_Doge_. My time is hers. _Enter_ MARINA. _Mar._ My Lord, if I intrude-- Perhaps you fain would be alone? _Doge_. Alone! Alone, come all the world around me, I Am now and evermore. But we will bear it. _Mar._ We will, and for the sake of those who are, Endeavour----Oh, my husband! _Doge_. Give it way: 70 I cannot comfort thee. _Mar._ He might have lived, So formed for gentle privacy of life, So loving, so beloved; the native of Another land, and who so blest and blessing As my poor Foscari? Nothing was wanting Unto his happiness and mine save not To be Venetian. _Doge_. Or a Prince's son. _Mar._ Yes; all things which conduce to other men's Imperfect happiness or high ambition, By some strange destiny, to him proved deadly. 80 The Country and the People whom he loved, The Prince of whom he was the elder born, And---- _Doge_. Soon may be a Prince no longer. _Mar._ How? _Doge_. They have taken my son from me, and now aim At my too long worn diadem and ring. Let them resume the gewgaws! _Mar._ Oh, the tyrants! In such an hour too! _Doge_. 'Tis the fittest time; An hour ago I should have felt it. _Mar._ And Will you not now resent it?--Oh, for vengeance! But he, who, had he been enough protected, 90 Might have repaid protection in this moment, Cannot assist his father. _Doge_. Nor should do so Against his Country, had he a thousand lives Instead of that---- _Mar._ They tortured from him. This May be pure patriotism. I am a woman: To me my husband and my children were Country and home. I loved _him_--how I loved him! I have seen him pass through such an ordeal as The old martyrs would have shrunk from: he is gone, And I, who would have given my blood for him, 100 Have nought to give but tears! But could I compass The retribution of his wrongs!--Well, well! I have sons, who shall be men. _Doge_. Your grief distracts you. _Mar._ I thought I could have borne it, when I saw him Bowed down by such oppression; yes, I thought That I would rather look upon his corse Than his prolonged captivity:--I am punished For that thought now. Would I were in his grave! _Doge_. I must look on him once more. _Mar._ Come with me! _Doge_. Is he---- _Mar._ Our bridal bed is now his bier, 110 _Doge_. And he is in his shroud!