For shame, Vivenza! Whence thy undoubted valor?
Did ye not bring it with ye from the bold old shores of Dominora, where there is a fullness of it left?
What isle but Dominora could have supplied thee with that stiff spine of thine ?-- That heart of boldest beat?
Oh, Vivenza! know that true grandeur is too big for a boast; and nations, as well as men, may be too clever to be great.
But what more of King Bello?
Notwithstanding his territorial acquisitiveness, and aversion to relinquishing stolen nations, he was yet a glorious old king; rather choleric--a word and a blow--but of a right royal heart.

Rail at him as they might, at bottom, all the isles were proud of him.

And almost in spite of his rapacity, upon the whole, perhaps, they were the better for his deeds.

For if sometimes he did evil with no very virtuous intentions, he had fifty, ways of accomplishing good with the best; and a thousand ways of doing good without meaning it.

According to an ancient oracle, the hump-backed monarch was but one of the most conspicuous pieces on a board, where the gods played for their own entertainment.
But here it must not be omitted, that of late, King Bello had somewhat abated his efforts to extend his dominions.