22
UGOLINO.
That sentence should not be pronounced upon you?
Count Caliari, let us hear your plea.
Cali. Most gracious Doge, and you, grave Senators
I know not aught that my poor tongue can utter,
To throw this horrid accusation off:
Which cruel accident hath thrust upon me,
If my known friendship for this murder'd lord,
If my fair fame which ne'er before was tainted,
Cannot hold back the law's uplifted sword,
It needs must fall, and Caliari suffer!
Doge. We would hear you, Orsino.
Orsi. Doge of Venice!
There be amongst this noble company,
Many who have with careful eye observ'd
My general conduct from my youth, 'till now.
And were they ask'd Orsino's character,
They would speak of me as a feather toss'd,
Hither and thither, as the gale might blow,
Light, careless, and inconstant, one who look'd
But to the sunshine of the present hour,
Nor thought of cloud, or rising storm beyond it;
A moth that flutter'd round the lamp of life
Indifferent if he singed his wings or not.
If you do think me guilty of the crime,
And spare me, life will be a load of shame;
If innocent,—'twere scarcely worth the saving,
Deprived of him who made it most a blessing.
Doge. Then, thus decide we. You, Count Caliari,
Since naught appears to fix this guilt upon you,
More than the being found in company
With Count Orsino, near the lifeless body,
We do restore to freedom on condition
That you recant the shallow story, (fram'd,
No doubt, to serve your friend) of how he gain'd
Possession of the domino and mask.
Cali. Your grace but bids me to commit a crime,
As great as that of which I stand accused.
I'd scorn a falsehood to preserve my life,
Much more so when the lie would kill my friend.
Doge. One fate awaits ye both, then; Caliari,
Since you refuse our mercy, and can bring
Naught to rebut the dreadful charge against you,
And since 'tis fully prov'd that you, Orsino,
Were found at dead of night, no cause assign'd,
Which in our judgment seemeth probable,
With the still bleeding body of the Marquis,
Possessing both his domino and mask,
Accounted for but by the single voice
Of one, supposed accomplice in the act;
According to the law, your doom is death;
Count Caliari, let us hear your plea.
Cali. Most gracious Doge, and you, grave Senators
I know not aught that my poor tongue can utter,
To throw this horrid accusation off:
Which cruel accident hath thrust upon me,
If my known friendship for this murder'd lord,
If my fair fame which ne'er before was tainted,
Cannot hold back the law's uplifted sword,
It needs must fall, and Caliari suffer!
Doge. We would hear you, Orsino.
Orsi. Doge of Venice!
There be amongst this noble company,
Many who have with careful eye observ'd
My general conduct from my youth, 'till now.
And were they ask'd Orsino's character,
They would speak of me as a feather toss'd,
Hither and thither, as the gale might blow,
Light, careless, and inconstant, one who look'd
But to the sunshine of the present hour,
Nor thought of cloud, or rising storm beyond it;
A moth that flutter'd round the lamp of life
Indifferent if he singed his wings or not.
If you do think me guilty of the crime,
And spare me, life will be a load of shame;
If innocent,—'twere scarcely worth the saving,
Deprived of him who made it most a blessing.
Doge. Then, thus decide we. You, Count Caliari,
Since naught appears to fix this guilt upon you,
More than the being found in company
With Count Orsino, near the lifeless body,
We do restore to freedom on condition
That you recant the shallow story, (fram'd,
No doubt, to serve your friend) of how he gain'd
Possession of the domino and mask.
Cali. Your grace but bids me to commit a crime,
As great as that of which I stand accused.
I'd scorn a falsehood to preserve my life,
Much more so when the lie would kill my friend.
Doge. One fate awaits ye both, then; Caliari,
Since you refuse our mercy, and can bring
Naught to rebut the dreadful charge against you,
And since 'tis fully prov'd that you, Orsino,
Were found at dead of night, no cause assign'd,
Which in our judgment seemeth probable,
With the still bleeding body of the Marquis,
Possessing both his domino and mask,
Accounted for but by the single voice
Of one, supposed accomplice in the act;
According to the law, your doom is death;
