IIIF Color HighRes
National Institute of Informatics - Digital Silk Road Project
| |||||||||
|
| IIIF Color HighRes |
| The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.1 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Citation Information
DORIA'S EXPEDITION TO THE ADRIATIC
47
34. it was on the afternoon of Saturday the 6th September
that the Genoese saw the Venetian fleet approaching, The Fleets
but, as sunset was not far off, both sides tacitly y agreed come in sight
of each other
to defer the engagement.* at Curzola.
The Genoese would appear to have occupied a position near
the eastern end of the Island of Curzola, with the Peninsula
of Sabbioncello behind them, and Meleda on their left, whilst
the Venetians advanced along the south side of Curzola. (See
map on p. 50).
According to Venetian accounts the Genoese were staggered
at the sight of the Venetian armaments, and sent more than
once to seek terms, offering finally to surrender galleys and
munitions of war, if the crews were allowed to depart. This
is an improbable story, and that of the Genoese ballad seems
more like truth. Doria, it says, held a council of his captains
in the evening at which they all voted for attack, whilst the
Venetians, with that overweening sense of superiority which at
this time is reflected in their own annals as distinctly as in those
of their enemies, kept scout-vessels out to watch that the
Genoese fleet, which they looked on as already their own, did
not steal away in the darkness. A vain imagination, says the
poet :
" Blind error of vainglorious men
To dream that we should seek to flee After those weary leagues of sea Crossed, but to hunt them in their den ! "t
the drodeiza. Hence his pay was sixteen lire a month, about 2s. a day in silver value, if these were lire ai grossi, or is. 4d. if lire dei piccoli. (See Itomalzin, ii. 393-394.)
Money on such occasions was frequently raised by what was called an Estimo or Facion, which was a forced loan levied on the citizens in proportion to their estimated wealth ; and for which they were entitled to interest from the State.
* Several of the Italian chroniclers, as Ferreto of Vicenza and Navagiero, whom Muratori has followed in his " Annals," say the battle was fought on the 8th September, the so-called Birthday of the Madonna. But the inscription on the Church of St. Matthew at Genoa, cited further on, says the 7th, and with this agree both Stella and the Genoese poet. For the latter, though not specifying the day of the month, says
it was on a Sunday :—
" Lo di de Domenga era Passa pima en l'ora bona Stormezam fin provo nona Con bataio forte e fera."
Now the 7th September, 1298, fell on a Sunday.
~
Ma li yensavam grande error
Che in fuga se fussem tuti 1net:ci
Che de si lonzi erain z'egnui Per terchali a casa lor.
•
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Copyright (C) 2003-2019 National Institute of Informatics and The Toyo Bunko. All Rights Reserved.