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lly entombed in light and in riches。 Here were stark； somber figures； figures of saints I knew。
These were no mystery to me； the almond…eyed tenants of these hammered walls； severe in their straight careful drapery； their hands infallibly folded in prayer。 I knew their halos； I knew the tiny holes made in the gold to make it glitter ever more magically。 I knew the judgment of these bearded patriarchs who gazed impassively on me as I stopped； dead in my tracks； unable to go on。
I slumped to the stone floor。 I was sick。
I had to be taken from the church。 The noise of the piazza rose over me as if I were descending to some awful denouement。 I wanted to tell my friends it was inevitable； not their fault。
The boys were in a fluster。 I couldn't explain it。 Stunned； sweating all over and lying limp at the base of a column； I listened dully as they explained to me in Greek that this church was only part of all I had seen。 Why should it frighten me so？ Yes； it was old； yes； it was Byzantine； as so much in Venice was。 〃Our ships have traded with Byzantium for centuries。 We are a maritime empire。〃 I tried to grasp it。
What came clear in my pain was only that this place had not been a special judgment upon me。 I had been taken from it as easily as I had been brought into it。 The sweet…voiced boys with the gentle hands who surrounded me； who offered me cool wine to drink and fruit to eat that I might recover； they did not hold this place in any terrible dread。
Turning to the left of me； I glimpsed the quays； the harbor。 I ran towards it； thunderstruck by the sight of the wooden ships。 They stood at anchor four and five deep； but beyond them was enacted the greatest miracle： great galleons of deep ballooning wood； their sails collecting the breeze； their graceful oars chopping the water as they moved out to sea。
Back and forth the traffic moved； the huge wooden barks dangerously close to one another； slipping in and out of the mouth of Venice； while others no less graceful and impossible at anchor disgorged abundant goods。
Leading me stumbling to the Arsenale； my panions forted me with the sight of the ships being built by ordinary men。 In days to e I would hang about at the Arsenale for hours； watching the ingenious process by which human beings made such immense barks that to my mind should rightly sink。
Now and then in snatches I saw images of icy rivers； of barges and flatboats； of coarse men reeking of animal fat and rancid leather。 But these last ragged tidbits of the winter world from which I'd e faded。
Perhaps had this not been Venice； it would have been a different tale。
In all my years in Venice； I never tired of the Arsenale； of watching the ships being built。 I had no problem gaining access by means of a few kind words and coins； and it was ever my delight to watch these fantastical structures being constructed of bowed ribs； bent wood and piercing masts。 Of this first day； we were rushed through this yard of miracles。 It was enough。
Yes； well； it was Venice； this place that must erase from my mind； at least for a while； the clotted torment of some earlier existence； some congestion of all truths I would not face。
My Master would never have been there； had it not been Venice。
Not a month later he would tell me matter…of…factly what each of the cities of Italy had to offer him； how he loved to watch Michelangelo； the great sculptor； hard at work in Florence； how he went to listen to the fine teachers in Rome。
〃But Venice has an art of a thousand years；〃 he said as he himself lifted his brush to paint the huge panel before him。 〃Venice is in itself a work of art； a metropolis of impossible domestic temples built side by side like waxen honeybs and maintained in ever flowing nectar by a population as busy as bees。 Behold our palaces； they alone are worthy of the eye。〃
As time passed he would school me in the history of Venice； as did the others； dwelling on the nature of the Republic； which； though despotic in its decisions and fiercely hostile to the outsider； was nevertheless a city of 〃equal〃 men。 Florence； Milan； Rome…these cities were falling under the power of small elites or powerful families and individuals； while Venice； for all her faults； remained governed by her Senators； her powerful merchants and her Council of Ten。
On that first day； an everlasting love for Venice was born in me。 It seemed singularly devoid of horrors； a warm home even for its well…dressed and clever beggars； a hive of prosperity and vehement passion as well as staggering wealth。
And in the tailor shop； was I not being made up into a prince like my new friends？
Look； had I not seen Riccardo's sword？ They were all noblemen。
〃Forget all that has gone before；〃 said Riccardo。 〃Our Master is our Lord； and we are his princes； we are his royal court。 You are rich now and nothing can hurt you。〃
〃We are not mere apprentices in the ordinary sense；〃 said Albinus。 〃We are to be sent to the University of Padua。 You'll see。 We are tutored in music and dance and manners as regularly as in science and literature。 You will have time to see the boys who e back to visit； all gentlemen of means。 Why； Giuliano was a prosperous lawyer； and one of the other boys was a physician in Torcello； an island city nearby。
〃But all have independent means when they leave the Master；〃 explained Albinus。 〃It's only that the Master； like all Venetians； deplores idleness。 We are as well off as lazy lords from abroad who do nothing but sample our world as though it were a dish of food。〃
By the end of this first sunlighted adventure； this wele into the bosom of my Master's school and his splendid city； I was bed； trimmed and dressed in the colors he would forever choose for me； sky blue for the stockings； a darker midnight blue velvet for a short belted jacket； and a tunic of an even fairer shade of azure embroidered with tiny French fleur…de…lis in thick gold thread。 A bit of burgundy there might be for trimming and fur； for when the sea breezes grew strong in winter； this paradise would be what these Italians called cold。
By nightfall； I pranced on the marble tile with the others； dancing for a while to the lutes played by the younger boys； acpanied by the fragile music of the Virginal； the first keyboard instrument I had ever seen。
When the last of twilight had died beautifully into the canal outside the narrow pointed arched windows of the palazzo； I roamed about； catching random glances of myself in the many dark mirrors that rose up from the marble tile to the very ceiling of the corridor； the salon； the alcove； or whatever beautifully appointed room I should find。
I sang new words in unison with Riccardo。 The great state of Venice was called the Serenissima。 The black boats of the canals were gondolas。 The winds that would e soon to make us all crazy were called the Sirocco。 The most high ruler of this magical city was the Doge； our book tonight with the teacher was Cicero； the musical instrument which Riccardo gathered up and played with his plucking fingers was the lute。 The great canopy of the Master's re