"Dost
remember the tale how that he fooled the worshipful Signoria to leave
him a week in peace, that he might take the blessed sacrament quietly,
finding therein 'a holy joy' that should fit him to proceed to the
service of Venice--looking, meanwhile, for means of escape?"
"_Davvero_! but this was the hour of his highest favor, and I followed
with the rest of the crowd till there was scarce breathing space under
the clock tower, where the _Magi_ were just coming forth to salute the
Madonna and the Bambino at the stroke of the day; and the people were
shouting so one could not hear the bell for cries of 'Gold! gold!
Bragadin!'
"We surged back against the doorway of the 'Nave d'Oro,' the people
struggling with each other lest they should lose the sight as he passed
through the Piazza, and suddenly there came a voice,--cold, and
scornful, and low, but no man lost the words,--'Thou art wearied in the
multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the star-gazers, the
monthly prognosticators stand up and save thee from these things that
shall come upon thee!' The people stopped their pushing and looked
aghast to see who spake, but I could have sworn it was Fra Paolo's
voice.
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