human
I said that the Signoria would have thanked thee for thy gift of the realm; and that the ages should have decreed thee great honor for thy queenly giving: but it would have been more of their courtesy than of thine. For thou dost verily hold too great a matter this little kingdom of Cyprus--forgetting the nets that have many times been spread for thee; and the disfavor of those Cyprian nobles who would have a man to rule over them and not a woman--young and without power--unless Venice be her ally and defender! Even now, thou mightest have been a slave in the land of the Turk, were it not for thy faithful upholding by the galleys of Venice, which came between thee and the devastators. Where is the generous response of a woman who, without them, were nothing?--I thought thee more noble!
gpt
Nay, Zorzi: thou dost not comprehend. A Queen must first be faithful to her people.
human
Aye--'to her people!' he retorted scornfully.
gpt
And are thy people of Venice, or of Cyprus?--that thou mayest be faithful neither to one nor to the other! Wilt thou show thy faith to Cyprus by turning thine only helpers and defenders from thee, that thine enemies of the coasts may have free entrance to thine unprotected harbors, while the galleys of Venice no longer waste upon thine ingratitude their unrequited care?
human
It is not true! she cried;
gpt
It is like a woman to build a belief without foundation,
human
And this is verily thy mission from Venice--_and to me?_
gpt
I have spoken, he said,
human
My people love me, she pleaded, with a gasp.
gpt
I have only them to live for!
human
Thou hast only them, if thou wilt perforce give up thine own, he answered readily;
gpt
What meanest thou? she questioned, grasping his arm in terror:
human
Zorzi!
gpt
The choice will be thine, between thy people of Cyprus--who love thee, thou sayest--and thy people of Venice--we of the Casa Cornaro and the Signoria, whom thou wilt offend and who have spent themselves upon thee. _They will leave thee to thine own devices, withdrawing every galley from thy Cyprian coasts._