After a short pause one of the three resumed--
"Antonio Vecchio," he said, "thou hast served thyself in these said
galleys, to which thou now seemest so averse--and served bravely, as I
learn?"
"Signore, I have done my duty by St. Mark. I played my part against the
infidel, but it was after my beard was grown, and at an age when I had
learnt to know good from evil. There is no duty more cheerfully
performed by us all, than to defend the islands and the Lagunes against
the enemy."
"And all the Republic's dominions.--Thou canst make no distinctions
between any of the rights of the state."
"There is wisdom granted to the great, which God has denied the poor and
the weak, Signore. To me it does not seem clear that Venice, a city
built on a few islands, hath any more right to carry her rule into Crete
or Candia, than the Turk hath to come here."
"How! Dost thou dare on the Lido to question the claim of the Republic
to her conquests? or do the irreverent fishermen dare thus to speak
lightly of her glory?"
"Eccellenza, I know little of rights that come by violence. God hath
given us the Lagunes, but I know not that he has given us more. This
glory of which you speak may sit lightly on the shoulder of a senator,
but it weighs heavily on a fisherman's heart."
"Thou speakest, bold man, of that which thou dost not comprehend."
"It is unfortunate, Signore, that the power to understand hath not been
given to those who have so much power to suffer.
Pages:
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219