154 THE ADRIATIC BRIDE. 



fixed on the dark waters, as though he would discover the traces of 

 Giovanna's flight on the bosom of the waves, on which the moon- 

 beams were lightly playing. 



At length, when the first rays of morn coloured the ocean, a ves- 

 sel was discovered at a distance. Ziani was the first to discern it. 

 " Row on ! row on !" he cried : " yonder is my Giovanna !" The 

 oars struck deeper into the waves the galley cut quicker through 

 the waters, and brought them shortly near the vessel. Ziani soon 

 recognized Giovanna. She stood at the bow of the vessel, as on the 

 morning when she sang to him in the fishing-boat, clad in a white 

 dress, glowing with the crimson rays of the morning dawn ; but she 

 made a sign to him to return back ; and when he extended his arms 

 towards her, and called on her loved name, she cried [to him in a 

 voice of earnest entreaty, " Desist, Ziani, and listen to the voice of 

 your country, which calls you F 



But Ziani heard her not. " Ruin to my country F he cried. " I 

 despise the throne which dishonours such affection F He urged the 

 rowers to ply their oars, and they soon reached the fugitive vessel. 

 Neither Giovanna's affecting entreaties, Malapiero's ardent and per- 

 suasive eloquence, nor the heavy curses thundered against him by 

 old Daponte, were capable of restraining Ziani, who seized a board, 

 intending to throw it across to the little vessel, when Giovanna called 

 out to him, inspired with the most noble courage: 



ee Terrible man ! why do you thus profane our love ? If you force 

 your way into this boat, I shall seek refuge in the arms of death F 



Still Ziani heard her not. "You are my own Giovanna!" he 

 cried ; " and no power on earth shall tear you from me F He threw 

 the board hastily across, and was already half over, when old Da- 

 ponte sprang forwards, brandishing a sword, to oppose his passage. 



" I will stand here between my child and my country!" cried he. 

 " Hazard the contest with me if you will." 



Ziani was no longer master of himself: he unsheathed his sword 

 and, overcome by his passions, rushed upon Daponte. When Gio- 

 vanna saw her father and lover engaged in this fearful strife, and 

 both bleeding profusely, she quickly fastened the cord of a small 

 anchor that was lying on the deck of the vessel, round her slender 

 waist, and calling out, " Farewell, my Ziani ! I die for you and my 

 country ! render it happy, and think 'of me F she cast herself cou- 

 rageously into the sea, pulling the anchor after her, which drew her 

 down to the bottom of the unfathomable deep. 



Struck with horror, the combatants let fall their weapons. Ziani 

 would have plunged into the waves, to attempt her rescue, had not 

 Malapiero powerfully held him back. The sailors also wished to 

 save her, but Daponte opposed them. " Leave my child in peace," 

 he cried ; " she has chosen her path." 



Ziani lay senseless in the arms of his friend ; Giovanna remained 

 firmly anchored at the bottom of the sea, and the two vessels returned 

 slowly back to Venice. 



The populace were informed, by Ziani's domestics, of the reason 

 of his hasty departure. They had placed all their hopes on this man ; 

 and more furious than ever against Daponte and hi* daughter, they 



