Quarrels between neighbours and relatives are submitted to the adjudication of cold steel.

Of course they would do better to go before the nearest magistrate; but justice is slow in the States of the Church; lawsuits cost money, and bribery is the order of the day; the judges are either fools or knaves.

So out with the knife! its decisions are swift and sure.

Giacomo is down: 'tis clear he was in the wrong.

Nicolo is unmolested: he must have been in the right.