_Mar._ Touch it not, dungeon miscreants! your base office Ends with his life, and goes not beyond murder, Even by your murderous laws. Leave his remains 200 To those who know to honour them. _Offi._ I must Inform the Signory, and learn their pleasure. _Doge_. Inform the Signory from _me_, the Doge, They have no further power upon those ashes: While he lived, he was theirs, as fits a subject-- Now he is _mine_--my broken-hearted boy! [_Exit Officer_. _Mar._ And I must live! _Doge_. Your children live, Marina. _Mar._ My children! true--they live, and I must live To bring them up to serve the State, and die As died their father. Oh! what best of blessings 210 Were barrenness in Venice! Would my mother Had been so! _Doge_. My unhappy children! _Mar._ What! _You_ feel it then at last--_you!_--Where is now The Stoic of the State? _Doge_ (_throwing himself down by the body_). _Here!_ _Mar._ Aye, weep on! I thought you had no tears--you hoarded them Until they are useless; but weep on! he never Shall weep more--never, never more. _Enter_ LOREDANO _and_ BARBARIGO. _Lor._ What's here? _Mar._ Ah! the Devil come to insult the dead! Avaunt! Incarnate Lucifer! 'tis holy ground. A martyr's ashes now lie there, which make it 220 A shrine. Get thee back to thy place of torment! _Bar._ Lady, we knew not of this sad event, But passed here merely on our path from council. _Mar._ Pass on. _Lor._ We sought the Doge. _Mar._ (_pointing to the Doge, who is still on the ground by his son's body_) He's busy, look, About the business _you_ provided for him. Are ye content? _Bar._ We will not interrupt A parent's sorrows. _Mar._ No, ye only make them, Then leave them. _Doge_ (_rising_). Sirs, I am ready. _Bar._ No--not now. _Lor._ Yet 'twas important. _Doge_. If 'twas so, I can Only repeat--I am ready. _Bar._ It shall not be 230 Just now, though Venice tottered o'er the deep Like a frail vessel. I respect your griefs. _Doge_. I thank you. If the tidings which you bring Are evil, you may say them; nothing further Can touch me more than him thou look'st on there; If they be good, say on; you need not _fear_ That they can _comfort_ me. _Bar._ I would they could! _Doge_. I spoke not to _you_, but to Loredano. _He_ understands me. _Mar._ Ah! I thought it would be so. _Doge_. What mean you?