It was, no doubt, with reference to these criticisms that Byron told Medwin (_Conversations_, 1824, p. 173) that it was no invention of his that the "young Foscari should have a sickly affection for his native city.... I painted the men as I found them, as they were--not as the critics would have them.... But no painting, however highly coloured, can give an idea of the intensity of a Venetian's affection for his native city." Goethe, on the other hand, was "not careful" to note these inconsistencies and perplexities. He thought that the dramatic handling of _The Two Foscari_ was "worthy of great praise," was "admirable!" (_Conversations with Goethe_, 1874, p. 265). DRAMATIS PERSONÆ MEN. FRANCIS FOSCARI, _Doge of Venice_. JACOPO FOSCARI, _Son of the Doge_. JAMES LOREDANO, _a Patrician_. MARCO MEMMO, _a Chief of the Forty_. BARBARIGO, _a Senator_. _Other Senators, The Council of Ten, Guards, Attendants, etc., etc._ WOMAN. MARINA, _Wife of young_ FOSCARI. SCENE--The Ducal Palace, Venice. THE TWO FOSCARI. ACT I. SCENE I.--_A Hall in the Ducal Palace_. _Enter_ LOREDANO _and_ BARBARIGO, _meeting_. _Lor._ WHERE is the prisoner? _Bar._ Reposing from The Question. _Lor._ The hour's past--fixed yesterday For the resumption of his trial.--Let us Rejoin our colleagues in the council, and Urge his recall. _Bar._ Nay, let him profit by A few brief minutes for his tortured limbs; He was o'erwrought by the Question yesterday, And may die under it if now repeated.[at][37] _Lor._ Well? _Bar._ I yield not to you in love of justice, Or hate of the ambitious Foscari, 10 Father and son, and all their noxious race; But the poor wretch has suffered beyond Nature's Most stoical endurance. _Lor._ Without owning His crime? _Bar._ Perhaps without committing any. But he avowed the letter to the Duke Of Milan, and his sufferings half atone for Such weakness. _Lor._ We shall see. _Bar._ You, Loredano, Pursue hereditary hate too far. _Lor._ How far? _Bar._ To extermination. _Lor._ When they are Extinct, you may say this.--Let's in to council. 20 _Bar._ Yet pause--the number of our colleagues is not Complete yet; two are wanting ere we can Proceed. _Lor._ And the chief judge, the Doge? _Bar._ No--he, With more than Roman fortitude, is ever First at the board in this unhappy process Against his last and only son.[38]