Rafael in Italy / A Geographical Reader

ael asked, as the boat slipped away

y here forever," answer

red the place. To slip with his boat in and out of the canals and the lagoon, to dive from the steps and bridges and chase

making," he said. "It would have been glorious to fight for the right to live on these islands, and to have

the stately walls of the Doge's palace, and to the domes of the great churches; and he

powerful navy when he led the Venetians across the Med

e who held the city safe while he was away," he added, "and th

s little left but her beauty, and that will fall to ruin, as the great bell-tower in

this stranger who spoke so eas

from the sweep of the gondolas which crowded near, and the two became sil

y wedged together, each gondolier trying to push his boat as

ce. Palace fronts shone with a magical beauty; crimson banners waved from Mooris

on. "Did you ever see a more

erything," was his answer; and Rafael racked his brain to think what

olume of sound. "Viva l'Italia!" cried a voice from the

with the enthusiasm of the moment. It seemed to his imagination that the singers were repeating the words

l'Italia! Long live the King!" he shouted with the others; and at that moment

nal; and at the steps where he had embarked, the stranger rose to leave the boat. As he did so, he s

y. "I never carry people for m

e bottom of the boat. "For Italy, then," he sai

h the tide, while he thought o

of their house to people poorer than themselves; and might have rented the whole house to some of the foreigners who often asked for it, but the mother held

by she could keep the fine house as it had always been, r

y knew every detail of its history so well as he. "Our history is our pride

into his pocket; then he took up the oar and

was tired of his life of idleness. "I sh

d serve his king. There is need of e

ed. "Our good priest says that the country is rich, with all its vineyar

t it, caro mio?" asked

y," replied Rafael. "My