The herald., 1894-12-13
FABIO'S NOTE.

OF all the merchants inlVenice, Fabio
Mutinelli was the most texact in keep
ing his engagements. He was liberal
and magnificent ON every occasion, and
especially with ladies and people of the
shuroh The elegant polity of his man.
public and people admired at San Zan-
ipolo an altar of gold which he had Of
fered to st. Catherine for love of the
beautiful Catherine Manini, wife of the
senator, Alesso Conaro. AS he was very
wealthy, he had many friends, to whom
be gave festivals and his purse. But he
suffered severe losses in the war against
the aoncese and in the troubles of Ma
Piles. 1t happened that 80 of his vessels
were captured. So the magnificent Fa
bio was despoiled in a shore time of all
his riches. Having sold his palace and
his plate to pay his debts, he found him.
self destitute Of everything. But as he
was skillful, courageous, well learned in
commerce and in the vigor of age, he
thought only of restoring his business.
He made many calculations and figured
that 500 ducats were necessary for him
to attempt new enterprises, from which
he expected happy, prompt and certain
successes. He asked of Alesso Bontura,
who was the richest citizen of the re-
public, to lend to him these 800 ducats
But the good signor esteemed that if
audacity procures great goods prudence
alone preserves them, and he refused
to expose so large sum to the peril of
sea and fortune. Fabio addressed him.
self to Andrea Morosini, whom he had
formerly favored in different ways.
Beloved Fabio, replied Andrea, "to
others than you would willingly lend
this sum. have no attachment for gold
pieces, and conform, on this point, to
the maxims of Horace, the satirist
But your friendship is dear to me, Fa-
bio Mutinolli, and | would risk its loss
if loaned you money Most often COM
merce of the heart goes i'll between debt
Or and creditor. l have seen too many
examples of this"
With these words Signor Andrea pre-
tended to embrace the merchant tender
ly and shut the door in his face.
At night, as she was returning sadly
10 his house, the courtesan Zanetta, who
was taking bath in the canal, grasped
his gondola and said to Fabio:
81 know your misfortunes. They are
the talk of the town. Now listen. am
not rich, but l have some jewels in
small casket. If you accept them, gen
tie Fabio, will believe that God and
the Virgin love me-"
And it was true that, in the newness
of her age and in the fine flower of her
beauty, Zanetta was poor. Fabio re-
piled:
Graceful Zanetta, there is more no.
bility in the house where you live than
in all the palaces of Venice
For three days more Fabio visited the
banks and the shops without finding
anybody who would lend money to him.
Everywhere he received wicked an
swer and heard speeches the tone Of
which was as follows: "You were
wrong to sell your plate to pay your
debts. One may loan money to man
in debt; one never loans to man who
aas neither furniture nor plate.
The fifth day he went in his despair
to the Corte Dele Cali, which is also
called the Ghetto, and which is the
Jewish quarter. "Who knows" he said
to himself, IF may not obtain from
Jew the favor that Christians have re-
fused?" He went through streets the
entrance of which, by order of the SEN
ate, was barred every night with chains.
He remembered having heard of an
Israelite named Eleazer, son of Eleazer
Maimonides, who was said to be grand
ly rich and of mind marvelously sub.
tie. The door of his house was decorated
with an image of the seven branched
golden candlestick, which the Jew had
caused to be made as q sign Of hope, in
view of tho promised day when the tenn
pie would rise from it's ashes.
The merchant entered hall lighted
by lamp of brass, the 10 wicks of
which were ablaze. The Jew Eleazer
was seated before his scales The win
dows of his house were walled, because
be was an infdel Fabio Mutinelli talk
sd to him in the following manner:
"Eleazer, have often called you a
dog and pagan. 1t happened, when
was younger, that l threw stones and
mud at people who passed near the Ca
nal wearing yellow wheel on their
shoulders tell you this not to insult
you. but to be loyal at time when
come to ask you to dome great serv-
ice.'
The Jew lifted his arm, which was
dry and knotty like vine
"Fabio Mutinelli, he said, ''the Fa-
ther who is in heaven will judge you
and me. What service do you ask?"
LEND me 500 ducats for year.
"One does not lend without security.
What is your security?"
"You must know, Eleazer, that have
not even golden cup, not even silver
goblet l have nothing. Everybody has
refused to do me the ssaYice that ask
of you. l have nothing III the world,
except my homer as merchant and my
faith as Christian. l offer to you as
security the Holy Virgin Mary and her
Divine Son."
At this reply the Jew inclined his
bead like one meditating aud thinking,
earessed for an instant his long white
beard and said: