human
But--listen Ecciva--they said, '_if we come not again, and our galley should be found waiting on the coast, then tell her that our lives were little to express our love; and she shall not mourn that we have given them for her and for her child_.'--Oh, Ecciva!
gpt
No, Contarini mia, all knights are _not_ like that: I said it but to tease thee. Tell it to the Dama Margherita with a face like that, and she will make it a second 'Kypria,' for she hath, verily the gift. I have not such a tale of knighthood to tell thee: yet, if thou carest for my tidings they would make a canto for the new Kypria of the Dama Margherita, in contrast to thine. And first of the traitor Saplana--_of whom there is news_.
human
He--and the precious group of noble villains--or of villain nobles--one's tongue takes twist in talking trash--the more when it is true; a precious group of traitors, all on the wild seashore--how the Dama Margherita would bring out the booming of the waves! These doughty villains fleeing because, forsooth, they feared the fleet of Venice!--tossing their reins on the necks of the steeds that brought them, and leaving them to wander at their will. A little gold and their arms and bucklers in the fishing skiff that brought them to the galley of the noble Ferdinand--the goodly King of Naples,--his well-beloved son, Alfonso, wore not for long the title of the 'Prince of Galilee!'--Is it a pretty tale for the poem of the Margherita? The tale of the fleeing villains!
gpt
But who went with the Commander?--Which others?
human
There was the nephew, Almerico--much in temper because thy noble uncle the Contarini would not yield up to his traitorous care the Castle of Cerines for the signature forced from the Queen. There was Fabrici--the very Reverend, the Primate of Cyprus. And then--and then--not last, but first, and deepest and darkest traitor of them all--the very darkest villain of them all--there was Rizzo!
gpt
Ecciva! Not Rizzo!--the land is free of him!
human
Aye, _Rizzo_, child. Did I tell thee I had news? And for their absences may Heaven be praised!--though, truly, they have deserved worse.
gpt
They have deserved _death_, said Eloisà solemnly:
human
So, my Venetian, thou never wilt remember that we are Cyprians! The drama of confiscation will surely follow upon their deserts, and there will be fiefs the more for their Cyprian betters. But as for death--'death between the columns'--I could almost be glad that Rizzo hath escaped. How shall one not admire the masterful scheming of the man, and the insolence and power of him?--he is fairly great in wile.--Have I not told thee news enough, and of a quality to make thy hair stand on end--the comely hair of a most decorous young Venetian maid?--and thou hast never a word of admiration. Verily, thou art tiresome!
gpt
It is so terrible, Ecciva: I cannot jest, nor gloat on it for news.
human
There, there, sweet child! Ecciva had slipped easily back into her old, mocking, taunting way--