"Lo di de Domenga era
Passa prima en l'ora bona
Stormezam fin provo nona
Con bataio forte e fera."
Now the 7th September, 1298, fell on a Sunday.
[18] Ma li pensavam grande error
Che in fuga se fussem tuti metui
Che de si lonzi eram vegnui
Per cerchali a casa lor.
[19] "Note here that the Genoese generally, commonly, and by nature, are
the most covetous of Men, and the Love of Gain spurs them to every
Crime. Yet are they deemed also the most valiant Men in the World.
Such an one was Lampa, of that very Doria family, a man of an high
Courage truly. For when he was engaged in a Sea-Fight against the
Venetians, and was standing on the Poop of his Galley, his Son,
fighting valiantly at the Forecastle, was shot by an Arrow in the
Breast, and fell wounded to the Death; a Mishap whereat his Comrades
were sorely shaken, and Fear came upon the whole Ship's Company. But
Lampa, hot with the Spirit of Battle, and more mindful of his
Country's Service and his own Glory than of his Son, ran forward to
the spot, loftily rebuked the agitated Crowd, and ordered his Son's
Body to be cast into the Deep, telling them for their Comfort that the
Land could never have afforded his Boy a nobler Tomb. And then,
renewing the Fight more fiercely than ever, he achieved the Victory."
(Benvenuto of Imola, in Comment.
