erves as a mirror, thou square of
St. Mark, where, clad in velvet, silk and gold, the richest and freest of
all races display their magnificence, with just pride! Thou harbor, thou
forest of masts, thou countless fleet of stately galleys, which bind one
quarter of the globe to another, inspiring terror, compelling obedience,
and gaining boundless treasures by peaceful voyages and with shining
blades. Oh! thou Rialto, where gold is stored, as wheat and rye are
elsewhere;--ye proud nobles, ye fair dames with luxuriant tresses, whose
raven hue pleases ye not, and which ye dye as bright golden as the
glittering zechins ye squander with such small, yet lavish hands! Oh!
Venice, Queen of the sea, mother of riches, throne of power, hall of
fame, temple of art, who could escape thy spell!

What wanton Spring is to the earth, thy carnival season is to thee! It
transforms the magnificence of color of the lagune-city into a dazzling
radiance, the smiles to Olympic laughter, the love-whispers to exultant
songs, the noisy, busy life of the mighty commercial city into a mad
whirlpool, which draws everything into its circle, and releases nothing
it has once seized.

De Soto urged and pushed the youth, who had already lost his mental
equipoise, into the midst of the gulf, ere he had found the right
current.

On the barges, amid the throngs in the streets, at banquets, in
ball-rooms, at the gaming-table, everywhere, the young, golden-haired,
superbly-dressed artist, who was on intimate terms with the Spanish
king's ambassador, attracted the attention of men, and the eyes,
curiosity and admiration of the women; though people as yet knew not
whence he came.

He chose the tallest and most stately of the slender dames of Venice to
lead in the dance, or through the throng of masks and citizens
intoxicated with the mirth of the carnival. Whithersoever he led the
fairest followed.

He wished to enjoy the respite before execution. To forget--to forget--to
indemnify himself for future seasons of sacrifice, dulness,
self-conquest, torment.

Poor little Isabella! Your lover sought to enjoy the sensation of showing
himself to the crowd with the stateliest woman in the company on his arm!
And you, Ulrich, how did you feel when people exclaimed behind you: "A
splendid pair! Look at that couple!"

Amid this ecstasy, he needed no helping word, neither "fortune" nor "art;"
without any magic spell he flew from pleasure to pleasure, through every