FIESCO, twelve ARTISANS.
ALL ARTISANS. Vengeance on Doria! Vengeance on Gianettino!
FIESCO. Gently! gently! my countrymen! Your waiting thus upon me
bespeaks the warmth of your affection; but I pray you have mercy on my
ears!
ALL (with impetuosity). Down with the Dorias! Down with them, uncle and
nephew!
FIESCO (counting them with a smile). Twelve is a mighty force!
SOME OF THEM. These Dorias must away! the state must be reformed!
1ST ARTISAN. To throw our magistrates down stairs! The magistrates!
2D ARTISAN. Think, Count Lavagna--down stairs! because they opposed them
in the election----
ALL. It must not be endured! it shall not be endured!
3D ARTISAN. To take a sword into the senate!
1ST ARTISAN. A sword?--the sign of war--into the chamber of peace!
2D ARTISAN. To come into the senate dressed in scarlet! Not like the
other senators, in black.
1ST ARTISAN. To drive through our capital with eight horses!
ALL. A tyrant! A traitor to the country and the government!
2D ARTISAN. To hire two hundred Germans from the Emperor for his
body-guard.
1ST ARTISAN. To bring foreigners in arms against the natives--Germans
against Italians--soldiers against laws!
ALL. 'Tis treason!--'tis a plot against the liberty of Genoa!
1ST ARTISAN. To have the arms of the republic painted on his coach!
2D ARTISAN. The statue of Andreas placed in the centre of the
senate-house!
ALL. Dash them to pieces--both the statue and the man----
FIESCO. Citizens of Genoa, why this to me?
1ST ARTISAN. You should not suffer it. You should keep him down.
2D ARTISAN. You are a wise man, and should not suffer it. You should
direct us by your counsel.
1ST ARTISAN. You are a better nobleman. You should chastise them and
curb their insolence.
FIESCO. Your confidence is flattering. Can I merit it by deeds?
ALL (clamorously). Strike! Down with the tyrant! Make us free!
FIESCO. But--will you hear me?
SOME. Speak, Count!
FIESCO (seating himself). Genoese,--the empire of the animals was once
thrown into confusion; parties struggled with parties, till at last a
bull-dog seized the throne. He, accustomed to drive the cattle to the
knife of the butcher, prowled in savage manner through the state. He
barked, he bit, and gnawed his subjects' bones. The nation murmured; the
boldest joined together, and killed the princely monster. Now a general
assembly was held to decide upon the important question, which form of
government was best. There were three different opinions. Genoese, what
would be your decision?
1ST ARTISAN. For the people--everything in common----
FIESCO. The people gained it. The government was democratical; each
citizen had a vote, and everything was submitted to a majority. But a
few weeks passed ere man declared war against the new republic. The
state assembled. Horse, lion, tiger, bear, elephant, and rhinoceros,
stepped forth, and roared aloud, "To arms!" The rest were called upon to
vote. The lamb, the hare, the stag, the ass, the tribe of insects, with
the birds and timid fishes, cried for peace. See, Genoese! The cowards
were more numerous than the brave; the foolish than the wise. Numbers
prevailed--the beasts laid down their arms, and man exacted contributions
from them. The democratic system was abandoned. Genoese, what would you
next have chosen?
1ST AND 2D ARTISANS. A select government!
FIESCO. That was adopted. The business of the state was all arranged
in separate departments. Wolves were the financiers, foxes their
secretaries, doves presided in the criminal courts, and tigers in
the courts of equity. The laws of chastity were regulated by goats;
hares were the soldiers; lions and elephants had charge of the baggage.
The ass was the ambassador of the empire, and the mole appointed
inspector-general of the whole administration. Genoese, what think you
of this wise distribution? Those whom the wolf did not devour the fox
pillaged; whoever escaped from him was knocked down by the ass. The
tiger murdered innocents, whilst robbers and assassins were pardoned by
the doves. And at the last, when each had laid down his office, the mole
declared that all were well discharged. The animals rebelled. "Let us,"
they cried unanimously, "choose a monarch endowed with strength and
skill, and who has only one stomach to appease." And to one chief they
all did homage. Genoese--to one---but (rising and advancing
majestically)--that one was--the lion!
ALL (shouting, and throwing up their hats). Bravo! Bravo! Well
managed, Count Lavagna!
1ST ARTISAN. And Genoa shall follow that example. Genoa, also, has its
lion!
FIESCO. Tell me not of that lion; but go home and think upon him. (The
ARTISANS depart tumultuously.) It is as I would have it. The people and
the senate are alike enraged against Doria; the people and the senate
alike approve FIESCO. Hassan! Hassan! I must take advantage of this
favorable gale. Hoa! Hassan! Hassan! I must augment their hatred--
improve my influence. Hassan! Come hither! Whoreson of hell, come
hither!