over many months so that everyone would know he was kindly generous and charismatic and above all much more of a gift-giver than his brother, the last Marquis, who’d known a lot of Latin, lived a quiet life then died : on the day Borse first heard that finally the Emperor was to make him Duke of Modena and Reggio (though not yet of Ferara, damn it) his attendants had seen him jumping up and down by himself in the rose garden of the palace of fine outlook squealing like a child the words over and over
I’m a Duke! I’m a Duke!
).
There were gems all over the front of him : they caught the sun like he was wearing lots of little mirrors or stars or was covered in sparks : the biggest gem, bright verdigris on the front of his coat which was vermilion, was near as big as one of his hands by which he’d been led to the front of the platform, to Justice, by a very small boy-angel (swan-feather wings, very fresh off the swan cause there was still red seepage and a shine of gristle atthe bone where it met the white of the fabric on the boy’s back).
Most illustrious Lord, the angel said now in a high clear voice.
The crowd in the wide square quietened.
The portly man bowed to the angel.
You see seated before you God’s own Justice, the angel said and his voice rang thin as a handbell above the heads of the people.
The portly man turned from the angel and bowed with great ceremony to Justice : I saw Justice not dare bow back : the too-heavy sword wavered above them both.
The angel squeaked again.
Justice who for so long now has been forgotten! Justice who has been held for far too long in blind contempt! All the rulers of the world have closed their eyes to Justice! Forgotten and disdained since the deaths of her guardians, the wise ancient statesmen of a better time! Justice has been so lonely!
The boy dressed as Justice brought his other hand to the handle of his sword and with both hands stopped it wavering.
But rejoice cause today, illustrious Lord, Justice is dead! the angel said.
There was a shocked pause.
The angel looked stricken.
Todayillustrious Lord, the angel said again. Justice is. Dead.
The portly man stayed bowed : the angel’s eyes were shut, screwed up : the boys on the cart stared straight ahead. A courtier started forward from the rows of horses at the back of the platform beyond the empty throne : the portly man, without looking, raised his hand away from his side just a touch and the courtier saw and reined his horse in.
Still from his low bow the portly man mumbled something in the direction of the angel.
– Dedicating, the angel blurted. This seat. To you! Today Justice lets it be known to the world that above all others she favours – you! Justice bows –to you! Justice in her purity even declares that she is enamoured – of you! And rejoice again, cause Justice invites – you! To take the seat left empty by the deaths of the great wise ancients. The last just rulers of men. Cause Justice says, illustrious Lord, that nobody could fill this seat justly till now! This seat was empty and remained empty – till you!
The portly man, the new Duke, straightened up : his front glinted : he went to the angel : with his hand on the boy’s shoulder he turned him square on so they both faced the platform.
The boy dressed as Justice still holding the sword with 2 hands let go with one of his hands momentarily to gesticulate towards the emptythrone then brought that hand back to the sword handle quick as he could.
The new Duke spoke.
I thank Justice. I revere Justice. But I cannot accept this honour. I cannot take such a throne. Cause I am merely a man. But I am a man who will do my best by my Ducal vows all my life to merit Justice’s honour and approval.
A moment of silence : then the crowd below us went wild with cheering.
Pompous arse, Barto said. Pompous Borse. Stupid crowd of fools.
I was inclined to join the cheering myself which was persuasive and echoed round the great square :
I’m a Duke! I’m a Duke!
).
There were gems all over the front of him : they caught the sun like he was wearing lots of little mirrors or stars or was covered in sparks : the biggest gem, bright verdigris on the front of his coat which was vermilion, was near as big as one of his hands by which he’d been led to the front of the platform, to Justice, by a very small boy-angel (swan-feather wings, very fresh off the swan cause there was still red seepage and a shine of gristle atthe bone where it met the white of the fabric on the boy’s back).
Most illustrious Lord, the angel said now in a high clear voice.
The crowd in the wide square quietened.
The portly man bowed to the angel.
You see seated before you God’s own Justice, the angel said and his voice rang thin as a handbell above the heads of the people.
The portly man turned from the angel and bowed with great ceremony to Justice : I saw Justice not dare bow back : the too-heavy sword wavered above them both.
The angel squeaked again.
Justice who for so long now has been forgotten! Justice who has been held for far too long in blind contempt! All the rulers of the world have closed their eyes to Justice! Forgotten and disdained since the deaths of her guardians, the wise ancient statesmen of a better time! Justice has been so lonely!
The boy dressed as Justice brought his other hand to the handle of his sword and with both hands stopped it wavering.
But rejoice cause today, illustrious Lord, Justice is dead! the angel said.
There was a shocked pause.
The angel looked stricken.
Todayillustrious Lord, the angel said again. Justice is. Dead.
The portly man stayed bowed : the angel’s eyes were shut, screwed up : the boys on the cart stared straight ahead. A courtier started forward from the rows of horses at the back of the platform beyond the empty throne : the portly man, without looking, raised his hand away from his side just a touch and the courtier saw and reined his horse in.
Still from his low bow the portly man mumbled something in the direction of the angel.
– Dedicating, the angel blurted. This seat. To you! Today Justice lets it be known to the world that above all others she favours – you! Justice bows –to you! Justice in her purity even declares that she is enamoured – of you! And rejoice again, cause Justice invites – you! To take the seat left empty by the deaths of the great wise ancients. The last just rulers of men. Cause Justice says, illustrious Lord, that nobody could fill this seat justly till now! This seat was empty and remained empty – till you!
The portly man, the new Duke, straightened up : his front glinted : he went to the angel : with his hand on the boy’s shoulder he turned him square on so they both faced the platform.
The boy dressed as Justice still holding the sword with 2 hands let go with one of his hands momentarily to gesticulate towards the emptythrone then brought that hand back to the sword handle quick as he could.
The new Duke spoke.
I thank Justice. I revere Justice. But I cannot accept this honour. I cannot take such a throne. Cause I am merely a man. But I am a man who will do my best by my Ducal vows all my life to merit Justice’s honour and approval.
A moment of silence : then the crowd below us went wild with cheering.
Pompous arse, Barto said. Pompous Borse. Stupid crowd of fools.
I was inclined to join the cheering myself which was persuasive and echoed round the great square :
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