Helena de' Franchi gave the news of the ban to Giuseppe de' Franchi.
She had learned it from one of her damsels, who had had it from
Shloumi the Droll, a graceless, humorous rogue, steering betwixt Jews
and Christians his shifty way to profit.
Giuseppe smiled a sweet smile that hovered on the brink of tears.
"They know not what they do," he said.
"Thy parents mourn thee as dead."
"They mourn the dead Jew; the living Christian's love shall comfort
them."
"But thou mayst not approach them, nor they thee."
"By faith are mountains moved; my spirit embraces theirs. We shall yet
rejoice together in the light of the Saviour, for weeping may endure
for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." His pale face gleamed
with celestial radiance.
Helena surveyed him in wondering compassion. "Thou art strangely
possessed, Ser Giuseppe," she said.
"It is not strange, Signora, it is all simple--like a child's
thought," he said, meeting her limpid eyes with his profound mystic
gaze.
She was tall and fair, more like those Greek statues which the
sculptors of her day imitated than like a Roman maiden. A simple dress
of white silk revealed the beautiful curves of her figure. Through the
great oriel window near which they stood the cold sunshine touched her
hair and made spots of glory on the striped beast-skins that covered
the floor, and on the hanging tapestries. The pictures and ivories,
the manuscripts and the busts all contributed to make the apartment a
harmonious setting for her noble figure. As he looked at her he
trembled.
"And what is thy life to be henceforward?" she asked.
"Surrender, sacrifice," he said half in a whisper. "My parents are
right. Joseph is dead. His will is God's, his heart is Christ's. There
is no life for me but service."
"And whom wilt thou serve?"
"My brethren, Signora."
"They reject thee."
"I do not reject them."
She was silent for a moment. Then more passionately she cried: "But,
Ser Giuseppe, thou wilt achieve nothing. A hundred generations have
failed to move them. The Bulls of all the Popes have left them
stubborn."
"No one has tried Love, Signora."
"Thou wilt throw away thy life."