ZIBO. The sound of clattering arms--
ZENTURIONE. Horrible! horrible!
ZIBO. A carriage-it stops at the gate!
SENTINELS AT THE GATE (calling out). Who goes there?
SCENE IV.
The former, four of the ASSERATO family.
ASSERATO (entering). A friend of FIESCO.
ZIBO. They are the four Asserati.
ZENTURIONE. Good evening, friends!
ASSERATO. We are going to the play.
ZIBO. A pleasant journey to you!
ASSERATO. Are you not going also?
ZENTURIONE. Walk on. We'll just take a breath of air first.
ASSERATO. 'Twill soon begin. Come. (Going.)
SENTINEL. Back!
ASSERATO. What can this mean?
ZENTURIONE (laughing). To keep you from the palace.
ASSERATO. Here's some mistake--
ZIBO. That's plain enough. (Music is heard in the right wing.)
ASSERATO. Do you hear the symphony? The comedy is going to begin.
ZENTURIONE. I think it has begun, and we are acting our parts as fools.
ZIBO. I'm not over warm-I'll return home.
ASSERATO. Arms here, too?
ZIBO. Poh! Mere play-house articles.
ZENTURIONE. Shall we stand waiting, like ghosts upon the banks of Acheron? Come, let us to a tavern! (All six go towards the gate.)
SENTINELS (calling loudly). Back! Back!
ZENTURIONE. Death and the devil! We are caught.
ZIBO. My sword shall open a passage!
ASSERATO. Put it up! The count's a man of honor.
ZIBO. We are sold! betrayed! The comedy was a bait, and we're caught in a trap.
ASSERATO. Heaven forbid! And yet I tremble for the event.
SCENE V.
The former-VERRINA, SACCO, and NOBLES.
SENTINELS. Who goes there?
VERRINA. Friends of the house. (Seven NOBLES enter with him.)
ZIBO. These are his confidants. Now all will be explained.
SACCO (in conversation with VERRINA). 'Tis as I told you; Lascaro is on guard at the St. Thomas' gate, the best officer of Doria, and blindly devoted to him.
VERRINA. I'm glad of it.
ZIBO (to VERRINA). Verrina, you come opportunely to clear up the mystery.
VERRINA. How so? What mean you?
ZENTURIONE. We are invited to a comedy.
VERRINA. Then we are going the same way.
ZENTURIONE (impatiently). Yes-the way of all flesh. You see-the doors are guarded. Why guard the doors?
ZIBO. Why these sentinels?
ZENTURIONE. We stand here like criminals beneath the gallows.
VERRINA. The count will come himself.
ZENTURIONE. 'Twere well if he came a little faster. My patience begins to fail. (All the NOBLES walk up and down in the background.)
BOURGOGNINO (coming out of the palace, to VERRINA). How goes it in the harbor?
VERRINA. They're all safe on board.
BOURGOGNINO. The palace is full of soldiers.
VERRINA. 'Tis almost nine.
BOURGOGNINO. The count is long in coming.
VERRINA. And yet too quick to gain his wishes. Bourgognino! There is a thought that freezes me.
BOURGOGNINO. Father, be not too hasty.
VERRINA. It is impossible to be too hasty where delay is fatal. I must commit a second murder to justify the first.
BOURGOGNINO. But-when must Fiesco fall?
VERRINA. When Genoa is free Fiesco dies!
SENTINELS. Who goes there?
SCENE VI.
The former, FIESCO.
FIESCO. A friend! (The NOBLES bow-the SENTINELS present their arms.) Welcome, my worthy guests! You must have been displeased at my long absence. Pardon me. (In a low voice to VERRINA.) Ready?
VERRINA (in the same manner). As you wish.
FIESCO (to BOURGOGNINO). And you?
BOURGOGNINO. Quite prepared.
FIESCO (to SACCO). And you?
SACCO. All's right.
FIESCO. And Calcagno?
BOURGOGNINO. Is not yet arrived.
FIESCO (aloud to the SENTINELS). Make fast the gates! (He takes off his hat, and steps forward with dignity towards the assembly.) My friends-I have invited you hither to a play-not as spectators, but to allot to each a part therein.
Long enough have we borne the insolence of Gianettino Doria, and the usurpation of Andreas. My friends, if we would deliver Genoa, no time is to be lost. For what purpose, think you, are those twenty galleys which beset our harbor? For what purpose the alliances which the Dorias have of late concluded? For what purpose the foreign forces which they have collected even in the heart of Genoa? Murmurs and execrations avail no longer. To save all we must dare all. A desperate disease requires a desperate remedy. Is there one base enough in this assembly to own an equal for his master? (Murmurs.) Here is not one whose ancestors did not watch around the cradle of infant Genoa. What !-in Heaven's name!- what, I ask you, have these two citizens to boast of that they could urge their daring flight so far above our head? (Increasing murmurs.) Every one of you is loudly called upon to fight for the cause of Genoa against its tyrants. No one can surrender a hair's- breadth of his rights without betraying the soul of the whole state. (Interrupted by violent commotions he proceeds.)
You feel your wrongs-then everything is gained. I have already paved your way to glory- Genoese, will you follow? I am prepared to lead you. Those signs of war which you just now beheld with horror should awaken your heroism. Your anxious shuddering must warm into a glorious zeal that you may unite your
