Mortadello

OR, THE ANGEL OF VENICE 107 LORENZO. [Showing a parchment.] And let me say the same, good lords my countrymen, On their behalf who claim to sit among the Ten. PRINCE JULIO. The nobles are agreed : long live the fair Princess ! Her reign shall be the seed and flower of our success ! A CITIZEN. We have seen troublous times : at last good fortune smiles ! Here’s glory to the Angel of the City of the Isles ! [MONICA assumes throne ; all applaud and do homage, MONICA comes forward and kneels be- fore THE LEGATE. MONICA. Now glory be to God, and glory to His Son, And glory to His Spirit, the eternal Three in One ! I humbly kneel and swear all truth and faith to keep, All power of all my prayer, all vigil to your sleep ! [COUNT ALESSANDRO joins MONICA, kneeling My good lord here shall guide, his wit and wisdom serve, Should Monica his bride stumble or slip or swerve. [LUCREZIA joins MONICA, kneeling. My lady here shall melt my heart, if toil and power Harden what once it felt, make snow of summer shower. I don the Ducal Cap, I grasp the Orb and Rod ; Ere pride beget mishap, lords, leave me here with God ! THE CITIZENS. Here’s truth and modesty for blustering and wiles : Oh glory to the Angel of the City of the Isles ! LEGATE. Let us go forth, my friends : a higher power than ours On her affect attends, her dominance endowers. See, in her face ’tis Christ himself that weeps and smiles !