Fiesco; or, the Genoese Conspiracy: A Tragedy

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 tyrants. 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.