Mark would do well to remember that even a fisherman
of the Lagunes can feel as well as the Doge on his throne. This much I
say, illustrious senators, in sorrow, and not in anger; for I would get
back the child, and die in peace with my superiors, as with my equals."
"Thou mayest depart," said one of the Three.
"Not yet, Signore, I have still more to say of the men of the Lagunes,
who speak with loud voices concerning this dragging of boys into the
service of the galleys."
"We will hear their opinions."
"Noble gentlemen, if I were to utter all they have said, word for word,
I might do some disfavor to your ears! Man is man, though the Virgin and
the saints listen to his aves and prayers from beneath a jacket of serge
and a fisherman's cap. But I know too well my duty to the senate to
speak so plainly. But, Signori, they say, saving the bluntness of their
language, that St. Mark should have ears for the meanest of his people
as well as for the richest noble; and that not a hair should fall from
the head of a fisherman, without its being counted as if it were a lock
from beneath the horned bonnet; and that where God hath not made marks
of his displeasure, man should not."
"Do they dare to reason thus?"
"I know not if it be reason, illustrious Signore, but it is what they
say, and, eccellenza, it is holy truth. We are poor workmen of the
Lagunes, who rise with the day to cast our nets, and return at night to
hard beds and harder fare; but with this we might be content, did the
senate count us as Christians and men.
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