To one who considered life and humanity in any other than their familiar and vulgar aspects, he would have presented a touching picture of a noble nature, enduring with pride, blunted by habit; while to him, who regards the accidental dispositions of society as paramount laws, he might have presented the image of dogged turbulence and discontent, healthfully repressed by the hand of power.

A heavy sigh struggled from the chest of the old man, and, stroking down the few hairs which time had left him, he lifted his cap from the pavement, and prepared to move.
"Thou art late from thy bed, Antonio," said a voice at his elbow.

"The triglie must be of good price, or of great plenty, that one of thy trade can spare time to air himself in the Piazza at this hour.

Thou hearest, the clock is telling the fifth hour of the night." The fisherman bent his head aside, and regarded the figure of his masked companion, for a moment, with indifference, betraying neither curiosity nor feeling at his address.
"Since thou knowest me," he answered, "it is probable thou knowest that in quitting this place I shall go to an empty dwelling.

Since thou knowest me so well, thou should'st also know my wrongs." "Who hath injured thee, worthy fisherman, that thou speakest so boldly beneath the very windows of the Doge ?" "The state." "This is hardy language for the ear of St.Mark! Were it too loudly spoken, yonder lion might growl.