"
"Man is the creature of envy! The poor desire to be rich--the weak,
powerful."
"There is an exception to your rule, at least, Signore, since the rich
rarely wish to be poor, or the powerful, weak."
"You deride my sentiments to-night, Signor Gradenigo. I speak, I hope,
as becomes a Senator of Venice, and in a manner that you are not
unaccustomed to hear!"
"Nay, the language is not unusual. But I fear me there is something
unsuited to a falling fortune, in the exacting and narrow spirit of our
laws. When a state is eminently flourishing, its subjects overlook
general defects in private prosperity, but there is no more fastidious
commentator on measures than your merchant of a failing trade."
"This is their gratitude! Have we not converted these muddy isles into a
mart for half Christendom, and now they are dissatisfied that they
cannot retain all the monopolies that the wisdom of our ancestors has
accumulated."
"They complain much in your own spirit, Signore,--but you are right in
saying the present riot must be looked to. Let us seek his highness, who
will go out to the people, with such patricians as may be present, and
one of our number as a witness: more than that might expose our
character."
The Secret Council withdrew to carry this resolution into effect, just
as the fishermen in the court received the accession of those who
arrived by water.
There is no body so sensible of an increase of its members as a mob.
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