Fiesco

SCENE XIX. FIESCO, alone.

FIESCO (walking up and down in meditation). What a tumult is in my breast! What a concourse of dark, uncertain images! Like guilty wretches stealing out in secret to do some horrid deed, with trembling steps and blushing faces bent toward the ground, these flattering phantoms glide athwart my soul. Stay! stay!-let me examine you more closely. A virtuous thought strengthens the heart of man, and boldly meets the day. Ha! I know you-robed in the livery of Satan-avaunt! (A pause; he continues with energy.) Fiesco, the patriot! the Duke Fiesco! Peace! On this steep precipice the boundaries of virtue terminate: here heaven and hell are separated. Here have heroes stumbled, here have they fallen, and left behind a name loaded with curses-here, too, have heroes paused, here checked their course, and risen to immortality. (More vehemently.) To know the hearts of Genoa mine! To govern with a master's hand this formidable state! Oh, artifice of sin, that masks each devil with an angel's face! Fatal ambition! Everlasting tempter! Won by thy charms, angels abandoned heaven, and death sprung from thy embraces. (Shuddering.) Thy syren voice drew angels from their celestial mansions-man thou ensnarest with beauty, riches, power. (After a pause, in a firm tone.) To gain a diadem is great-to reject it is divine! (Resolutely.) Perish the tyrant! Let Genoa be free-and I (much affected) will be its happiest citizen.

ACT III.