You will learn to command a ship just as well as if you began by dipping your hands in tar.

And it is well that you should learn to do this, for unless a man can sail a vessel himself, he is not well qualified to judge of the merits of men he appoints to be captains; but you must remember that you are going as a representative of my house, and must, therefore, travel in accordance with that condition.
"You will be sorry to hear that bad news has just been received from the mainland.

The state galley sent to fetch Ruggiero Mocenigo has arrived with the news that, on the previous night, a strong party of men who are believed to have come from Padua, fell upon the guard and carried off Ruggiero.

My sailors came up and fought stoutly, but they were overpowered, and several of them were killed; so Ruggiero is again at large.
"This is a great disappointment to me.

Though the villain is not likely to show his face in the Venetian territory again, I shall be anxious until Maria is safely married, and shall lose no time in choosing a husband for her.