330
The hangman shrinks from, as all men from him!
How have you sped? We are wretched, Signor, as
Your plots could make, and vengeance could desire us,
And how _feel you_?

_Lor._ As rocks.

_Mar._ By thunder blasted:
They feel not, but no less are shivered. Come,
Foscari; now let us go, and leave this felon,
The sole fit habitant of such a cell,
Which he has peopled often, but ne'er fitly
Till he himself shall brood in it alone.

_Enter the_ DOGE.

_Jac. Fos._ My father!

_Doge_ (_embracing him_). Jacopo! my son--my son! 340

_Jac. Fos._ My father still! How long it is since I
Have heard thee name my name--_our_ name!

_Doge_. My boy!
Couldst thou but know----

_Jac. Fos._ I rarely, sir, have murmured.

_Doge_. I feel too much thou hast not.

_Mar._ Doge, look there!
[_She points to_ LOREDANO.

_Doge_. I see the man--what mean'st thou?

_Mar._ Caution!

_Lor._ Being
The virtue which this noble lady most[bq]
May practise, she doth well to recommend it.

_Mar._ Wretch! 'tis no virtue, but the policy
Of those who fain must deal perforce with vice:
As such I recommend it, as I would 350
To one whose foot was on an adder's path.

_Doge_. Daughter, it is superfluous; I have long
Known Loredano.

_Lor._ You may know him better.

_Mar._ Yes; _worse_ he could not.

_Jac. Fos._ Father, let not these
Our parting hours be lost in listening to
Reproaches, which boot nothing. Is it--is it,
Indeed, our last of meetings?

_Doge_. You behold
These white hairs!

_Jac. Fos._ And I feel, besides, that mine
Will never be so white. Embrace me, father!
I loved you ever--never more than now. 360
Look to my children--to your last child's children:
Let them be all to you which he was once,
And never be to you what I am now.
May I not see _them_ also?

_Mar._ No--not _here_.

_Jac. Fos._ They might b