare them! ZENTURIONE (vehemently). What! Not a tyrant's blood! Tear them to pieces--cowards! Let such bastards be driven from the republic! (Some of the assembly attack the two ASSERATI.) FIESCO (restraining them). Cease! Shall Genoa owe its liberty to slaves? Shall our pure gold be debased by this alloy? (He disengages them.) Gentlemen, you must be content to take up your abode within my palace until our business be decided. (To the sentinels.) These are your prisoners; you answer for their safety! Guard them with loaded arms. (They are led off--a knocking heard at the gate.) SENTINEL. Who is there? CALCAGNO (without, eagerly). Open the gate! A friend! for God's sake, open! BOURGOGNINO. It is Calcagno--heavens! What can this mean? FIESCO. Open the gate, soldiers. SCENE VII. The former--CALCAGNO, out of breath. CALCAGNO. All is lost! all is lost! Fly, every one that can! BOURGOGNINO. What's lost? Have they flesh of brass? Are our swords made of rushes? FIESCO. Consider, Calcagno! An error now is fatal. CALCAGNO. We are betrayed! Your Moor, Lavagna, is the rascal! I come from the senate-house. He had an audience of the duke. VERRINA (with a resolute tone, to the sentinels). Soldiers! let me rush upon your halberts! I will not perish by the hangman's hands. (The assembly show marks of confusion.) FIESCO (with firmness). What are you about? 'Sdeath, Calcagno! Friends, 'tis a false alarm. (To CALCAGNO, aside.) Woman that thou art to tell these boys this tale. Thou, too, Verrina? and thou, Bourgognino? Whither wouldst thou go? BOURGOGNINO. Home--to kill my Bertha--and then return to fall with thee. FIESCO (bursting into a loud laugh). Stay! stay! Is this the valor that should punish tyrants? Well didst thou play thy part, Calcagno. Did none of you perceive that this alarm was my contrivance? Speak, Calcagno? Was it not my order that you should put these Romans to this trial? VERRINA. Well, if you can laugh I'll believe you--or never more think you man. FIESCO. Shame on you, men! to fail in such a boyish trial! Resume your arms--you must fight like lions to atone for this disgrace. (Aside to CALCAGNO.) Were you there yourself? CALCAGNO (low). I made my way among the guards to hear, as was my business, the watchword from the duke. As I was returning the Moor was brought---- FIESCO (aloud). So the old man is gone to bed--we'll drum him out of his feathers. (Low.) Did he talk long with the duke? CALCAGNO (low). My sudden fright and your impending danger drove me away in haste---- FIESCO (aloud). See how our countrymen still tremble. CALCAGNO (aloud). You should have carried on the jest. (Low.) For God's sake, friend, what will this artifice avail us?