heard it once, but once before,
And that is five and thirty years ago;
Even _then_ I _was not young_.

_Bar._ Sit down, my Lord!
You tremble.

_Doge_. 'Tis the knell of my poor boy!
My heart aches bitterly.

_Bar._ I pray you sit.

_Doge_. No; my seat here has been a throne till now.
Marina! let us go.

_Mar._ Most readily.

_Doge_. (_walks a few steps, then stops_).
I feel athirst--will no one bring me here 290
A cup of water?

_Bar._ I----

_Mar._ And I----

_Lor._ And I----
[_The Doge takes a goblet from the hand of_ LOREDANO.

_Doge_. I take _yours_, Loredano, from the hand
Most fit for such an hour as this.[bu]

_Lor._ Why so?

_Doge_. 'Tis said that our Venetian crystal has
Such pure antipathy to poisons as
To burst, if aught of venom touches it.
You bore this goblet, and it is not broken.

_Lor._ Well, sir!

_Doge_. Then it is false, or you are true.
For my own part, I credit neither; 'tis
An idle legend.

_Mar._ You talk wildly, and 300
Had better now be seated, nor as yet
Depart. Ah! now you look as looked my husband!

_Bar._ He sinks!--support him!--quick--a chair--support him!

_Doge_. The bell tolls on!--let's hence--my brain's on fire!

_Bar._ I do beseech you, lean upon us!

_Doge_. No!
A Sovereign should die standing. My poor boy!
Off with your arms!--_That bell!_[80]
[_The_ DOGE _drops down and dies_.

_Mar._ My God! My God!

_Bar._ (_to Lor._). Behold! your work's completed!

_Chief of the Ten_. Is there then
No aid? Call in assistance!

_Att._ 'Tis all over.

_Chief of the Ten_. If it be so, at least his obsequies 310
Shall be such as befits his name and nation,
His rank and his devotion to the duties
Of the realm, while his age permitted him
To do himself and them full justice. Brethren,
Say, shall it not be so?

_Bar._ He has not had
The misery to die a subject where[bv]
He reigned: then let his funera