WOMEN. Angiolina, _Wife to the Doge_. Marianna, _her Friend_. _Female Attendants, etc_. Scene Venice--in the year 1355. MARINO FALIERO, DOGE OF VENICE. (AN HISTORICAL TRAGEDY IN FIVE ACTS.) ACT I. SCENE I.--_An Antechamber in the Ducal Palace_. PIETRO _speaks, in entering, to_ BATTISTA. _Pie_. Is not the messenger returned?[cv] _Bat_. Not yet; I have sent frequently, as you commanded, But still the Signory[380] is deep in council, And long debate on Steno's accusation. _Pie_. Too long--at least so thinks the Doge. _Bat_. How bears he These moments of suspense? _Pie_. With struggling patience.[cw] Placed at the Ducal table, covered o'er With all the apparel of the state--petitions, Despatches, judgments, acts, reprieves, reports,-- He sits as rapt in duty; but whene'er[cx] 10 He hears the jarring of a distant door, Or aught that intimates a coming step,[cy] 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 turned a leaf. _Bat_. 'Tis said he is much moved,--and doubtless 'twas Foul scorn in Steno to offend so grossly. _Pie_. Aye, if a poor man: Steno's a patrician, 20 Young, galliard, gay, and haughty.[cz] _Bat_. Then you think He will not be judged hardly? _Pie_. 'Twere enough He be judged justly; but 'tis not for us To anticipate the sentence of the Forty. _Bat_. And here it comes.--What news, Vincenzo? _Enter_ VINCENZO. _Vin_. 'Tis 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.[381] _Ber. F._ It cannot be but they will do you justice. _Doge_. Aye, such as the Avogadori[382] 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?