"Thou art well defended. Should the two latter fail thee, thou mayest surely count on the first!"
"Signor Monforte has an ill.u.s.trious name, and he is welcome to our Venetian sports," observed the Doge, slightly bending his head towards the young Calabrian n.o.ble, who stood at no great distance in a gondola of state, regarding the scene with a deeply-interested countenance. This cautious interruption of the pleasantries of the official was acknowledged by a low reverence, and the matter proceeded.
"Take thy station, Gino of Calabria, and a happy fortune be thine," said the latter; then turning to another, he asked in surprise--"Why art thou here?"
"I come to try my gondola"s swiftness."
"Thou art old, and unequal to this struggle; husband thy strength for daily toil. An ill-advised ambition hath put thee on this useless trial."
The new aspirant had forced a common fisherman"s gondola, of no bad shape, and of sufficient lightness, but which bore about it all the vulgar signs of its daily uses, beneath the gallery of the Bucentaur. He received the reproof meekly, and was about to turn his boat aside, though with a sorrowing and mortified eye, when a sign from the Doge arrested his arm.
"Question him, as of wont," said the prince.
"How art thou named?" continued the reluctant official, who, like all of subordinate condition, had far more jealousy of the dignity of the sports he directed, than his superior.
"I am known as Antonio, a fisherman of the Lagunes."
"Thou art old!"
"Signore, none know it better than I. It is sixty summers since I first threw net or line into the water."
"Nor art thou clad as befitteth one who cometh before the state of Venice in a regatta."
"I am here in the best that I have. Let them who would do the n.o.bles greater honor, come in better."
"Thy limbs are uncovered--thy bosom bare--thy sinews feeble--go to; thou art ill advised to interrupt the pleasures of the n.o.bles by this levity."
Again Antonio would have shrunk from the ten thousand eyes that shone upon him, when the calm voice of the Doge once more came to his aid.
"The struggle is open to all," said the sovereign; "still I would advise the poor and aged man to take counsel; give him silver, for want urges him to this hopeless trial."
"Thou hearest; alms are offered thee; but give place to those who are stronger and more seemly for the sport."
"I will obey, as is the duty of one born and accustomed to poverty. They said the race was open to all, and I crave the pardon of the n.o.bles, since I meant to do them no dishonor."
"Justice in the palace, and justice on the ca.n.a.ls," hastily observed the prince. "If he will continue, it is his right. It is the pride of St.
Mark that his balances are held with an even hand."
A murmur of applause succeeded the specious sentiment, for the powerful rarely affect the n.o.ble attribute of justice, however limited may be its exercise, without their words finding an echo in the tongues of the selfish.
"Thou hearest--His Highness, who is the voice of a mighty state, says thou mayest remain;--though thou art still advised to withdraw."
"I will then see what virtue is left in this naked arm," returned Antonio, casting a mournful glance, and one that was not entirely free from the latent vanity of man, at his meagre and threadbare attire. "The limb hath its scars, but the infidels may have spared enough, for the little I ask."
"In whom is thy faith?"
"Blessed St. Anthony, of the Miraculous Draught."
"Take thy place.--Ha! here cometh one unwilling to be known! How now!
who appears with so false a face?"
"Call me, Mask."
"So neat and just a leg and arm need not have hid their follow, the countenance. Is it your Highness"s pleasure that one disguised should be entered for the sports?"
"Doubt it not. A mask is sacred in Venice. It is the glory of our excellent and wise laws, that he who seeketh to dwell within the privacy of his own thoughts, and to keep aloof from curiosity by shadowing his features, rangeth our streets and ca.n.a.ls as if he dwelt in the security of his own abode. Such are the high privileges of liberty, and such it is to be a citizen of a generous, a magnanimous, and a free state."
A thousand bowed in approbation of the sentiment, and a rumor pa.s.sed from mouth to mouth that a young n.o.ble was about to try his strength in the regatta, in compliment to some wayward beauty.
"Such is justice!" exclaimed the herald, in a loud voice, admiration apparently overcoming respect, in the ardor of the moment. "Happy is he that is born in Venice, and envied are the people in whose councils wisdom and mercy preside, like lovely and benignant sisters! On whom dost thou rely?"
"Mine own arm."
"Ha! this is impious! None so presuming may enter into these privileged sports."
The hurried exclamation of the herald was accompanied by a general stir, such as denotes sudden and strong emotion in a mult.i.tude.
"The children of the Republic are protected by an even hand," observed the venerable prince. "It formeth our just pride, and blessed St. Mark forbid that aught resembling vain-glory should be uttered! but it is truly our boast that we know no difference between our subjects of the islands or those of the Dalmatian coast; between Padua or Candia; Corfu or St. Giorgio. Still it is not permitted for any to refuse the intervention of the saints."
"Name thy patron, or quit the place," continued the observant herald, anew.
The stranger paused, as if he looked into his mind, and then he answered--
"San Giovanni of the Wilderness."
"Thou namest one of blessed memory!"
"I name him who may have pity on me, in this living desert."
"The temper of thy soul is best known to thyself, but this reverend rank of patricians, yonder brilliant show of beauty, and that goodly mult.i.tude, may claim another name.--Take thy place."
While the herald proceeded to take the names of three or four more applicants, all gondoliers in private service, a murmur ran through the spectators, which proved how much their interest and curiosity had been awakened by the replies and appearance of the two last compet.i.tors. In the meantime, the young n.o.bles who entertained those who came last, began to move among the throng of boats, with the intention of making such manifestations of their gallant desires and personal devotion, as suited the customs and opinions of the age. The list was now proclaimed to be full, and the gondolas were towed off, as before, towards the starting point, leaving the place beneath the stern of the Bucentaur, vacant. The scene that followed, consequently pa.s.sed directly before the eyes of those grave men, who charged themselves with most of the private interests, as well as with the public concerns of Venice.
There were many unmasked and high-born dames, whirling about in their boats, attended by cavaliers in rich attire, and here and there appeared a pair of dark l.u.s.trous eyes, peeping through the silk of a visor, that concealed some countenance too youthful for exposure in so gay a scene.
One gondola, in particular, was remarked for the singular grace and beauty of the form it held, qualities which made themselves apparent, even through the half-disguise of the simple habiliments she wore. The boat, the servants, and the ladies, for there were two, were alike distinguished for that air of severe but finished simplicity, which oftener denotes the presence of high quality and true taste, than a more lavish expenditure of vulgar ornament. A Carmelite, whose features were concealed by his cowl, testified that their condition was high, and lent a dignity to their presence by his reverend and grave protection. A hundred gondolas approached this party, and after as many fruitless efforts to penetrate the disguises, glided away, while whispers and interrogatories pa.s.sed from one to another, to learn the name and station of the youthful beauty. At length, a gay bark, with watermen in gorgeous liveries, and in whose equipment there was a studied display of magnificence, came into the little circle that curiosity had drawn together. The single cavalier who occupied the seat, arose, for few gondolas appeared that day with their gloomy-looking and mysterious pavilions, and saluted the masked females with the ease of one accustomed to all presences, but with the reserve of deep respect.
"I have a favorite follower in this race," he said gallantly, "and one in whose skill and force I put great trust. Until now I have uselessly sought a lady of a beauty and merit so rare, as to warrant that I should place his fortune on her smiles. But I seek no further."
"You are gifted with a keen sight, Signore, that you discover all you seek beneath these masks," returned one of the two females, while their companion, the Carmelite, bowed graciously to the compliment, which seemed little more than was warranted by the usage of such scenes.
"There are other means of recognition than the eyes, and other sources of admiration than the senses, lady. Conceal yourselves as you will, here do I know that I am near the fairest face, the warmest heart, and the purest mind of Venice!"
"This is bold augury, Signore," returned she who was evidently the oldest of the two, glancing a look at her companion as if to note the effect of this gallant speech. "Venice has a name for the beauty of its dames, and the sun of Italy warms many a generous heart."
"Better that such n.o.ble gifts should be directed to the worship of the Creator than of the creature," murmured the monk.
"Some there are, holy father, who have admiration for both. Such I would fain hope is the happy lot of her who is favored with the spiritual counsel of one so virtuous and wise as yourself. Here I place my fortune, let what may follow; and here would I gladly place a heavier stake, were it permitted."
As the cavalier spoke, he tendered to the silent fair a bouquet of the sweetest and most fragrant flowers; and among them were those to which poets and custom have ascribed the emblematic qualities of constancy and love. She, to whom this offering of gallantry was made, hesitated to accept it. It much exceeded the reserve imposed on one of her station and years to allow of such homage from the other s.e.x, though the occasion was generally deemed one that admitted of more than usual gallantry; and she evidently shrank, with the sensitiveness of one whose feelings were unpractised, from a homage so public.