_Mem._ To such I leave it; though born noble, my ambition Is limited: I'd rather be an unit Of an united and Imperial "Ten," Than shine a lonely, though a gilded cipher.-- Whom have we here? the wife of Foscari? _Enter_ MARINA, _with a female Attendant_. _Mar._ What, no one?--I am wrong, there still are two; But they are senators. _Mem._ Most noble lady, Command us. _Mar._ _I command_!--Alas! my life 200 Has been one long entreaty, and a vain one. _Mem._ I understand thee, but I must not answer. _Mar._ (_fiercely_). True--none dare answer here save on the rack, Or question save those---- _Mem._ (_interrupting her_). High-born dame![44] bethink thee Where thou now art. _Mar._ Where I now am!--It was My husband's father's palace. _Mem._ The Duke's palace. _Mar._ And his son's prison!--True, I have not forgot it; And, if there were no other nearer, bitterer Remembrances, would thank the illustrious Memmo For pointing out the pleasures of the place. 210 _Mem._ Be calm! _Mar._ (_looking up towards heaven_). I am; but oh, thou eternal God! Canst _thou_ continue so, with such a world? _Mem._ Thy husband yet may be absolved. _Mar._ He is, In Heaven. I pray you, Signer Senator, Speak not of that; you are a man of office, So is the Doge; he has a son at stake Now, at this moment, and I have a husband, Or had; they are there within, or were at least An hour since, face to face, as judge and culprit: Will _he_ condemn _him_? _Mem._ I trust not. _Mar._ But if 220 He does not, there are those will sentence both. _Mem._ They can. _Mar._ And with them power and will are one In wickedness;--my husband's lost! _Mem._ Not so; Justice is judge in Venice. _Mar._ If it were so, There now would be no Venice. But let it Live on, so the good die not, till the hour Of Nature's summons; but "the Ten's" is quicker, And we must wait on't. Ah! a voice of wail! [_A faint cry within_. _Sen._ Hark! _Mem._ 'Twas a cry of-- _Mar._ No, no; not my husband's-- Not Foscari's. _Mem._ The voice was-- _Mar._ _Not his_: no. 230 He shriek! No; that should be his father's part, Not his--not his--he'll die in silence. [_A faint groan again within_. _Mem._ What! Again?