Andreas.--Fill this goblet to their memory, my old soldier; you have
earned your rest bravely.
Lomellino.--Aye, signor, and oh, it is so sweet to rest on laurels.
But in truth, 'tis to you that I am indebted for mine; it is you who
have immortalised me. No soul on earth would have known that
Lomellino existed, had he not fought in Dalmatia and Sicilia under
the banners of the great Andreas, and assisted him in raising
eternal trophies in honour of the Republic.
Andreas.--My good Lomellino, the Cyprus wine must have heated your
imagination.
Lomellino.--Nay, I know well I ought not to call you great, and
praise you thus openly to your face; but faith, signor, I am grown
too old for it to be worth my while to flatter. That is a business
which I leave to our young courtiers, who have never yet come within
the smell of powder, and never have fought for Venice and Andreas.
Andreas.--You are an old enthusiast. Think you the Emperor is of
the same opinion?
Lomellino.--Unless Charles the Fifth is deceived by those about him,
or is too proud to allow the greatness of an enemy, he must say,
perforce, "There is but one man on earth whom I fear, and who is
worthy to contend with me, and that man is Andreas."
Andreas.--I suspect he will be sorely displeased when he receives my
answer to the message by which he notified to me the imprisonment of
the French king.
Lomellino.--Displeased he will be, signor, no doubt of it; but what
then? Venice need not fear his displeasure, while Andreas still
lives. But when you and your heroes are once gone to your eternal
rest--then, alas for thee, poor Venice. I fear your golden times
will soon come to their conclusion.
Andreas.--What! Have we not many young officers of great promise?
Lomellino.--Alas, what are most of them? Heroes in the fields of
Venus. Heroes at a drinking-bout. Effeminate striplings, relaxed
both in mind and body. But how am I running on, forgetful. Ah,
when one is grown old, and conversing with an Andreas, it is easy to
forget everything else. My lord, I sought you with a request, a
request, too, of consequence.
Andreas.--You excite my curiosity.
Lomellino.--About a week ago there arrived here a young Florentine
nobleman called Flodoardo, a youth of noble appearance and great
promise.
Andreas.--Well?
Lomellino.--His father was one of my dearest friends. He is dead
now, the good old generous nobleman. In our youth we served
together on board the same vessel, and many a turbaned head has
fallen beneath his sword. Ah, he was a brave soldier.