It was an imposing sight to look along that bright and living lane, and the hearts of each competitor beat high, as hope, or pride, or apprehension, became the feeling of the moment.
"Gino of Calabria," cried the marshal who placed the gondolas, "thy station is on the right.

Take it, and St.Januarius speed thee!" The servitor of Don Camillo assumed his oar, and the boat glided gracefully into its berth.
"Thou comest next, Enrico of Fusina.

Call stoutly on thy Paduan patron, and husband thy strength; for none of the main have ever yet borne away a prize in Venice." He then summoned, in succession, those whose names have not been mentioned, and placed them side by side, in the centre of the canal.
"Here is place for thee, Signore," continued the officer, inclining his head to the unknown gondolier; for he had imbibed the general impression that the face of some young patrician was concealed beneath the mask, to humor the fancy of some capricious fair.--"Chance hath given thee the extreme left." "Thou hast forgotten to call the fisherman," observed the masker, as he drove his own gondola into its station.
"Does the hoary fool persist in exposing his vanity and his rags to the best of Venice ?" "I can take place in the rear," meekly observed Antonio.

"There may be those in the line it doth not become one like me to crowd, and a few strokes of the oar, more or less, can differ but little in so long; a strife." "Thou hadst better push modesty to discretion, and remain." "If it be your pleasure, Signore, I would rather see what St.Anthony may do for an old fisherman, who has prayed to him, night and morning, these sixty years ?" "It is thy right; and, as thou seemest content with it, Keep the place thou hast in the rear.

It is only occupying it a little earlier than thou would'st otherwise.