art and
soul they love. I have brought myself to feel that any misery would be
happiness compared to the loss of Violetta, and that no risk can exceed
the reward of gaining her favor. Thus much for the first of thy
questions; for the last I can only say that I am too much accustomed to
the wiles of the Senate to be a novice in the means of counteracting
them."

"There is but one language for youth, when seduced by that pleasing
delusion which paints the future with hues of gold. Age and experience
may condemn it, but the weakness will continue to prevail in all until
life shall appear in its true colors. Duke of Sant' Agata, though a
noble of high lineage and illustrious name, and though lord of many
vassals, thou art not a power--thou can'st not declare thy palace in
Venice a fortress, nor send a herald to the Doge with defiance."

"True, reverend monk; I cannot do this--nor would it be well for him who
could, to trust his fortune on so reckless a risk. But the states of St.
Mark do not cover the earth--we can fly."

"The Senate hath a long arm, and it hath a thousand secret hands."

"None know it better than I. Still it does no violence without motive;
the faith of their ward irretrievably mine, the evil, as respects them,
becomes irreparable."

"Think'st thou so! Means would quickly be found to separate you. Believe
not that Venice would be thwarted of its design so easily; the wealth of
a house like this would purchase many an unworthy suitor, and thy right
would be disregarded, or haply denied."

"But, father, the ceremony of the church may not be despised!"
exclaimed Violetta; "it comes from heaven and is sacred."

"Daughter, I say it with sorrow, but the great and the powerful find
means even to set aside that venerable and holy sacrament. Thine own
gold would serve to seal thy misery."

"This might arrive, father, were we to continue within the grasp of St.
Mark," interrupted the Neapolitan; "but once beyond his borders, 'twould
be a bold interference with the right of a foreign state to lay hands on
our persons. More than this, I have a castle in St. Agata, that will
defy their most secret means, until events might happen which should
render it more prudent for them to desist than to persevere."

"This reason hath force wert thou within the walls of St. Agata, instead
of being, as thou art, among the canals."

"Here is one of Calabria, a vassal born of mine, a certain Stefano
Milano, the padrone of