Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 11, 2025
"Hold, Uzcoques!" he exclaimed; "we have forgotten the crowning ornament of our banquet." He whispered something to an Uzcoque seated beside him, who left the room. While the pirates were still asking one another the meaning of Jurissa's words, the man returned, bearing before him a trencher covered with a cloth, which he placed at the upper end of the table.
Take thy stand beneath the portal of St Barbara, and follow the man who whispers in thine ear, "Mashallah!" shouted the enraptured youth, "these lines are from the Uzcoque maiden; and by the gates of Paradise I'll do her bidding, though it perils life."
Startled by the approaching tramp of armed men, the Uzcoque maiden raised her eyes, and beheld the noble and well-remembered features of the young Turk, whose captive she had been, and whose image had so strangely reappeared to her through the flitting cloud of smoke in the cavern.
He had little doubt of accomplishing the object of his expedition with ease and safety; for a Venetian Fleet was already blockading the channel of Segna, and the archducal city of Fiume, where several of the Uzcoque barks were undergoing repairs.
Too soon, however, were these lofty aspirations checked and blighted by the anti-Christian policy of trading Venice, the bad faith of Austria towards the Uzcoque race, and the extortions of her counsellors.
"And the Venetian," cried Jurissa, "what is his name?" "It is the Proveditore Marcello, who has lately returned from a long absence in the East." The Uzcoque started. The name seemed to have some potent and mysterious effect upon him, and he stood for a few moments with his eyes fixed upon the ground, apparently forgetful of the necessity for his immediate departure.
The priest took him by the arm, and drew him towards the door, which he was about to open, when Jurissa shook off his grasp and hastily approached the counsellor's wife, who had thrown herself into a large gilded chair before one of the pier-glasses, and was busily engaged in trying on the ornaments that had just been brought her. "Have a care, noble lady!" cried the Uzcoque.
The beard and mustache of the old Uzcoque appeared to curl and bristle with fury at the insulting imputations of the Proveditore. For a moment he seemed about to fly at his interlocutor; his fingers clutched and tore the straw upon which he was sitting; and his fetters clanked as his whole frame shook with rage.
So gentle and musical were its tones, that I thought not of their meaning, and it is only to-day that I understand them." "I know not," quoth Hassan, "what you may have seen; but doubtless, Satan, who wished to inspire you with an unholy desire for a Nazarene woman, began by blinding you. According to all I have heard, the Uzcoque maiden is good and compassionate, but as ugly as night."
I was still a youth when the name of Uzcoque was a title of honour as it is now a term of reproach when my people were looked upon as heroes, by whose valour the Cross was exalted, and the Crescent bowed down to the dust.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking