Were I to limit thee to hours and minutes, some truant wish of the moment--some innocent caprice of thy sex and years, might go ungratified.

Ah! Donna Florinda, we may well pray that all our affection--not to call it weakness--for this persuasive girl, shall not in the end lead to her own disadvantage!" "For the indulgence of both, I am grateful," returned Violetta; "I only fear to urge my little requests at moments when your precious time is more worthily occupied in behalf of the state." "Thou overratest my consequence.

I sometimes visit the Council of Three Hundred; but my years and infirmities preclude me now from serving the Republic as I could wish Praise be to St.Mark, our patron! its affairs are not unprosperous for our declining fortunes.

We have dealt bravely with the infidel of late; the treaty with the Emperor is not to our wrong; and the anger of the church, for the late seeming breach of confidence on our part, has been diverted.

We owe something in the latter affair to a young Neapolitan, who sojourns here at Venice, and who is not without interest at the Holy See, by reason of his uncle, the Cardinal Secretary.