Andreas.--Fill this goblet to their memory, my old soldier; you have

earned your rest bravely.

Lomellino.--Aye, signor, and oh, it is so sweet to rest on laurels.

But in truth, 'tis to you that I am indebted for mine; it is you who

have immortalised me. No soul on earth would have known that

Lomellino existed, had he not fought in Dalmatia and Sicilia under

the banners of the great Andreas, and assisted him in raising

eternal trophies in honour of the Republic.

Andreas.--My good Lomellino, the Cyprus wine must have heated your

imagination.

Lomellino.--Nay, I know well I ought not to call you great, and

praise you thus openly to your face; but faith, signor, I am grown

too old for it to be worth my while to flatter. That is a business

which I leave to our young courtiers, who have never yet come within

the smell of powder, and never have fought for Venice and Andreas.

Andreas.--You are an old enthusiast. Think you the Emperor is of

the same opinion?

Lomellino.--Unless Charles the Fifth is deceived by those about him,

or is too proud to allow the greatness of an enemy, he must say,

perforce, "There is but one man on earth whom I fear, and who is

worthy to contend with me, and that man is Andreas."

Andreas.--I suspect he will be sorely displeased when he receives my

answer to the message by which he notified to me the imprisonment of

the French king.

Lomellino.--Displeased he will be, signor, no doubt of it; but what

then? Venice need not fear his displeasure, while Andreas still

lives. But when you and your heroes are once gone to your eternal

rest--then, alas for thee, poor Venice. I fear your golden times

will soon come to their conclusion.

Andreas.--What! Have we not many young officers of great promise?

Lomellino.--Alas, what are most of them? Heroes in the fields of

Venus. Heroes at a drinking-bout. Effeminate striplings, relaxed

both in mind and body. But how am I running on, forgetful. Ah,

when one is grown old, and conversing with an Andreas, it is easy to

forget everything else. My lord, I sought you with a request, a

request, too, of consequence.

Andreas.--You excite my curiosity.

Lomellino.--About a week ago there arrived here a young Florentine

nobleman called Flodoardo, a youth of noble appearance and great

promise.

Andreas.--Well?

Lomellino.--His father was one of my dearest friends. He is dead

now, the good old generous nobleman. In our youth we served

together on board the same vessel, and many a turbaned head has

fallen beneath his sword. Ah, he was a brave soldier.




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