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revenge upon us for our former churlishness； that he thus now
puts us to shame。〃
The ambassador of Cyprus； swarthy of face and stately in bearing；
entered the great hall。 With him came his attendant retinue of
Cypriote nobles。 Kneeling before the doge； the ambassador
presented the petition of his master； the King of Cyprus； seeking
alliance and friendship with Venice。
〃And the better to secure this and the more firmly to cement it；
Eccellenza；〃 said the ambassador； 〃my lord and master the king
doth crave from your puissant state the hand； of some high…born
damsel of the Republic as that of his loving and acknowledged
queen。〃
The old doge waved his hand toward the fair and anxious
seventy…two。
〃Behold； noble sir；〃 he said； 〃the fairest and noblest of our
maidens of Venice。 Let your eye seek among these a fitting bride
for your lord； the King of Cyprus； and it shall be our pleasure
to give her to him in such a manner as shall suit the power and
dignity of the State of Venice。〃
Courteous and stately still； but with a shrewd and critical eye；
the ambassador of Cyprus slowly passed from candidate to
candidate； with here a pleasant word and there a look of
admiration； to this one a honeyed compliment upon her beauty； to
that one a bit of praise for her elegance of dress。
How oddly this all sounds to us with our modern ideas of
propriety and good taste！ It seems a sort of Prize Girl Show；
does it not？ Or； it is like a competitive examination for a royal
bride。
But； like too many such examinations； this one had already been
settled beforehand。 The King had decided to whom the prize of his
crown should go； and so； at the proper time； the critical
ambassador stopped before a slight girl of fourteen； dressed in a
robe of simple white。
〃Donzella mia；〃 he said courteously； but in a low tone； 〃are not
you the daughter of Messer。 Marco Cornaro； the noble merchant of
the Via Merceria？〃
〃I am； my lord；〃 the girl replied。
〃My royal master greets you through me；〃 he said。 〃He recalls the
day when you did give him shelter； and he invites you to share
with him the throne of Cyprus。 Shall this be as he wishes？〃
And the girl； with a deep courtesy in acknowledgment of the
stately obeisance of the ambassador； said simply； 〃That shall be；
my lord； as my father and his Excellency shall say。〃
The ambassador of Cyprus took the young girl's hand； and；
conducting her through all that splendid company； presented her
before the doge's throne。
〃Excellency；〃 he said； 〃Cyprus hath made her choice。 We present
to you； if so it shall please your grace； our future queen； this
fair young maid； Catarina； the daughter of the noble Marco
Cornaro； merchant and senator of the Republic。〃
What the seventy…one disappointed young ladies thought of the
King's choice； or what they said about it when they were safely
at home once more； history does not record。 But history does
record the splendors and display of the ceremonial with which the
gray…haired old doge； Cristofero Moro； in the great hall of the
palace； surrounded by the senators of the Republic and all the
rank and power of the State of Venice； formally adopted Catarina
as a 〃daughter of the Republic。〃 Thus to the dignity of her
father's house was added the majesty of the great Republic。 Her
marriage portion was placed at one hundred thousand ducats； and
Cyprus was granted； on behalf of this 〃daughter of the Republic；〃
the alliance and protection of Venice。
The ambassador of Cyprus standing before the altar of St。 Mark's
as the personal representative of his master； King Giacomo was
married 〃by proxy〃 to the young Venetian girl； while the doge；
representing her new father； the republic； gave her
away in marriage； and Catarina Cornaro； amid the blessings of the
priests； the shouts of the people； and the demonstrations of
clashing music and waving banners； was solemnly proclaimed Queen
of Cyprus； of Jerusalem； and of Armenia。
But the gorgeous display； before which even the fabled wonders of
the 〃Arabian Nights〃 were but poor affairs； did not conclude
here。 Following the splendors of the marriage ceremony and the
wedding…feast； came the pageant of departure。 The Grand Canal was
ablaze with gorgeous colors and decorations。 The broad
water…steps of the Piazza of St。 Mark was soft with carpets of
tapestry； and at the foot of the stairs floated the most
beautiful boat in the world； the Bucentaur or state gondola； of
Venice。 Its high； carved prow and framework were one mass of
golden decorations。 White statues of the saints； carved heads of
the lion of St。 Mark； the doge's cap； and the emblems of the
Republic adorned it throughout。 Silken streamers of blue and
scarlet floated from its standards； and its sides were draped in
velvet hangings of crimson and royal purple。 The long oars were
scarlet and gold； and the rowers were resplendent in suits of
blue and silver。 A great velvet…covered throne stood on the upper
deck； and at its right was a chair of state； glistening with
gold。
Down the tapestried stairway came the Doge of Venice； and；
resting upon his arm； in a white bridal dress covered with
pearls； walked the girl queen Catarina。 Doge and daughter seated
themselves upon their sumptuous thrones； their glittering retinue
filled the beautiful boat； the scarlet oars dipped into the
water； and then； with music playing； banners streaming； and a
grand escort of boats of every conceivable shape； flashing in
decoration and gorgeous in mingled colors； the bridal train
floated down the Grand Canal； on past the outlying islands； and
between the great fortresses to where； upon the broad Adriatic；
the galleys were waiting to take the new Queen to her island
kingdom off the shores of Greece。 And there； in his queer old
town of Famagusta； built with a curious commingling of Saracen；
Grecian； and Norman ideas； King Giacomo met his bride。
So they were married； and for five happy years all went well with
the young King and Queen。 Then came troubles。 King Giacomo died
suddenly from a cold caught while hunting； so it was said； though
some averred that he had been poisoned； either by his half…sister
Carlotta； with whom he had contended for his throne； or by some
mercenary of Venice； who desired his realm for that voracious
Republic。
But if this latter was the case； the voracious Republic of Venice
was not to find an easy prey。 The young Queen Catarina proclaimed
her baby boy King of Cyprus； and defied the Great Republic。
Venice； surprised at this rebellion of its adopted 〃daughter；〃
dispatched embassy after embassy to demand submission。 But the
young mother was brave and stood boldly up for the rights of her
son。
But he； too； died。 Then Catarina； true to the memory of her
husband and her boy； strove to retain the throne intact。 For
years she ruled as Queen of Cyprus； despite the threatenings of
her home Republic and