r a royal bride.

But, like too many such examinations, this one had already been settled
beforehand. The King had decided to whom the prize of his crown should
go, and so, at the proper time, the critical ambassador stopped before a
slight girl of fourteen, dressed in a robe of simple white.

"Donzella mia," he said courteously, but in a low tone; "are not you
the daughter of Messer. Marco Cornaro, the noble merchant of the Via
Merceria?"

"I am, my lord," the girl replied.

"My royal master greets you through me," he said. "He recalls the day
when you did give him shelter, and he invites you to share with him the
throne of Cyprus. Shall this be as he wishes?"

And the girl, with a deep courtesy in acknowledgment of the stately
obeisance of the ambassador, said simply, "That shall be, my lord, as my
father and his Excellency shall say."

The ambassador of Cyprus took the young girl's hand, and, conducting
her through all that splendid company, presented her before the doge's
throne.

"Excellency," he said, "Cyprus hath made her choice. We present to you,
if so it shall please your grace, our future queen, this fair young
maid, Catarina, the daughter of the noble Marco Cornaro, merchant and
senator of the Republic."

What the seventy-one disappointed young ladies thought of the King's
choice, or what they said about it when they were safely at home once
more, history does not record. But history does record the splendors
and display of the ceremonial with which the gray-haired old doge,
Cristofero Moro, in the great hall of the palace, surrounded by the
senators of the Republic and all the rank and power of the State of
Venice, formally adopted Catarina as a "daughter of the Republic." Thus
to the dignity of her father's house was added the majesty of the
great Republic. Her marriage portion was placed at one hundred thousand
ducats, and Cyprus was granted, on behalf of this "daughter of the
Republic," the alliance and protection of Venice.

The ambassador of Cyprus standing before the altar of St. Mark's as
the personal representative of his master, King Giacomo was married "by
proxy" to the young Venetian girl; while the doge, representing her new
father, the republic, gave her away in marriage, and Catarina Cornaro,
amid the blessings of the priests, the shouts of the people, and the
demonstrations of clashing music and waving banners, was solemnly
proclaimed Queen of Cyprus, of Jerusalem, and of Armenia.