full length · drama
Poems, translated and original
Royalty-free Public domain — free to read, perform, and adapt. No licence needed.
Characters
| Teresa | lead | 114 speeches |
| Contarini | lead | 88 speeches |
| Foscarini | supporting | 57 speeches |
| Veniero | supporting | 42 speeches |
| Loredano | supporting | 35 speeches |
| Badoero | supporting | 31 speeches |
| Matilda | supporting | 28 speeches |
| Fiorilla | supporting | 26 speeches |
| Leonardo | minor | 23 speeches |
| Vincentio | minor | 20 speeches |
| Doge | minor | 17 speeches |
| Steno | minor | 8 speeches |
| Memmo | minor | 3 speeches |
Read the play
_A Street._
_Enter_ VINCENTIO _and_ LEONARDO, _followed by several citizens_.
Vincentio. Courage, my friends! this way leads to his prison. We’ll break those bars, and drag their gloomy secrets Into unwonted light.
Leonardo. Nay--by such madness You cast away success.
Vincentio. Shall we shrink back Even on its threshold?
Leonardo. One false step, bethink you, May lose you all. Look--yonder they approach!
Vincentio. Now is the moment.
Leonardo. No--’twould but endanger Yourselves--and serve not him. Pray you--be patient ’Till they have reached the palace; then surround it, And with your prayers, which more than threats avail, Besiege their ears.
Vincentio. To be repulsed and mocked!
Leonardo. If so, despair; no force of yours can save him. The Senate would but laugh at you. _To citizens._] Depart! We are safe no longer here. [_Exeunt._