The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-01-14
FABIO'S NOTE.

Mutinelli was the most exact in keep
ing his engagements. He vas liberal
and magnificent ON every occasion, and
especially with ladies and people of the
church. The elegant polity of his man
ners was celebrated throughout the re-
public, and people admired at San Fan
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
he gave festivals and his purse. But he
suffered severe losses in the war against
the Genoese and in the troubles of Ma
Piles. 1t happened that 30 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 500 ducats.
But the good signor esteemed that if
audacity procures great goods prudence
alone preserves them, and he refused
to expose so large a 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, 3" replied Andrea, "to
others than you I would willingly lend
this sum. I have no attachment for gold
pieces, and l conform, on this point, to
the maxims of Horace, the s~atirist.
But your friendship is dear to me, Fa-
bio Mutinelli, and l would risk its loss
if / loaned you money. Most often COM
merce of the heart goes ill between debt
or and creditor. / 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
to his house, the courtesan Zanetta, who
was taking a 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 a
small casket. If you accept them, gen.
tie Fabio, l 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 a 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 a man
S& N1S1te O1IO AISNC4 1OGlIS III ~ HAL III
has neither furniture MOI 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 l may not obtain from a
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.
de remembered having heard of an
lsraelite named Eleazer, son of Eleaze1
Maimonides, who was said to be grand.
~ rich and of a mind marvelously sub
tie. The door Of his house was decorated
with an image of the seven branchet
golden candlestick, which the Jew had
caused to be made as a sign Of hope, il
view Of the promised day when the tenn
pie would rise from its ashes.
The merchant entered a hall Lighted
by q lamp of brass, the IL wicks @
which were ablaze. The Jew Ereaze,
was seated before his scales. The win
dows Of his house were walled, becaus,
he wa an infidel. Fabio Mutinelli talk
ed to him in the following manner
"EleaZer, / have often called You
dog and a pagan. 1t happened, when
was younger, that I threw stones an,
mud at people who passed near the ca
mi wearing a yellow wheel OH thei
shoulders. I tell you this not to insul
you. but to be loyal at a time when
come TO ask you to do ne q great sery
Ice
The jew lifted his arm. which wa
dry and knotty hike q vine.
"Eabio Mutinelli," he said, the Ia
ther who Ia In heaven will judge 70
and me. What service do@ou ask?''
Lend nae 800 ducafs for q year.
Zone does not lend without ~securit,
What Ii your securitys'
% mist know, Eleazer, that Iha,
1T eyea \ golden cup, not even . sily'
goblet + have nothing. Everybody hi