If you ask my opinion, therefore, signors, and you do not think the honour too great, I would suggest that the highest and most acceptable honour that could be bestowed upon him, would be that which you have at various times conferred upon foreign personages of distinction, namely, to grant him the freedom of Venice, and inscribe his name upon the list of her citizens, without requiring of him the renunciation of his own country, or the taking the oath of allegiance." "The honour is assuredly a great and exceptional one," the doge said, "but so is the service that he has rendered.

He has converted what would have been a defeat into a victory, and has saved Venice from a grave peril.
"Will you retire for a few minutes, signor, and we will then announce to you the result of our deliberations on the matter.".