Everything was in a state of decay already approaching ruin. When the Princess Gonzaga came to Venice
Archivio Stor. Ital. fourth series, vol. xvi. p. 180.
she had such an abominable reputation that no Venetian lady had the courage to present her to the society of the capital. At last, however, the Signora Tron, the wife of a procurator of Saint Mark, offered to do so. She introduced the Princess with these historic words: ‘Ladies, this is the
RIO DELLA TORESELA
Princess Gonzaga. She belongs to an illustrious family. As for the rest, I will not answer for her, nor for you, nor for myself.’
She was wise in refusing to answer for herself, at all events, for she was accused of setting a higher price on
Horatio Brown, Sketches.
her box at the theatre than on herself. ‘That is true,’ she answered, ‘for I sometimes give myself for nothing.’
It is comprehensible that where great ladies talked like this, a burgher dame should have put up her