The Royal Pawn of Venice

by Mrs. Lawrence Turnbull

  IV

  Now that the brilliant pageant of the Betrothal had taken place, lifewent on serenely in the Palazzo Cornaro in San Cassan, while the seasonscame and went and Caterina developed into a charming maiden ofseventeen--expanding in the gracious atmosphere and the wonderful newjoys that it brought her, as a rose matures to its most radiantperfection in the sunshine. Her eager mind which had hitherto known onlythe meagre culture bestowed upon young Venetian maids of her time andestate, awoke with ardent response, growing with leaps and bounds tomeet the new demands--yet always deepening because the spring of herwill had its impulse in noble emotions.

  Her thin, restricted life had suddenly overflowed with interests: theboundaries of her vision had opened far beyond the narrow confines ofthe lagoons of Venice and the Euganean hills, as the consciousnessdawned upon her of a world that had been rich in beauty and vitalmemories before Venice began to be. Life was beginning to pulsatetumultuously in her veins; her heart was awaking. All the fulness anddelight of this germinal spring-time she owed to the lord and lover whowas waiting for her across the shimmering, beckoning sea. What wonderthat her maiden heart should cling to him with a passionate trust, whileall her sweet self grew in shy loveliness out of the dream that she wasfashioning, and the deepening currents of her being flowed purely aboutthis vision of her betrothed, enthroning her love with her religion inone centre.

  The mimic court in the Palazzo Cornaro, under the supervision of hermonitors of Venice, was already attracting distinguished strangers--forthe element of romance in her position made the salon of the futureQueen of Cyprus the feature of Venetian social life; and long hours ofeager study with masters of the many tongues spoken in the Cypriancourt--alternating with the teachings of her mother's noble friend, thePatriarch, as he sought to familiarize her with the early Christianstory of her distant island, proved the quick grasp of her mind--givingdangerous hints of strength which, if disregarded, might thwart themoulding purpose of the Signoria. So it seemed wise to forestall herquestionings with such historic glimpses as should fascinate her withher realm to be, while Venice was silently smoothing out the crumples ofthat distant Cyprian shore; and it was fitting that the bride of Janusshould make acquaintance with the literary and legendary treasures ofthis fabled isle of poets, for the house of Lusignan had been known forits taste in literature. But of a certain proverb current in Cyprus inthe days of the Lusignans, the watchful Senate took care that she shouldbe left in ignorance, _Ce n'est pas Minerve qui est nee en Chypre_! andthat Chief of the Ten whose difficult duty it had become to supervisethe education of Caterina was giving peremptory instruction to thenewly-created Historical Secretary to the Queen-elect:

  "Begin with thy narration far back in the days of the Greek myths--shehath much poetry in her soul. Take her carefully over the earlyChristian traditions--she doth most seriously incline to venerate theChurch:--there is food in these matters to consume much time."

  "And then, Eccellentissimo, one may venture to tell the story of theHouse of Lusignan?"

  The research of the learned Secretary had brought him in contact withCyprus, but it had not inclined him to make fancy pictures of its kings.

  "Of Guy--the founder--and of the Crusades; it is a tale a maid mayhear," the Capo responded grimly. "Of gleanings, now and again, throughthe pages of the chronicle, as it may be wise. She hath not the judgmentto endure it all, being yet scarce more than a child--and with leaningsrather toward Church than State, being over-much under the influence ofthe Lady Fiorenza--_over-much_."

  The words came with pauses which lent them force, and the new Secretary,being Senate-trained, lost none of their significance.

  "Thine office doth demand discretion," the Chief continued, fixing theother with his piercing gaze. "One should choose the tale that may bestplease--that she may go glad-hearted and with a maiden's fancy."

  "Aye, your Excellency--for maids and women are not as men; and facts notover-gentle may be best untold."

  "Nay--not that--not that: but there is time--much time--and for thepresent the care shall be to delight."

  "It is the office of a courtier, Eccellentissimo; it befools a scholar,"the Historical Secretary exclaimed with indignation. "There be poets andromancers who would do it honor, rather than I--who have spent longyears among the records searching for truth, that I may leave achronicle to trust."

  "And most unworthily, Signor Segretario, if thou hast found no leasttrace of the great philosopher Zeno in the ancient city of Cition thatwas his birthplace; nor of Homer, that maker of literature, who hath,perchance, won space enough in the estimate of mankind to be worthy thebrief thought of a child--even of thine--a scholar seeking for truth--hebeing the pride of Salamis.

  "But the Signoria have never learned the backward step that they shouldwithdraw an appointment which conferreth unwilling honor," the Chiefconcluded coldly. "Thou shalt find some beauty in the legends of theCinyradae, or the myths of Aphrodite, in this land of Cyprus where thegoddess rose from the foam of the sea!"

  "Were not substance better than froth to train a maid to rule, yourExcellency?"

  "Nay, but to _obey_; to _rule_ needeth not teaching."

  "But--your Excellency----"

  "Signore, foam shall suffice to teach obedience--thou hast heard themost gracious will of the Senate."

  The eyes of the scholar who loved truth better than fortune droppedbaffled; for he could not afford to surrender the favor of the Senatewhich promised him means to achieve in his own special field; and hegroaned in spirit while the wide halls of the Frari, with theirtreasure of ancient MSS. rose before his mental vision as the mosttempting spot on earth, with his own _magnum opus_ lying thereunfinished, yet far toward completion. And for one who had meant tochronicle the complete history of a _movement_, who had sought ever toweigh and sift in the interests of truth alone, to surrender the freedomof his mind to the Senate--to come down to the teaching of a child--tobe commanded what he should speak--it was maddening!

  "My own work," he murmured in a last appeal:--"I have so little time."

  "The time of a Venetian is his best gift to the State," the Capo madeanswer icily.

  There was a pause during which the unwilling Secretary _felt_ the eyesof the Capo upon him, forcing him to lift his own. For an instant he metthe strange fixed gaze which conveyed to him without words that what hadpassed between them was to be held inviolate; then, with a courteoussalute, the man of power spoke:

  "The interview is dismissed." And the Segretario Reale went out from thepresence, his soul revolting at the absolutism that forced him toaccept; and he despised himself.

  * * * * *

  Meanwhile the soul of the maiden was thrilling to the Patriarch's talesof early Christian conquests in her islands--at Paphos--at Salamis--ofthe miracles of the great Paulus, saint and bishop and leader--as hereyes followed along the red-lettered parchment page of the rare volumewhich the holy man had brought from the treasures of the "Marciana" forher teaching--translating the story from the Greek, which was yet hardfor her, into her own softer tongue.

  Cyprus had indeed been a favored land in those early days; for the HolySpirit had commanded by a revelation that Barnabas and Paulus should setsail for Cyprus to preach the new faith at Salamis; and they had takenwith them Marcus--their own San Marco!--it was so written in thisstrange, old book.

  "Tell me about him!" Caterina cried, clasping her hands eagerly: "whatdid he do in my land?"

  Every Venetian was familiar with the Patron-Saint of Venice in hissymbolic guise, with his terrible, flashing jewelled eyes--as a powerwho would guard them and confound their enemies, rather than as anEvangelist--although the paw of the fierce Venetian lion rested alwayson the open gospel-page. But to hear of him as a man, before he wasknown as saint--young--'sister's son to Barnabas,' setting forth on thismission to Cyprus, made him strangely real to the young Venetian girl;it even brought Cyprus nearer with a tender home claim, to hear of thewanderings of San Marco among tho
se temples of Aphrodite; and his scornof the unholy worship kindled her soul as the Patriarch told how theyoung Evangelist had not feared to curse the godless Cyprian city forits idolatry--of the tumult that had been raised by his followers, asthey hurled the images of the Pagan gods from their pedestals, ruiningportions of the huge, unholy structure as they fell and killing some ofthose who were taking part in the games. She would visit these vastruins in the ancient grove of Aphrodite, where giant-trees had grownamong the fallen columns, and wonderful vases of gold and silver andalabaster, wrought like finest cameos, had been disinterred from moundsof rubbish to decorate the palaces of patricians.

  Of these, antique goblets, some flashing with an indescribable rainbowlustre, delicate as an opal, had already been sent her among the richgifts of Janus. And so life took on new color for her--historic memoriesand trifles of the day crossing each other at many points, linking theold to the new, in unsuspected continuity.

  "Our San Marco was a hero even then!" she cried; "an early Crusaderfighting for his faith!"

  "Aye, daughter--as thou and I must fight," the Patriarch answered herwith tender approval in his eyes, a shadow of apprehension dimming thembefore he withdrew his gaze--for of such tender stuff had martyrs beenmade. "The story of those early days is for our guidance. If trialsshould come," he added, "cleave but to thy faith and Heaven shall showthee a way."

  "I never thought before that one might _love_ San Marco!" Caterina said,as she turned her glowing face frankly to the old man; "he was never aperson, but just a grotesque image to me."

  "Symbols are for our race in its childhood, for with primitive peoplesimagination dominates reason," he answered her; "later we weave a moreenduring fabric out of the truth of history--still cherishing themyth--the earlier impulse."

  But it was Barnabas who was the true hero-saint of Cyprus; for he hadowned estates in his native island and had sold them and given all forthe propagation of the new faith; and when, after his cruel martyrdomthe fierce spirit of persecution had cooled, and his remains were foundinterred in a grotto near the city--the divine revelation of St. Peterclasped to his breast--the possession of so sacred a relic sufficed towin great privileges among the hierarchy for the island of Cyprus, inperpetuity--the proud title of Archbishop of Salamis--the imperial staffwith the golden apple at top--the cap with the red cross, and many otherhonors and immunities. It was a long way from the primitive simplicityof the fruitful ministration of Jose Barnabas, the Son of Consolation,as he had fought for souls in the splendid vigor of his youth andconsecration!

  "I am glad of these sacred bonds between my two homes!" the young girlexclaimed with a little wistful sigh.

  "There are yet other links in the history of our Church; for Sant'Elena,the Mother of Constantine--whose tomb thou knowest on our fair island ofSant'Elena--hath enriched thy favored land of Cyprus with its mostsacred relic, bestowing there the portions of the Holy Cross which shehad brought from Orient, and thou shalt find them still revered in theChapel of Santa Croce on the Mountain of the Troodos."

  "Thou perchance, most Reverend Father, wilt come some day in pilgrimageto this blessed shrine in my new land!" Caterina cried hopefully.

  "Nay, dear daughter; for my work lieth in Venice. But thou seest thatwhere our Holy Church hath planted her banner, one may call no landstrange."

  It was partly with this thought that the Patriarch had striven tointerest Caterina in these incidents of early Christianity; and partlyfrom his undefined dread as to what the future might hold for her, withthe wish to keep the Church and its teachings uppermost in her mind,that she might lean upon them in need. She had been deeply interestedand again and again had turned the talk upon this theme--a docile pupil,growing in grace and strength from the teachings he gathered for herfrom that quaint old volume so little known by the women of her time. Itwas his gift to fit her for the unknown life to which she was going, andit gave him an opportunity for many helpful words which if scarcelyunderstood at the time came back to her later; yet he darkened herbright visions with no fears, thinking that hope and joy and faith wouldsuffice for strength in trial.

  The Senate, meanwhile, had matter less placid touching Cyprus and thebetrothed bride wherewith to fill this period of waiting: and more thanonce the Senator Marco Cornaro had returned from lengthy sessions at theDucal Palace in no gentle humor, yet mute to all questioning. For it hadbeen learned in that innermost Council, and told no farther than wasneedful, that Ferdinand of Naples was intriguing to draw Janus into analliance with a princess of his house; it was also known, by thatsingular penetration in which Venice had no equal, that the newArchbishop of Nicosia, Alvise Fabrici, was an agent for Ferdinand,secretly working to further his ends in Cyprus; and finally in sign ofthe willingness of Janus to break faith with Venice, came the rumor ofsome coldness toward Andrea Cornaro, who had hitherto been his fastfriend.

  It was enough to bring gloom to the brow of the Senator Marco Cornaro,whose heart was set upon this royal marriage.

  But nothing of this transpired beyond the walls of the Council Chamber,from whence at last, to make an end of the pitiful waverings of thisfickle King, an ambassador was sent to the court of Cyprus to state interms that could not be misunderstood, that if Janus were to disgracehis royal word, solemnly pledged by his Ambassador Mastachelli inpresence of the Serenissimo and the Signoria, the insult to a Queenalready betrothed to him would be a slight the Republic would notsuffer, and that Venice would become the enemy instead of the ally ofCyprus.

  But no misgivings troubled the heart of the betrothed in the PalazzoCornaro, where she waited in happy confidence, being taught through theceaseless vigilance of the Senate, that in royal marriages haste wasever unseemly, and full time would be allowed for the fashioning of thewedding trousseau, the weaving of wedding damasks and the completepreparation of a household outfit consistent with the dignity of aqueen.

  The prospect of further enemies was not an enviable one for Janus, whoalready counted Genoa, Savoy and Portugal and his Holiness of Rome amongthem; for he had won the wrath of the Genoese by recapturing theirimportant holding of Famagosta in the very heart of his own island, ashe had most heartily gained the disfavor of his Holiness by his alliancewith the infidel Sultan of Egypt; and through his sister Carlotta, theenmity of Savoy and of Portugal was assured to him.

  So the galleys and favor of Venice were not to be disregarded, and itwas not long before the Cyprian fleet appeared in the waters of theAdriatic, bearing in response to the secret embassy of Venice, theAmbassador sent by Janus to bring his young Queen to Cyprus.