THE ADRIATIC BRIDE. 153 



country is now laid in your hands : here stands the friend of your- 

 self and Ziani, but likewise a true citizen, who asks you what you 

 will do?" 



Giovanna stood pale and trembling before him, looking fixedly at the 

 wild, rolling eyes of her father. She then walked slowly up to the 

 table, took up the wreath, held it to Malapiero, and said, in a low 

 voice, while scarcely able to support herself: " Here is my sacri- 

 fice ! Heaven protect my country !" 



The old man caught his fainting daughter, and laid her on a couch. 

 In great agitation he seized Malapiero, drew him towards Giovanna, 

 and proudly said, " See, that is my daughter!" 



Giovanna at length recovered. Her strength of mind gave her 

 courage to consent to the plan formed by Malapiero, which was, 

 before night to leave the palace secretly with her father, get on board 

 a vessel, and flee to some distant country. Malapiero promised to 

 induce his friend to accept the crown. 



It was scarcely night when Ziani, his heart overflowing with af- 

 fection and joy, returned to his palace with a priest, who was to unite 

 him to his beloved Giovanna. But he found her apartments desert- 

 ed : a piece of paper, containing the following words, lay on the 

 table beside her bridal wreath : 



" Ziani ! you stand between the throne and my bridal garland. 

 The country is right ; you can only choose one of them. The crown 

 is offered you by thousands of our poor unprotected citizens : the 

 bridal wreath is presented you by the hand of an insignificant girl. 

 Your great mind will easily distinguish which you ought to accept ; 

 but, to spare you the struggle, I flee hence. If you really love me, 

 do not endeavour to discover my retreat, but render my country 

 happy !" 



Who can describe Ziani's feelings ! So near the moment of ful- 

 filling his most ardent wishes, he saw every thing vanish before him, 

 like the visions of fancy. " Giovanna !" he cried : " Giovanna ! you 

 have not left me voluntarily ! But they shall not wrest you from my 

 bosom ! Your bridal wreath is worth more to me than all the 

 crowns in the world!" 



He called all his domestics together offered a large reward to any 

 who might discover traces of Giovanna ; and rushed out himself in 

 pursuit of her. *- 



During this time, Malapiero had accompanied the fugitives to the 

 harbour, and procured them a vessel, in which they instantly set 

 sail, by the clear light of the moon. He then hastened back to 

 Ziani's palace, feeling that he might be of service to his friend. 

 But not finding him there, and having long sought him in vain in 

 every part of the city, he returned again to the harbour ; and was 

 alarmed and confounded, when he here saw Ziani on board his gal- 

 ley, which was just pushing off, in pursuit of Daponte and his daugh- 

 ter, whose track he had been successful in discovering. To detain 

 him, was not now to be thought of: he had scarcely time to jump 

 on board, and accompany his ( despairing friend. Ziani was determined 

 to sacrifice every thing to his affection : he was deaf to every other 

 feeling, and stood immoveable on the bow of the vessel ; his eyes 



