human
It is better for thee that there be no listeners,
gpt
Hearken without speech until I have spoken.
human
Is this my brother, she asked,
gpt
Nay; leave tragedy, Caterina; I am come to bring thee word of a great opportunity.
human
For my people?--For Cyprus?
gpt
Aye--for 'thy people'--'for Cyprus,' verily. Listen! Thou hast it in thy power, at this moment, to bestow a gift upon the Republic--thou who art the Daughter of Venice--that shall make thee memorable throughout the ages.
human
I--I fail to understand,
gpt
Aye: it _is_ hard to understand--that thou, who art one of our Casa Cornaro--a woman--upon whom Venice hath bestowed such fatherly and unceasing care--should have it in thy power so to reward the Republic, who might have seized the throne of Cyprus, without waiting for thy gift! Yet, of her grace, the Serenissima Repubblica doth verily ask it of thee, as a favor--thou who art Daughter to Venice. Thou mayest well find it hard to understand!
human
Hath the Signoria of Venice broken faith with her ally of Cyprus? Is she not content to wait for the sovereignty of this realm until my death--knowing that by my will Venice hath been created heir to this throne--that she should wish to deprive me now of that which hath come to me through so great sorrow, by the will of my husband, the King?