Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 19, 2025
She wore, I remember, a clinging gown of russet silk, which did rare justice to the splendid beauty of her, and her heavy ruddy hair was confined in a golden net that was set with gems a gift from my Lord Gambara. Concerning this same gift words had passed but yesterday between Giuliana and her husband; and I deemed the doctor's anger to be the fruit of a base and unworthy mind.
Slowly his cheeks resumed their normal tint. "Very well, sir," he said, addressing the officer. "Inform his excellency that I shall obey the summons of the Duke's magnificence without delay." The officer bowed to Giuliana, took his leave, and went, old Busio escorting him. "A summons from the Duke?" cried Giuliana, and then the storm broke
Then from the passage came a stifled scream, and Giuliana staggered forward, one hand holding flimsy draperies to her heaving bosom, the other at her mouth, which had grown hideously loose and uncontrolled. Her glowing copper hair, all unbound, fell about her shoulders like a mantle. Behind her with ashen face and trembling limbs came old Busio. He was groaning and ringing his hands.
"Now here is gallantry of a different sort!" cried the little Leocadia with a giggle. "O, as to that," quoth Cosimo, showing his fine teeth in a smile, "there is a proverb as to the gallantry of priests. It is like the love of women, which again is like water in a basket as soon in as out." And his eyes hung upon Giuliana.
For a space we sat apart thus, panting like wrestlers who have flung away from each other. At length "Listen, Giuliana," I said more calmly. "Were I to heed you, were I to obey my own desires, I should bid you come away with me from this to-morrow." "If you but would!" she sighed. "You would be taking me out of hell." "Into another worse," I countered swiftly.
I was astir betimes, and out in the gardens before any, hoping, I think, that Bianca, too, might seek the early morning peace of that place, and that so we might have speech. Instead, it was Giuliana who came to me.
As we were passing the Porta Fodesta, a little group of country-folk that had gathered there fell away before us, all eyes upon the dazzling beauty of Giuliana as, indeed, had been the case ever since we had come into the town, so that I had been singularly and sweetly proud of being her escort.
"It is a subject you should understand." And upon that he got up and flung out of the room in a pet before I could think of an answer. Left alone, I began an ode which should prove to him his lack of justice. But I got no further than two lines of it. Then for a spell I sat biting my quill, my mind and the eyes of my soul full of Giuliana. Presently I began to write again.
Her father looked on with darkling brows, and Giuliana began to gnaw her lip and look less lazy, whilst in the courtly background there was a respectful murmuring babble, supplying a sycophantic chorus to the Duke's detestable adulation. It was Cavalcanti, at last, who came to his daughter's rescue by a peremptory offer to escort the Duke and his retinue within.
I went down into the garden somewhere about the hour of sunrise, through the wet grass that was all scintillant with dew. On the marble bench by the pond, where the water-lilies were now rotting, I flung myself down, and there was I found a half-hour later by Giuliana herself.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking