aid Bardo, with some condescension;
"misfortune wedded to learning, and especially to Greek learning, is a
letter of credit that should win the ear of every instructed Florentine;
for, as you are doubtless aware, since the period when your countryman,
Manuelo Crisolora, diffused the light of his teaching in the chief
cities of Italy, now nearly a century ago, no man is held worthy of the
name of scholar who has acquired merely the transplanted and derivative
literature of the Latins; rather, such inert students are stigmatised as
_opici_ or barbarians according to the phrase of the Romans themselves,
who frankly replenished their urns at the fountain-head. I am, as you
perceive, and as Nello has doubtless forewarned you, totally blind: a
calamity to which we Florentines are held especially liable, whether
owing to the cold winds which rush upon us in spring from the passes of
the Apennines, or to that sudden transition from the cool gloom of our
houses to the dazzling brightness of our summer sun, by which the
_lippi_ are said to have been made so numerous among the ancient Romans;
or, in fine, to some occult cause which eludes our superficial surmises.
But I pray you be seated: Nello, my friend, be seated."

Bardo paused until his fine ear had assured him that the visitors were
seating themselves, and that Romola was taking her usual chair at his
right-hand. Then he said--

"From what part of Greece do you come, Messere? I had thought that your
unhappy country had been almost exhausted of those sons who could
cherish in their minds any image of her original glory, though indeed
the barbarous Sultans have of late shown themselves not indisposed to
engraft on their wild stock the precious vine which their own fierce
bands have hewn down and trampled under foot. From what part of Greece
do you come?"

"I sailed last from Nauplia," said Tito; "but I have resided both at
Constantinople and Thessalonica, and have travelled in various parts
little visited by Western Christians since the triumph of the Turkish
arms. I should tell you, however, Messere, that I was not born in
Greece, but at Bari. I spent the first sixteen years of my life in
Southern Italy and Sicily."

While Tito was speaking, some emotion passed, like a breath on the
waters, across Bardo's delicate features; he leaned forward, put out his
right-hand towards Romola, and turned his head as if about to speak to
her; but then, correcting himself, turned