human
She wearieth for the King, her maidens said low to each other,
gpt
She is not like herself, the Lady Ecciva de Montferrat whispered to her young Venetian companion, Eloisà Contarini, as the company strolled out upon the terraces at a sign from the Lady Beata Bernardini whose loving motherly eyes saw that Caterina needed rest and solitude.
human
She is strange and pale to-day--like one who hath seen a vision.
gpt
How meanest thou--_a vision_?
human
She is the evil genius of the House of Lusignan, Ecciva explained to her excited companion,
gpt
And thou--didst hear this lamentation verily, Ecciva? I should have died from fear!
human
Yea, thou being from Venice--not knowing that it bodeth not harm for thee--it is misfortune only for some ruler of their house of Lusignan.
gpt
And that is naught to thee! the Venetian girl exclaimed in astonishment.
human
Thy King--is he nothing to thee?
gpt
One knoweth not, the other answered nonchalantly.
human
There is Carlotta--both of the house of Lusignan; and she might be kinder than King Janus who seized the fiefs of my father because he came not forth to do him homage when he landed with his army from Alexandria.
gpt
Thou then--why art thou here? she exclaimed indignantly,
human
Thou art a veritable _turco_ for fierceness, Eloisà! I have naught against her Majesty, who truly is most fair and gracious--quite other than Carlotta--whom I love not at all! And if I held some grudge against the King for seizing of my father's lands (which broke his heart before he died) one cannot long be churlish in presence of our Janus, who hath a matchless fashion of grace with him, so that all think to have won his favor. Verily, that is a King for Cyprus!--he mindeth one of Cinyras. I must tell thee the tale of our hero of Cyprus some day, Eloisà.
gpt
Aye: but tell me now--how camest thou at Court if the King hath wronged thy house?
human
Such eyes thou hast!--like a frightened child! I know not if I shall reach thy comprehension, were I to answer thee--but I, being only daughter to my father, Gualtier of Montferrat, who had no son--plead with my mother to send me hither when I came of age, to do homage loyally to King Janus, and claim our fiefs of him again--I being his vassal by right of long generations past--there was no other way.
gpt
A vassal so loyal doth honor to him and thee!