A Golden Book of Venice

stiniani guided them gracefully through the floating craft moored to the stakes wh

of the splendid gates a scene of activity was disclosed in the nearer court which served as an office for the various departments of the household

ang to a show of activity over all those finishing touches of polish and nicety which had been achieved long before; and the lithe figures coming and going, throwing themselves into graceful attitudes over their semblance of labor, exchanging joyous sallies i

harmless trifling t

ni sounde

hed in honor of this day; I have a moment to remi

t, where the sunshine seemed suddenly le

ed in the gloom which pervaded the far inner court; two or three iron lanterns were brought and hung

hen Venice laid siege to the city in 1369? It was wrought in the East, no doubt, and the inlaying is of gold and precious; bu

a prison in its construction,-as strong and as forbidding,-and here, among the ancestral relics, were kept the arms which every nobleman, by Venetian law,

jeweled hilt, in an intricately wrought scabbard. Giustinian drew it from its sheath, d

rthy of a son of our house, it hath been worthily chosen for thee. Yet, unless thou leavest it to those who come after thee, enric

iastic chorus of the young men-at-arms and Marcantonio's eager words of appreciation, crossing the sombre hall with stately steps; for to his mind

n war. But I wrong thee in seeming to think thou knowest not the history of thine house. Perhaps, in these latter days, a man may best distinguish himself in statesmanship, for the mind is a weapon not to be slighted-when it is builded with strength, sharpened with caref

they seemed to indicate hidden meanings to be unraveled, might proceed only from his effort to carry several trains of thought at onc

ing in his pulses, but he would not yield it up until the propitious moment came; and the strong consciousness of this sweet new queenship made the constant assertion of the sovereignty of Venice not easy to endure. But the remembrance of his vow of allegiance, just rendered before the Senate, returned to him rather as the public investiture of his rights as a man than as a claim

next group of armor-battered breastplates, casques, and shi

were of the famous siege of Lepanto, where, but for th

fore this great stand of antique trophies of prowess and not call to mind visions of heroism and suffering in which the

to the Holy Father; the youthful monk, leaving the tranquil solitude of his island sanctuary, unfrocked with honor by a Pope's decree, to don the crimson robe of senator and wed the daughter of the Doge! And later, when sons and daughters many had risen up to call them blessed, the old haunting charm of the convent reasserting itself, the return of the Giustinian-t

later we must visit the shrines of San Nicolò and San Lorenzo. For in the Church also we have had our part. A Giustinian was first Patriarch of Venice; a sain

court, now flooded with sunshine, he began the ascent of the grand stairway which led to the banqueting hall. The gleaming marble panels bore a fretwork of sculptured foliage with symbols entwi

is son with a motion of his hand toward the great, splendid chamber from which issued ripples of girlish laughter; and Marcantonio stoo

alter a festoon in garland or brocade. Sallies of laughter, snatches of song, and pelting of flowers, like a May-day frolic, made the work long in the doing, but full of grace; and now and again, as if any purpose were wearying for such light-hearted mai

perceived the young lord of the day, but the Contessa Bea

he Signor Marcantonio whether the garlan

coquetry that the maidens all flocked back from their hi

or the grace of the dance, or the grace of the damigelle who have so wrought for the

ay not steal a moment to dance at one's own fêt

d them, with slow, stately steps, hiding he

ith the knightly homage still in vogue, and

g morning, a speech that should be of a dignity to suit so great an occasion, but the words died away upon her lips; for once she forgot Venice and

boy!" she

n, and to-day the rebound from the morning's repression filled him with hope and gladness. Al

he said, half in apology for her w

r thee, madre mia

before thee-every honor that Venice may offer to a

n from her, with impati

ment had come h

, as he placed the costly case upon a

and lucent, reflecting hidden rainbow tints, enhanced by the golden traceries delicate and artistic-the bea

xclaimed; "nor hath there ever been. Tho

ed impatiently, for he coul

a more exquisite! It

f mine own designing. And the master, for

thank him," she answered graciously. "A

o her praise; his eyes were fixed

ht as this face which he hath painted, we will forgive him," she said playfully. "But thee, Marco, we

and folded his hand ca

th a wonderful charm;

arini-a face

thee--" Marcanto

to help thee choose a fitting bride; for there is none other of this generation of thy name, and thou,-I will not hide it from thee

already crowned her who shall be my bride with pearls; and for her face-thou hast named i

ra stood as

she could speak. "Name her to me.

-she is so charming! And she will not

thy bride?" The words

my heart; yet, unless thou plead with me for my

dy Laura repeated,

a Maga

if more were to follow,

unless-but it is not p

ce,

my mother, with the love of

ma! How should there be a name o

d'Oro,' my mother, and-nobles of

a mesalliance to me-M

n this day, when thou

forget the traditi

bitterness. "One thing-quite other-am I much more likely to forget; but for this have I sworn, t

ord seemed a d

hthood-'to enrich,' he hath said, 'the records of our house.' And thou wilt hel

uld resist his voice when this mood was upon him; "but I may not

love a woman nobler than any of thy maidens; thou knowest her not. I would bring her to thee

arco; yet I love thee well. How should I

words of Mari

n; she will help

legends of our house. This sword, upon which I have sworn it, I lay at thy feet. Bid m

low of the beautiful new strength in the face of the son whom she had tho

I cannot aid thee,

er," he said; "for Ma

he people to know such pride

Beata is a contadina beside her! Yet, it is not pride, I think, but love and care for my happiness," he added, grown suddenly bold. "She will not

r, then, who woul

ome, she hath not told him. Shall the Veronese plead with thee better than thine own son? For he knoweth the maiden well; and the father, who is most honorably reported in Venice for the wonder of his discoveries in his indus

racy to those families who had at that period, sat in the

ive thee aid. But one may suffer in other ways-quite other-which thou hast no knowledge of, for to thee there seemeth to be,

other's arms, clasping

scant time to recover themselves; but his eyes fell at once upon

been reported to them by our Chief of the Ten, who hath the industries of Murano in charge, that at the exhibit given yestere'en a goblet more sumptuous than that prepared for his Majesty of France was of thy de

tter touching his house is treated. But Morosini, by grace of the Signoria, hath been with me for a moment, that there may be no misgivings of fear upon this fête-day of our house. And to-night this summons to favor sha

lifted it, "since it is my gift. And, Marco"-She turned to him a face softened and beautified by the

idens circle this table whereon it rests with a wreath of ro