Sir, you should have stayed in your bed..." "There was something on my mind, Marco, and the old do be thinking long to get things off their mind." "What can I do sir ?" "Marco, my child, you mustn't take what I say amiss.

But I want you to be going back, to be going back to Venice." "Sir, what have I done to dissatisfy you?
In all my embassies have I been weak to the strong or bullying toward the weak?
Does an oppressed man complain of injustice, does a merchant complain of being cheated, or a woman say she was wronged ?" "Now, Marco of my heart, didn't I say not to be taking it amiss?
Is there any one closer to me nor you, or is it likely I'd be listening to stories brought against you?
It's just this.

I'm an old and tired man, Marco Beag, and in a week or a moon at most I'm due to die, so the Sanang tells me.

Don't be sorry, son.

Be glad for me.