This first bit of the wonderful coloring which glowed and flashed when
the light shot through it, as if some living fire were caught in its
heart; or that curious, tortured shape, with its dragon-eyes of jewels,
and its tongue forever thrusting at you some secret which it almost
utters, yet withholds; this fragment of tenderest opalescence which is
of no color, yet blending all, as if a shower of petals were blown
across a rainbow in spring; that one--frosted in silver and gold--pink,
with the yellow sunshine in its core; here the aquamarine, lucent as
Venice's own sea! And here, throned in regal state, in its quaint case
of faded azure velvet, is that very masterpiece of the glass-workers of
Murano which was carried in the first solemn procession of all the arts
at a Doge's triumph in the thirteenth century. Its very possession was a
patent of nobility in Girolamo's reverent esteem; and the most gracious
letter of the Senate, conferring upon this piece of glass the
distinction of first mention among all that were shown upon that day of
triumph, is here also--a yellowed parchment, carefully inclosed in the
little morocco case, securely screwed to the shelf beneath, and Marina
had been present when it was opened for some rare visitor.
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