Fiesco Read online

  LEONORA. My Leonora! Heaven, I thank thee! These were the angelic sounds of love once more. I ought to hate thee, faithless man! And yet I fondly grasp the shadow of thy tenderness. Hate! said I? Hate Fiesco? Oh, believe it not! Thy perfidy may bid me die, but cannot bid me hate thee. I did not know my heart--(The MOOR is heard approaching.)

  FIESCO. Leonora! grant me one trifling favor.

  LEONORA. Everything, Fiesco-but indifference.

  FIESCO. Well, well (significantly). Till Genoa be two days older, inquire not! condemn me not! (Leads her politely to another apartment.)

  SCENE IV.

  FIESCO; the MOOR, entering hastily.

  FIESCO. Whence come you thus out of breath?

  MOOR. Quick, my lord!

  FIESCO. Has anything run into the net?

  MOOR. Read this letter. Am I really here? Methinks Genoa is become shorter by twelve streets, or else my legs have grown that much longer! You change color? Yes, yes-they play at cards for heads, and yours is the chief stake. How do you like it?

  FIESCO (throws the letter on the table with horror). Thou woolly-pated rascal! How camest thou by that letter?

  MOOR. Much in the same way as your grace will come by the republic. An express was sent with it towards Levanto. I smelt out the game; waylaid the fellow in a narrow pass, despatched the fox, and brought the poultry hither--

  FIESCO. His blood be on thy head! As for the letter, 'tis not to be paid with gold.

  MOOR. Yet I will be content with silver for it-(seriously, and with a look of importance). Count of Lavagna! 'twas but the other day I sought your life. To-day (pointing to the letter) I have preserved it. Now I think his lordship and the scoundrel are even. My further service is an act of friendship-(presents another letter) number two!

  FIESCO (receives it with astonishment). Art thou mad?

  MOOR. Number two-(with an arrogant air-his arms akimbo) the lion has not acted foolishly in pardoning the mouse. Ah! 'twas a deed of policy. Who else could e'er have gnawed the net with which he was surrounded? Now, sir, how like you that?

  FIESCO. Fellow, how many devils hast thou in pay?

  MOOR. But one, sir, at your service; and he is in your grace's keeping.

  FIESCO. What! Doria's own signature! Whence dost thou bring this paper?

  MOOR. Fresh from the hands of my Diana. I went to her last night, tempted her with your charming words, and still more charming sequins. The last prevailed. She bade me call early in the morning. Lomellino had been there as you predicted, and paid the toll to his contraband heaven with this deposit.

  FIESCO (indignantly). Oh, these despicable woman-slaves! They would govern kingdoms, and cannot keep a secret from a harlot. By these papers I learn that Doria and his party have formed a plot to murder me, with eleven senators, and to place Gianettino on the throne.

  MOOR. Even so-and that upon the morning of the ducal election, the third of this month.

  FIESCO (vehemently). The night of our enterprise shall smother that morning in its very birth. Speed thee, Hassan. My affairs are ripe. Collect our fellows. We will take bloody lead of our adversaries. Be active, Hassan!

  MOOR. I have a budget full of news beside. Two thousand soldiers are safely smuggled into the city. I've lodged them with the Capuchins, where not even a prying sunbeam can espy them. They burn with eagerness to see their leader. They are fine fellows.

  FIESCO. Each head of them shall yield thee a ducat. Is there no talk about my galleys?

  MOOR. Oh, I've a pleasant story of them, my lord. Above four hundred adventurers, whom the peace 'twixt France and Spain has left without employ, besought my people to recommend them to your grace to fight against the infidels. I have appointed them to meet this evening in the palace-court.

  FIESCO (pleased). I could almost embrace thee, rascal. A masterly stroke! Four hundred, said'st thou? Genoa is in my power. Four hundred crowns are thine--

  MOOR (with an air of confidence). Eh, Fiesco? We two will pull the state in pieces, and sweep away the laws as with a besom. You know not how many hearty fellows I have among the garrison-lads that I can reckon on as surely as on a trip to hell. Now I've so laid my plans that at each gate we have among the guard at least six of our creatures, who will be enough to overcome the others by persuasion or by wine. If you wish to risk a blow to-night, you'll find the sentinels all drenched with liquor.

  FIESCO. Peace, fellow! Hitherto I have moved the vast machine alone; shall I now, at the very goal, be put to shame by the greatest rascal under the sun? Here's my hand upon it, fellow-whate'er the Count remains indebted to thee, the Duke shall pay.

  MOOR. And here, too, is a note from the Countess Imperiali. She beckoned to me from her window, when I went up received me graciously, and asked me ironically if the Countess of Lavagna had not been lately troubled with the spleen. Does your grace, said I, inquire but for one person?

  FIESCO (having read the letter throws it aside). Well said. What answer made she?

  MOOR. She answered, that she still lamented the fate of the poor bereaved widow-that she was willing to give her satisfaction, and meant to forbid your grace's attentions.

  FIESCO (with a sneer). Which of themselves may possibly cease sometime before the day of judgment. Is that all thy business, Hassan?

  MOOR (ironically). My lord, the affairs of the ladies are next to those of state.

  FIESCO. Without a doubt, and these especially. But for what purpose are these papers?

  MOOR. To remove one plague by another. These powders the signora gave me, to mix one every day with your wife's chocolate.

  FIESCO (starting). Gave thee?

  MOOR. Donna Julia, Countess Imperiali.

  FIESCO (snatching them from him eagerly). If thou liest, rascal, I'll hang thee up alive in irons at the weathercock of the Lorenzo tower, where the wind shall whirl thee nine times round with every blast. The powders?

  MOOR (impatiently). I am to give your wife mixed with her chocolate. Such were the orders of Donna Julia Imperiali.

  FIESCO (enraged). Monster! monster! This lovely creature! Is there room for so much hell within a female bosom? And I forgot to thank thee, heavenly Providence, that has rendered it abortive-abortive through a greater devil. Wondrous are thy ways! (To the MOOR.) Swear to me to obey, and keep this secret.

  MOOR. Very well. The latter I can afford-she paid me ready money.

  FIESCO. This note invites me to her. I'll be with you, madam !-and find means to lure you hither, too. Now haste thee, with all thy speed, and call together the conspirators.

  MOOR. This order I anticipated, and therefore at my own risk appointed every one to come at ten o'clock precisely.

  FIESCO. I hear the sound of footsteps. They are here. Fellow, thy villany deserves a gallows of its own, on which no son of Adam was ever yet suspended. Wait in the ante-chamber till I call for thee.

  MOOR. The Moor has done his work-the Moor may go.

  [Exit.

  SCENE V.

  FIESCO, VERRINA, BOURGOGNINO, CALCAGNO, SACCO.

  FIESCO (meeting them). The tempest is approaching: the clouds rash together. Advance with caution. Let all the doors be locked.

  VERRINA. Eight chambers have I made fast behind. Suspicion cannot come within a hundred steps of us.

  BOURGOGNINO. Here is no traitor, unless our fear become one.

  FIESCO. Fear cannot pass my threshold. Welcome he whose mind remains the same as yesterday. Be seated. (They seat themselves.)

  BOURGOGNINO (walking up and down). I care not to sit in cold deliberation when action calls upon me.

  FIESCO. Genoese, this hour is eventful.

  VERRINA. Thou hast challenged us to consider a plan for dethroning the tyrant. Demand of us-we are here to answer thee.

  FIESCO. First, then, a question which, as it comes so late, you may think strange. Who is to fall? (A pause.)

  BOURGOGNINO (leaning over FIESCO'S chair, with an expressive look). The tyrants.

  FIESCO. Well spoken. The tyran
ts. I entreat you weigh well the importance of the word. Is he who threatens the overthrow of liberty-or he who has it in his power-the greater tyrant?

  VERRINA. The first I hate, I fear the latter. Let Andreas Doria fall!

  CALCAGNO (with emotion). Andreas? The old Andreas! who perhaps to-morrow may pay the debt of nature--

  SACCO. Andreas? That mild old man!

  FIESCO. Formidable is that old man's mildness, O my friend-the brutality of Gianettino only deserves contempt. "Let Andreas fall!" There spoke thy wisdom, Verrina.

  BOURGOGNINO. The chain of iron, and the cord of silk, alike are bonds. Let Andreas perish!

  FIESCO (going to the table). The sentence, then is passed upon the uncle and the nephew. Sign it! (They all sign.) The question who is settled. How must be next determined. Speak first, Calcagno.

  CALCAGNO. We must execute it either as soldiers or assassins. The first is dangerous, because we must have many confidants. 'Tis also doubtful, because the peoples' hearts are not all with us. To act the second our five good daggers are sufficient. Two days hence high mass will be performed in the Lorenzo Church-both the Dorias will be present. In the house of God even a tyrant's cares are lulled to sleep. I have done.

  FIESCO (turning away). Calcagno, your plan is politic, but 'tis detestable. Raphael Sacco, yours?

  SACCO. Calcagno's reasons please me, but the means he chooses my mind revolts at. Better were it that Fiesco should invite both the uncle and nephew to a feast, where, pressed on all sides by the vengeance of the republic, they must swallow death at the dagger's point, or in a bumper of good Cyprian. This method is at least convenient.

  FIESCO (with horror). Ah, Sacco! What if the wine their dying tongues shall taste become for us torments of burning pitch in hell! Away with this advice! Speak thou, Verrina.

  VERRINA. An open heart shows a bold front. Assassination degrades us to banditti. The hero advances sword in hand. I propose to give aloud the signal of revolt, and boldly rouse the patriots of Genoa to vengeance. (He starts from his seat, the others do the same.)

  BOURGOGNINO (embracing him). And with armed hand wrest Fortune's favors from her. This is the voice of honor, and is mine.

  FIESCO. And mine. Shame on you, Genoese! (to SACCO and CALCAGNO). Fortune has already done too much for us, let something be our own. Therefore open revolt! And that, Genoese, this very night--(VERRINA and BOURGOGNINO astonished-the others terrified.)

  CALCAGNO. What! To-night! The tyrants are yet too powerful, our force too small.

  SACCO. To-night! And naught prepared? The day is fast declining.

  FIESCO. Your doubts are reasonable, but read these papers. (He gives them GIANETTINO'S papers, and walks up and down with a look of satisfaction, whilst they read them eagerly.) Now, farewell, thou proud and haughty star of Genoa, that didst seem to fill the whole horizon with thy brightness. Knowest thou not that the majestic sun himself must quit the heavens, and yield his sceptre to the radiant moon? Farewell, Doria, beauteous star!

  Patroclus to the shades is gone,

  And he was more than thou.

  BOURGOGNINO (after reading the papers). This is horrible.

  CALCAGNO. Twelve victims at a blow!

  VERRINA. To-morrow in the senate-house!

  BOURGOGNINO. Give me these papers, and I will ride with them through Genoa, holding them up to view. The very stones will rise in mutiny, and even the dogs will howl against the tyrant.

  ALL. Revenge! Revenge! Revenge! This very night!

  FIESCO. Now you have reached the point. At sunset I will invite hither the principal malcontents-those that stand upon the bloody list of Gianettino! Besides the Sauli, the Gentili, Vivaldi, Vesodimari, all mortal enemies of the house of Doria; but whom the tyrant forgot to fear. They, doubtless, will embrace my plan with eagerness.

  BOURGOGNINO. I doubt it not.

  FIESCO. Above all things, we must render ourselves masters of the sea. Galleys and seamen I have ready. The twenty vessels of the Dorias are dismantled, and may be easily surprised. The entrance of the inner harbor must be blocked up, all hope of flight cut off. If we secure this point, all Genoa is in our power.

  VERRINA. Doubtless.

  FIESCO. Then we must seize the strongest posts in the city, especially the gate of St. Thomas, which, leading to the harbor, connects our land and naval forces. Both the Dorias must be surprised within their palaces, and killed. The bells must toll, the citizens be called upon to side with us, and vindicate the liberties of Genoa. If Fortune favor us, you shall hear the rest in the senate.

  VERRINA. The plan is good. Now for the distribution of our parts.

  FIESCO (significantly). Genoese, you chose me, of your own accord, as chief of the conspiracy. Will you obey my further orders?

  VERRINA. As certainly as they shall be the best.

  FIESCO. Verrina, dost thou know the principle of all warlike enterprise? Instruct him, Genoese. It is subordination. If your will be not subjected to mine-observe me well-if I be not the head of the conspiracy, I am no more a member.

  VERRINA. A life of freedom is well worth some hours of slavery. We obey.

  FIESCO. Then leave me now. Let one of you reconnoitre the city and inform me of the strength or weakness of the several posts. Let another find out the watchword. A third must see that the galleys are in readiness. A fourth conduct the two thousand soldiers into my palace-court. I myself will make all preparations here for the evening, and pass the interval perhaps in play. At nine precisely let all be at my palace to hear my final orders. (Rings the bell.)

  VERRINA. I take the harbor.

  BOURGOGNINO. I the soldiers.

  CALCAGNO. I will learn the watchword.

  SACCO. I will reconnoitre Genoa.

  [Exeunt.

  SCENE VI.

  FIESCO, MOOR.

  FIESCO (seated at a desk, and writing). Did they not struggle against the word subordination as the worm against the needle which transfixes it? But 'tis too late, republicans.

  MOOR (entering). My lord--

  FIESCO (giving him a paper). Invite all those whose names are written here to see a play this evening at my palace.

  MOOR. Perhaps to act a part, and pay the admittance with their heads.

  FIESCO (in a haughty and contemptuous manner). When that is over I will no longer detain thee here in Genoa. (Going, throws him a purse.) This is thy last employment.

  [Exit.

  SCENE VII.

  MOOR, alone.

  MOOR (taking up the purse slowly, and looking after FIESCO with surprise). Are we, then, on these terms? "I will detain thee in Genoa no longer." That is to say, translated from the Christian language into my heathen tongue, "When I am duke I shall hang up my friend the Moor upon a Genoese gallows." Hum! He fears, because I know his tricks, my tongue may bring his honor into danger when he is duke. When he is duke? Hold, master count! That event remains to be considered. Ah! old Doria, thy life is in my hands. Thou art lost unless I warn thee of thy danger. Now, if I go to him and discover the plot, I save the Duke of Genoa no less than his existence and his dukedom, and gain at least this hatful of gold for my reward. (Going, stops suddenly.) But stay, friend Hassan, thou art going on a foolish errand. Suppose this scene of riot is prevented, and nothing but good is the result. Pshaw! what a cursed trick my avarice would then have played me! Come, devil, help me to make out what promises the greatest mischief; to cheat Fiesco, or to give up Doria to the dagger. If Fiesco succeed then Genoa may prosper. Away! That must not be. If this Doria escape, then all remains as it was before, and Genoa is quiet. That's still worse! Ay, but to see these rebels' heads upon the block! Hum! On the other hand 'twould be amusing to behold the illustrious Dorias in this evening's massacre the victims of a rascally Moor. No. This doubtful question a Christian might perhaps resolve, but 'tis too deep a riddle for my Moorish brains. I'll go propose it to some learned man.

  [Exit.

  SCENE VIII.

  An apartment in the house of the COUNTESS I
MPERIALI.

  JULIA in dishabille. GIANETTINO enters, agitated.

  GIANETTINO. Good-evening, sister.

  JULIA (rising). It must be something extraordinary which brings the crown-prince of Genoa to his sister!

  GIANETTINO. Sister, you are continually surrounded by butterflies and I by wasps. How is it possible that we should meet? Let's be seated.

  JULIA. You almost excite my curiosity.

  GIANETTINO. When did Fiesco visit you last?

  JULIA. A strange question. As if I burdened my memory with such trifles!

  GIANETTINO. I must know-positively.

  JULIA. Well, then, he was here yesterday.

  GIANETTINO. And behaved without reserve?

  JULIA. As usual.

  GIANETTINO. As much a coxcomb as ever.

  JULIA (offended). Brother!

  GIANETTINO (more vehemently). I say-as much a coxcomb--

  JULIA (rises, with indignation). Sir! What do you take me for?

  GIANETTINO (keeps his seat-sarcastically). For a mere piece of woman-flesh, wrapped up in a great-great patent of nobility. This between ourselves-there is no one by to hear us.

  JULIA (enraged). Between ourselves-you are an impertinent jackanapes, and presume upon the credit of your uncle. No one by to hear us, indeed!

  GIANETTINO. Sister! sister! don't be angry. I'm only merry because Fiesco is still as much a coxcomb as ever. That's all I wanted to know. Your servant--(Going.)

  SCENE IX.

  The former, LOMELLINO, entering.

  LOMELLINO (to JULIA, respectfully). Pardon my boldness, gracious lady. (To GIANETTINO.) Certain affairs which cannot be delayed--(GIANETTINO takes him aside; JULIA sits down angrily at the pianoforte and plays an allegro.)

  GIANETTINO (to LOMELLINO). Is everything prepared for to-morrow?

  LOMELLINO. Everything, prince-but the courier, who was despatched this morning to Levanto, is not yet returned, nor is Spinola arrived. Should he be intercepted! I'm much alarmed--