Diamine! these gondoliers are not so bad a class as some pretend, but they are men like ourselves, and can feel for a Christian as well as another." The secretary paused, for his task was done; and a deep silence pervaded the gloomy apartment.

After a short pause one of the three resumed-- "Antonio Vecchio," he said, "thou hast served thyself in these said galleys, to which thou now seemest so averse--and served bravely, as I learn ?" "Signore, I have done my duty by St.Mark.I played my part against the infidel, but it was after my beard was grown, and at an age when I had learnt to know good from evil.

There is no duty more cheerfully performed by us all, than to defend the islands and the Lagunes against the enemy." "And all the Republic's dominions .-- Thou canst make no distinctions between any of the rights of the state." "There is wisdom granted to the great, which God has denied the poor and the weak, Signore.

To me it does not seem clear that Venice, a city built on a few islands, hath any more right to carry her rule into Crete or Candia, than the Turk hath to come here." "How! Dost thou dare on the Lido to question the claim of the Republic to her conquests?
or do the irreverent fishermen dare thus to speak lightly of her glory ?" "Eccellenza, I know little of rights that come by violence.

God hath given us the Lagunes, but I know not that he has given us more.