_Bar._ And the deep agony of his pale wife, And the repressed convulsion of the high And princely brow of his old father, which Broke forth in a slight shuddering, though rarely, Or in some clammy drops, soon wiped away In stern serenity; these moved you not? 360 [_Exit_ LOREDANO. He's silent in his hate, as Foscari Was in his suffering; and the poor wretch moved me More by his silence than a thousand outcries Could have effected. 'Twas a dreadful sight When his distracted wife broke through into The hall of our tribunal, and beheld What we could scarcely look upon, long used To such sights. I must think no more of this, Lest I forget in this compassion for Our foes, their former injuries, and lose 370 The hold of vengeance Loredano plans For him and me; but mine would be content With lesser retribution than he thirsts for, And I would mitigate his deeper hatred To milder thoughts; but, for the present, Foscari Has a short hourly respite, granted at The instance of the elders of the Council, Moved doubtless by his wife's appearance in The hall, and his own sufferings.--Lo! they come: How feeble and forlorn! I cannot bear 380 To look on them again in this extremity: I'll hence, and try to soften Loredano.[ba] [_Exit_ BARBARIGO. ACT II. SCENE I.--_A hall in the_ DOGE'S _Palace_. _The_ DOGE _and a Senator_. _Sen._ Is it your pleasure to sign the report Now, or postpone it till to-morrow? _Doge_. Now; I overlooked it yesterday: it wants Merely the signature. Give me the pen-- [_The_ DOGE _sits down and signs the paper_. There, Signor. _Sen._ (_looking at the paper_). You have forgot; it is not signed. _Doge_. Not signed? Ah, I perceive my eyes begin To wax more weak with age. I did not see That I had dipped the pen without effect.[bb] _Sen._ (_dipping the pen into the ink, and placing the paper before the_ DOGE). Your hand, too, shakes, my Lord: allow me, thus-- _Doge_. 'Tis done, I thank you. _Sen._ Thus the act confirmed 10 By you and by "the Ten" gives peace to Venice. _Doge_. 'Tis long since she enjoyed it: may it be As long ere she resume her arms! _Sen._ 'Tis almost Thirty-four years of nearly ceaseless warfare With the Turk, or the powers of Italy; The state had need of some repose.