Teresa Contarini/Act II

by Elizabeth F. Ellet

ACT II

SCENE I

Veniero's house. ---Veniero and Contarini

Veniero

Thus are we diverse---both would climb to rule,

With different ends: you for the pride of sway---

I, to amend the people's wrongs.

Contarini

It may be.

Enough of that when we have reached the summit

That now appears receding.

Veniero

How is this?

You've gained the Spaniard, and I've many a friend

To add unto our list.

Contarini

No league so strong

But discord may dissever it. Come---come!

Veniero, you and I are gone too far,

And yet not far enough, for each to hope

Safety alone. We need yet firmer ties

To bind our mutual interests.

Veniero

You distrust me---

Contarini

Your pardon. In an enterprise like ours,

Where lives and fortunes hang on mutual faith,

Behooves us tread securely.

Veniero

It is just.

Nor shall you lack a pledge. My daughter's hand,

Have I not once assured you, seals our bond!

Contarini

True, yet I doubt. She loves seclusion:

And if I meet her in the shaded walk,

She shuns me with quick step. Or if we sail

By moonlight on the glassy sea---or join

The dance---or banquet in the palace hall---

She meets my salutation with a mien

Repulsive, cold, as if a guest she deemed me

Intrusive.

Veniero

Nay, you wrong her courtesy.

Contarini

If wealth and rank, too poor to match her charms,

Yet worth somewhat to youthful woman's heart,

Could tempt her to be mine------

Veniero

You have a pledge

More strong---a father's promise. Were she loth,

A prize, perchance a crown, lies at her feet,

And 't were a kindly part to bid her wear it,

Even in her own despite. She comes.

[Enter Teresa.

Our noble friend doth wait to greet you here,

The signor Contarini.

Teresa

As your friend

The signor Contarini's ever welcome.

Contarini

Thanks, lady! Yet it deeply doth concern me

Business now claims my absence, and forbids

The dear delight I else had hoped to share

With all your presence blesses. With the evening

I'll seek again this happiness.

[ Exit.

Veniero

My daughter!

Why do thy looks---nay start not---thus belie

The morning's joyousness.

Teresa

What mean you, sir?

Veniero

A change of late, hath passed upon this brow

So open once and trusting. Thy light step

Hath lost its buoyancy; that drooping eye

Too often reads the ground---and meets not mine

With glance so bright and bold, as when it had

No consciousness of aught to hide. Dost cherish

A grief that I know not?

Teresa

What should I grieve for?

You have mistaken, father.

Veniero

Nay---perchance

Thou lovest me not, as once thou didst? I am grown

Much sterner than of old;---my altered bearing

Suits not thy gentle temper.

Teresa

Father---dearest!

Yet cruel, and unkind, to doubt the love

Which grows but deeper with advancing years!

Nay, question me no more---these arms shall tell

My growing coldness!

Veniero

Thou dost love me then!

'And thy young heart, in tenderness unchecked,

Shall pour its thoughts and feelings in my breast,

Even as of yore. Come hither! I will hear

Patient, the tale of maiden fears and hopes;

And note not all the trembling, downcast looks

That comment on the story.---Come!'

Teresa

Dear father---

What must I tell you?'

Veniero

O, that innocent look!

Well, I'll unfold the secret, and list thou!

Thou hast thrown off the garb of joyous girlhood,

And donned a statelier one. A riper rose

Deepens upon thy cheek. Thine eye can flash

From its clear depth of blue such meanings forth

As thrill the gazer's heart.'

Teresa

Hold---would you mock

Your own Teresa with such flatteries?'

Veniero

Are mine alone

The lips that breathe such sounds? Say, say, how oft

In the gay throng of pleasure, when each tongue

Uttered thy praise, and every eye glanced on thee

With longing admiration, have I marked

Thy step grow prouder, and the mantling flush

Of beauty richer, 'neath the adoring gaze,

As the young flower doth brighten into bloom,

From the sun's ardent glance!'

Teresa

Nay---nay---you wrong me

To say I love such scenes. I ask no voice

To sound my praise, dear father, if your eye

Look smilingly upon me!'

Veniero

And if one,

One voice, my girl---in its low musical depth

More dear and thrilling than the crowd's applause,

Even as the far off murmur of the surge,

Heard at hushed eve, is sweeter than the homage

Of waves tumultuous dashing at our feet---

If one fond voice shall whisper in your ear

A deeper worship---Ha! methinks I've banished

Indifference now!'

Teresa

I pray you------'

Veniero

Well---no more!'

I will not question further.---But, just now,

When summoned, thou camest hither, wherefore sate

Repelling coldness on thy moody brow?

Did not my guest deserve regard?

Teresa

Forgive me,

If I have lacked it!

Veniero

Nay, it is not well

To wear an aspect sullen thus and cold

Toward one I love. This noble, my Teresa,

Is high in power.

Teresa

In his proud eye there lurks

A something which I would not look upon.

Veniero

Nought can'st thou read there, save the admiration

Which woman never shrinks from. Hear me girl,

This noble loves you. He who spurned all chains,

Would be your willing captive. He has bent

To sue, who could command; and offers you

His greatness and his power, claiming your hand

The purchase of such gifts.

Teresa

Oh---never! never!

Veniero

Come---come---displease me not. What state is proffered

That you should slight the boon? A princely one!

Why---not a maid in Venice but will gaze

In envy on your pomp, as you flaunt by,

A queen in all but name! Wed Contarini!

The great---the proud! him that would never deign

To bend his glance on beauty, emulous

To court it!

Teresa

Nay---my father! happiness

Dwells not with pride! Not for a crown,

A regal crown, would I bestow my hand

Where my heart went not herald to the gift!

Veniero

Ungrateful girl! and may not pleasure dwell

With pomp? Or dost thou deem his years too many?

And know'st not that to such as he, his passion

Is an idolatry? Oh! when time has checked

The blood's swift current, and made pale the brow

With lofty thought, and blanched stern manhood's locks,

Love comes with boundless power, and sways the heart

A sole, unrivalled sovereign. How doth youth

Wear his soft yoke? More lightly than he wears

The pageant plume, which every fickle wind

Stirs at its will, to be thrown careless by,

When he shall weary of its pride! To youth

Love is the shallow rill that mocks the sunshine,

Wasting its strength in idle foam away:---

To age, the river, silent, broad, and deep---

Hiding the wealth of years within its breast---

Baffling the vain eye that would read its depths---

Broader and deeper growing, as the channel

Of life wears on!

Enter Steno and Pascali.

Steno

Signor Veniero, we arrest you.

Veniero

Ha!

Treachery afoot!

Teresa

My father!---what means this?

Steno (presenting a paper)

Would you behold our warrant?

Veniero (aside)

'Tis his hand!

And from the cypher breaks a clearer light

Upon this business!(aloud)

Though unconscious quite

Of any deed or thought which could draw on me

Suspicion or displeasure, I obey

The council's will.

Teresa

My father, go not with them!

Some wrong is here. Nay, Signors, ye have sought

A culprit---not Veniero, old Veniero,

Whose head is grey in service of the state!

The friend of Contarini, too! but now

He parted hence.

Steno

If he be innocent,

Let him before the council vindicate

His slandered fame, and be dismissed with honor:

The guiltless can have nought to dread.

Veniero

No more,

Teresa! He speaks well. On false pretence

St. Mark will ne'er condemn one who has prized

His interests so dearly. Let us part.

Await here my return, which I will hope

Mine innocence shall speed.

Teresa

No---no---my father---

I will go with you!

Steno

Lady---it may not be.

Signor, we are ready.

Veniero

I attend you.

[ Exeunt all but Teresa.

Teresa

Gone,

To prison, and his prison barred to me!

I'll seek these senators. I'll plead for him

With words of ready truth, on which shall hang

Conviction. If there be love of justice,

"I'll rouse and arm it for my cause! [ Exit.

SCENE II

Fiorilla's house.---Enter Fiorilla with attendants and Marco.

Fiorilla (to attendants)

Go for the present: deck the hall of mirth

As may become her state who bids the guests;

And your own emulous skill. For this poor person,

I'll care for it alone.

[ Exeunt attendants.

You have prepared

The chamber for our secret guests?

Marco

'Tis ready.

They need not fear intrusion.

Fiorilla

All is right.

[ Exit Marco.

I am now mistress of their secret. Set me

A woman's wit against a statesman's arts!

I'll hold them at my bidding. Troth, I knew not

How great a spirit bowed to me, when knelt

The lordly Contarini at my feet!

Enter Leonardo

Sir, welcome.

Leonardo

Thanks, sweet lady. I am honored

In your fair greeting.

Fiorilla

Tell me, you who hear

The lightest breath of ever varying rumor,

What says the world abroad?

Leonardo

Tumults are stirring

That fill the popular ear, and threaten danger

To those in power.

Fiorilla

What reck I of the danger

Which statesmen tempt, when beauty's empire shakes not

Her sparkling sceptre 'Tis, that I would wield,

Her throne I covet.

Leonardo

Ramor, too, has tongues

Enough to speak of you.

Fiorilla

And what say they?

Leonardo

They join your name with Contarini's, lady,

And say, they shortly will be one.

Fiorilla

Indeed!

'Tis an impertinent tale;---but power like his

Were it not worth the sharing?

Leonardo

And such grace

And loveliness would well become its pride.

Fiorilla

Nay---now you flatter. Come, I'll be content

To wear mine own name now, meek Fiorilla;

An humble one, 'Tis true, but best befitting

Her modesty, that bears it. For the rest,

If time have honors in his keeping for me------

Re-enter Marco.

Marco

Lady, some other guests.

Fiorilla

I will receive them.

[ Exeunt.

SCENE III

Badoero's house. Enter Badoero, Loredano, and Contarini

Loredano

We look to search out guilt among the people,

And lo! it greets us on our very threshold!

Who would have thought that one so widely trusted,

A hero in our wars, one who has borne

Honors unnumbered from the generous state,

Could prove himself a traitor?

Badoero

We must look

More closely, ere we judge.

Loredano

What need we more?

'Twas rumored long ago that he opposed

The election of the Ten, the prop of Venice.

In the conspiracy so lately crushed,

Did he not plead for mercy on the guilty?

Hath he not said we needed not a power

Supreme, to interfere with the decrees

Of the great council? And this paper, found

Only last night within the Lion's mouth,

Denounces him our foe.

Badoero

Be it ours to weigh

Proofs and defence. We may not spill the blood

Of senators precipitately, nor keep

The axe from the guilty, though it strike the noblest.

But what new guest is this?

Enter Teresa.

Contarini

Lady---whence come you?

Teresa

I come to seek for justice; yet find only

Looks that repel me. Where's the doge?

Loredano

Who is it,

That thus intrudes on us?

Contarini

Veniero's daughter.

(Endeavouring to persuade her to return)

Business attends us. Nay, we are not used

To admit such counsellors.

Teresa

Are you the judges

Who fain would close your ears against defence,

The culprit's right? Away! there is no place

Where innocence may not plead against the wrong

Which threatens it---wrong that will harm alike

The judges and the accused. I pray you, signors,

A word! ye will go hence the imputed crime

To judge of one who------

Loredano

Who hath wronged the state.

Teresa

No---no! ye do mistake---he never did!

Know ye of whom ye speak? 'Tis Veniero,

The patriot, the patrician! He do wrong?

Why---not a peasant who e'er shared his bounty,

Would not repel the charge! I've seen him list

With pitying, tearful eye the beggar's tale,

Whose heart was gladdened by his sympathy!

I've known him watch for hours beside the couch

Of some poor menial slave, who had no friend

Save God and him. 'He do wrong? Oh! the lips

Of the poor bless him, and the humblest heart

Leaps at his presence!'

Loredano

There are sacred duties

Higher than such, fair lady! He betrays

The people in their rulers.

Teresa

Believe it not!

He has served you long and well. His years are many,

But they outnumber not the victories

He won for you. His hair is grey---'Tis blanched

With hardship more than age. Would he now cast

The reverend mantle of his honors off,

To league with traitors? No---you need not fear him!

Loredano

What boots all this? The guardian of the state,

Where he fears, punishes.

Teresa

Are ye wont to doom

Without at least the solemn show of right?

Will ye hear no defence? And, Contarini,

Darest thou not speak for him, who wast so late

His loved and honored guest? or art thou leagued

In bitter compact with this scorner here

To rob me of his life?

Loredano

Let her begone;

Must she insult us? Come, the hour draws nigh.

Badoero

Your pardon. Heed not words that sorrow utters.

She did not mean offence.

Teresa

My lord---my lord!

There's mercy in your looks; nay they are human.

Are you my father's judge?

Badoero

Pray you, retire,

And be at peace.

Teresa

You will not heed the terms

"Traitor" and "treachery!" They mean nought---at least

Nought---coupled with his name! Listen to me.

I've known him long---longer than any here.

He reared my childhood. I have state by him

In hours of fondness, when the careless words

Fell from his lips unnoted, save by me:---

Think you he would deceive me? No! I'll pledge

Life, more than life, upon his truth!

Badoero

Nay---lady;

This cannot aught avail. Trust in our justice.

That shall be rendered him. If we fail not

To rend the veil from guilt, we are not slow

To acquit the innocent.

Teresa

He is innocent!

Badoero

Then go thy way, and hope the best. My lords,

Business attends us.

[ Exeunt all but Contarini and Teresa.

Contarini

Teresa!

Teresa (looking up)

Who calls! You my lord, who keep

Stern silence, when one you have called your friend

Is basely slandered?

Contarini

As a senator,

I may not screen the guilty.

Teresa

Hence, then---join

The herd who seek his slaughter, while I go

To share his dungeon!

Contarini

Hear me yet a moment.

One way remains to save his life;---and you,

You may redeem it.

Teresa

How? speak---and I'll bless you!

Contarini

Briefly---your sire revealed before his arrest

My love, my suit. Grant it---bestow your hand

On one who loves you with a boundless passion,

And I will stir the powers of heaven and earth

To compass his release.

Teresa

And do you proffer

Such terms in earnest truth?

Contarini

In truth I do.

Accept them---and be blest.

Teresa

Is this the noble

So honored? This the haughty senator?

Ready to barter in his selfishness

The trust he holds? Bearing the solemn charge---

A nation's safety---laden with the prayers

Of suppliant millions, on his truth who rest

Their hopes---their all---yet ready to fling down

The mighty burthen, if it impede the way

To some light goal of pleasure! Is't to such

We plead?---Before I reverenced, though I feared thee,

I scorn thee now!

Contarini

Proud, wayward girl, remember

Whom 'Tis you taunt!

Teresa

Full well, my lord, I know

There can be few like you. Within yon halls,

Some there must be, to whom the voice of justice

Shall not unheeded speak. To them I trust---

To Heaven---and to the strength of innocence,

And not to you!

[ Exit.

Contarini

So lovely in disdain!

She shall be mine, despite her scorn and hate!

[ Exit.

SCENE IV

A prison.--- Veniero discovered.--- Beltramo enters with a lamp

Veniero

Set down the lamp---there---where its beams may pierce

Farthest into the gloom. 'Alack, the rays

Faint ere they half can journey to these walls,

Though sooth, they are not spacious.'---You have orders,

Remember, to admit my child. Retire.

[ Exit Beltramo.

A dark dawn, truly, for the gorgeous day

That waits upon my fortunes; but its noon

Will shine the brighter. Can he fail me now?

I scarce would trust his plighted word alone!

But, were it not that breath of mine could blow

His fabric of ambition to the winds,

I've yet another hold; he loves the girl

Whose fair young hand must bind this wreath of glory

Around her brows and mine.---She is here. This hour

Improved, shall win us all.

Enter Teresa.

My daughter here?

I am not quite forsaken.

Teresa (clinging to him)

No, my father!

Veniero

Who bade thee seek me? Let me look on thee,

Thy cheek is wet with tears. Nay, dry them girl---

Let them not flow for me. True, I can give

Poor welcome; yet thy loveliness breaks in

Upon my prison's gloom, like the fresh light

Of morning to the hopeless. Weep not for me!

Why---foolish child! will tears undo these bars?

They are of massive weight, and have withstood

In ancient service past, more briny floods

Than would have drowned this cell, save that the earth

Drank the hot tide of anguish as it gushed,---

More thirsty now than ever! Let me pass

Nearer that side---methinks a freer air

Is entering thence. Your hand, Beltramo---

Teresa

Hold!

What hand should serve him but mine own?---What's this?

You tremble, you are faint! Help---ho!

Veniero

'Tis nought!

I do not tremble. Yet I'm sick at heart

To look upon this dungeon---knowing here

The wretched remnant of my days may pass,

Shut out from light and life!

Teresa

Oh! talk not so!

We've friends in the council; they will never hear

Your name attainted, and hold back in silence.

Veniero

Alas! you know them not; know not that here

Who is suspected is already doomed.

'Tis hard that I should perish thus, the scorn

Of the schooled rabble! Trust me---I would meet

Death on the field with joy---but to be hewn

By menial hands---gazed on by eyes that gloat

Upon my blood---or wept by vulgar pity!

I do not scorn to say I fear such fate.

Contarini (entering)

You may escape it.

Veniero

Ha!

Contarini

Hear me, Veniero.

I speak to you as one who is condemned,

Though sentence be not passed. Proofs are alleged

So specious and so startling, it were madness

To dream of an acquittal. I alone

By means that cannot fail, have power to save you.

Veniero

Thanks! thanks! (aside) you've well begun!

Contarini

Yet will I sue

And humble me for you, to be disdained

By yonder fair, when I shall kneel to claim

My guerdon for such service? Shall the city

Know that I saved you for your daughter's love,

And know me spurned by her? No! I will plead

For you, but as the father of my bride!

Let your Teresa pledge her faith to me,

Before high heaven and you;---in two hours' time

I'll set you free.

Veniero

Teresa!

Teresa

It is false!

His story's false, my father! Head him not!

They will not sentence you!

Contarini

You'll learn my truth,

When 'Tis too late.

Veniero

Dost doubt him,

When proofs like these (pointing to his dungeon walls) confirm his tale?

Or deem'st thou

My life not worth the purchase?

Teresa

Alas! my strait

Is fearful! But I know him the deceiver!

Trust him not. If he talk of bribes and stratagems,

Think you he'd scruple at a gilded tale,

To cheat us with false hopes?

Contarini

Let the sun set,

And you are fatherless!

Teresa

And would you take,

Even could you wring from me the sacrifice,

A victim bride?

Contarini

Aye, though I won your hate!

From you even hate is sweetness---Choose between

A husband whom you love not, and the death

Of one you love!

Veniero

Urge her no more---her choice

Is fixed already! Let me die in peace---

She may look on; and---if she weep for me,

Some dearer hand will dry her short lived tears.

Teresa (struggling with emotion)

My father!

Veniero

Touch me not! the old man's years

Are nearly run---why should they now be lengthened?

These hairs are white---no matter! they'll be dabbled

With red, full soon! My limbs are old and weary---

They'll rest well in the grave---and until then

The earth's a fitting bed!

(throws himself on the ground)

Teresa (kneeling beside him)

Oh! taunt me not

So bitterly! Oh! I would die to save you!

Veniero

Would die! so those who prate of filial virtue

Talk---but shrink from the test. Off! I'll no more

Of clinging and of honied words!

Teresa

Dear father!

I am your child---and more than life I love you!

Speak to me! speak to me! With idle words

I will displease no more.---For your sake, father,

I will do all!---will wed---him!

Veniero

She is yours!

[ Joins her hand with Contarini's. --- The curtain falls. ]