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The Accademia di Melioria held its first open poetry reading today. The experiment proved quite successful, with a diverse group of literary enthusiasts sharing poems (both in chat and in Voice), written by authors from a variety of time periods and nations.

The small group of friends who attended enjoyed themselves reading and discussing pieces they had brought. In addition to some poems from outside the time period of the Enlightenment (Petrarch and Beaudelaire), a number of 17th and 18th century works were shared among the group.

Below are are some of those that were read:

The Tarentina Girl, by Andre' Chenier (France, late 18th century)

Weep, sweet halcyons, O you sweet holy birds,

You love birds of Thetis, sweet halcyons, do weep.

She was alive, Myrto, the Tarentina girl,

A board a ship to Camarina shores:

There a wedding, songs and flutes , slowly

Were to lead her back to her lovers threshold.

A careful key for this journey had locked

In a cedar box her wedding dress,

and gold she was to wear for the ceremony,

and perfumes meant for her blond locks.

But alone at the prow, wishing on the stars,

An ill wind blowing in the sails wrapped her up.

Abashed, and afar from sailors,

She cries, she falls, she lays within the waves.

She lays within the waves, the Tarentina girl.

Her body so fair has rolled under the surf,

Thetis, eyes in tears, took care to hide her

From devouring sea monsters, in a caves shelter .

Soon, by her order, the dainty Nereids

Lift her above these damp hollows,

Carry her to the shore, at Zephyr cape,

And there gently lay her by this burial mound.

Then shouting loud in the distance, calling their friends

And the Nymphs of the woods, and springs, and mountains,

All beating their own breasts in long mourning,

Go repeating Alas! around her grave.

Alas! To your lover no one brought you back,

You ll never wear your wedding dress,

Gold jewels were not fastened around your arms,

And sweet perfumes did not embalm your hair

Weep, sweet halcyons, O you sweet holy birds,

You love birds of Thetis, sweet halcyons, do weep.

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Stellas Birthday 1718, by Jonathan Swift (Ireland, early 18th century)

Stella this day is thirty-four
(We shan't dispute a year or more)
However, Stella, be not troubled,
Although thy size and years are doubled
Since first I saw thee at sixteen,
The brightest virgin on the green.
So little is thy form declined;
Made up so largely in thy mind.
Oh, would it please the gods to split
Thy beauty, size, and years, and wit,
No age could furnish out a pair
Of nymphs so graceful, wise, and fair:
With half the lustre of your eyes,
With half your wit, your years, and size.
And then, before it grew too late,
How should I beg of gentle fate,
(That either nymph might lack her swain),
To split my worship too in twain.

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Green Grow the Rashes, Robert Burns, (Scotland, 18th century)

Chor. - Green grow the rashes, O; Green grow the rashes, O; The sweetest hours that e'er I spend, Are spent amang the lasses, O. There's nought but care on ev'ry han', In ev'ry hour that passes, O: What signifies the life o' man, An' 'twere na for the lasses, O. Green grow, &c. The war'ly race may riches chase, An' riches still may fly them, O; An' tho' at last they catch them fast, Their hearts can ne'er enjoy them, O. Green grow, &c. But gie me a cannie hour at e'en, My arms about my dearie, O; An' war'ly cares, an' war'ly men, May a' gae tapsalteerie, O! Green grow, &c. For you sae douce, ye sneer at this; Ye're nought but senseless asses, O: The wisest man the warl' e'er saw, He dearly lov'd the lasses, O. Green grow, &c. Auld Nature swears, the lovely dears Her noblest work she classes, O: Her prentice han' she try'd on man, An' then she made the lasses, O. Green grow, &c.

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A Rebus, Henry Livingston, (America, late 18th century)

Take the name of the swain a forlorn witless elf
Who was chang'd to a flow'r for admiring himself.
A part deem'd essential in each lady's dress:
With what maidens cry, when they wish to say yes.
A lullabye carriage soft cozy & light:
With the name of the poet who sang on the night.
The queen of Cairo, all lovely and winning
Whose blandishments ever kept Antony grinning.
The flow'r whose odours unremittingly please:
With the glory of forests, the king of the trees.
To the prince of the fairies, a jealous old knave,
Put the name of the tree that undid mother Eve.
To finish the whole add that period of day,
When the linnet & thrush to repose hie away.

The initials of these, if adjusted with care,
Will show you the fairest where thousands are fair.
The sweet, pretty graces still hover about her,
And Cupid would die with vexation without her.

When she swims in the dance or wherever she goes
She's crowded by witlings, plain-fellows & beaux
Who throng at her elbow & tread on her toes.

If a pin or a hankerchief happen to fall
To seize on the prise fills with uproar the hall:
Such pulling and hawling & shoving & pushing
As rivals the racket of 'key & the cushion;'
And happy- thrice happy! too happy! the swain
Who can replace the pin or bandana again.

Tho the fellows surround & so humbly adore her
The girls on the contrary cannot endure her;
Her beauty their beauty forever disgraces
And her sweeter face still eclipses their faces.
For no lov'ly girl can a lov'ly girl bear
And fair-ones are ever at war with the fair.

I am having trouble creating notecards in SL (asset server threw up, I think). Therefore I am posting the readings here so that people can see them, in the unlikely event that SL stays broken.

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"Humor. The English use this word to describe original, surprising and unusual wit. Among this nations authors, none had as much humor, or this original form of comic expression, as Swift, who, by the form he gave to his jokes, sometimes produced effects on his compatriots that you would not expect from reading serious and closely reasoned works. Ridiculum acri , etc ( A joke often decides... Horace, Satires , Book I, Chapter 10). So in advising the English to eat the little children of Ireland with cauliflower, he caused the British government to re-examine its position at a time when they were preparing to deprive the Irish of the last resources of trade that they had left. The title of this pamphlet is A Modest Proposal for Preventing the Children of Poor People in Ireland from Being a Burden to Their Parents or Country, etc. Another of Swifts works, Gullivers Travels , is a satire brimming with humor . In a similar style is Swifts joke in which he predicted the exact date of death of Partridge, the author of almanacs. At the foreseen date, Swift attempted to prove to Partridge that he was indeed dead, despite the latters protests to the contrary. In fact the English are by no means the only people who have had their fair share of humor . Swift took a good deal of inspiration from the works of Rabelais and Cyrano de Bergerac. Count Grammonts Memoirs are full of humor and can be considered as a masterpiece of the genre. We could even say that generally this form of comedy is more a property of the light and merry spirit of the French than the serious and rational turn of mind of the English."

-- Author unknown, "The Encyclopedia of Diderot and D'Alembert, " 1765

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"A Man being very much diseased and weak, was bemoaning himself to hs only Son, whom he loved very well: For, Jack, says he, if I stand, my egs ach; if I kneel, my Knees ach; if I go, my Feet ach; if I lie, then my Bak achs; if I sit, my Hips ach; and if I lean, my Elbows ach. Why truly Father, says he (like a good dutiful Child) I advise you to hang yourself for an Hour or two, and if that does not do, then come to me again."

From "Coffee-House Jests," 1760

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"An arch Rogue meeting a blind Woman who was crying Puddings and Pies, taking her by the Arm said Come along with me Dame, I am going to Moorfields, where this Holliday-time, you may Chance to meet with good Custom. Thanke kindly, Sir, says she. Whereupon he conducted her to Cripplegate Church, and placed her in the middle Isle. Now, says he, you are in Moorfields: which she believing to be true, immediately cried out, Hot Puddings and Pies! Hot Puddings and Pies! come their all Hot! &c. which caused the whole Congregation to burst out in a loud Laughter, and the Clerk came and told her she was in a Church: You are a lying son of a Whore, says she. Which so enraged the Clerk, that he dragged her out of the Church: she cursing and damning him all the while, nor would she believe him till she heard the Organs play."

From The Merry Miscellany, undated mid-18th century British jestbook

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"A deaf Man was selling of Pears at the Towns End in St Giless, and a Gentleman riding out of Town, asked him what it was oClock?

He said, "Ten a Penny, Master."

Then he asked him again, "what it was oClock?"

He told him, Indeed he could afford no more.

"You Rogue," says the Gentleman, "Ill kick you about the Streets."

Then says the Man, "Sir, if you wont, another will."

From Coffee-House Jests, 1760

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"A young Man married to an ill-temperd Woman, who not contented,tho he was very kind to her, made continual Complaints to her Father,to the great Grief of both Families; the Husband, no longer able to
endure this scurvy Humour, bangd her soundly: Hereupon shecomplaind to her Father, who understanding well the Perverseness ofher Humour, took her to Task, and lacd her Sides soundly too; saying,Go, commend me to your Husband, and tell him, I am now even withhim, for I have cudgelld his Wife, as he hath beaten my Daughter."

From Joe Millers Jests: Or, The Wits Vade-Mecum, an undated mid-18th century British jestbook

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A Woman prosecuted a Gentleman for a Rape; upon Trial the Judge askd her, if she made any Resistance?

"I cryd out, ant please your Lordship," said the Woman.

"Ay," said one of the Witnesses, "but that was nine Months after."

From The Nut-Cracker, 1751

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A young gentleman was caught defecating in St. Pauls Churchyard, with his face to the wall and his backside in full view. When asked why he couldnt turn the other way, he explained, "for thats the Way to be seen: every Body knows my Face, and no Body knows my Ase . . ."

From The Merry Medley. 1745

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"The lord Mohun and the earl of Warwick being on the ramble, theytook notice of an old woman, who early and late was boiling codlings [apples] near Charing-cross; one day they bought some of her, pitied her poverty, and promised to send her a bushel of charcoal for nothing. I thank your honours, replied the old woman. In the morning a porter brings a bushel of charcoal, at which the old woman was very joyful: but their lordships had filled up the hollow of the charcoal withgunpowder, and sealed up the ends with black wax and stood at adistance to see the effect of their project. The old womans fire beginning to decay, she supplied it with the charcoal which was sent her. In a little time, bounce went the charcoal like so many crackers, down went the kettle into the street, and away flew the codlings about the old womans ears; and she getting no hurt, their lordships were well pleased with the frolick."

From Joaks Upon Joaks, undated mid-18th century British jestbook

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"MILITARY glory is at most but one half of the accomplishments which distinguish heroes. Love must give the finishing stroke, and adorn their character by the difficulties they encounter, the temerity of their enterprises, and finally, by the lustre of success. We have examples of this, not only in romances, but also in the genuine histories of the most famous warriors, and the most celebrated conquerors.

The Chevalier de Grammont and Matta, who did not think much of these examples, were, however, of opinion, that it would be very agreeable to refresh themselves after the fatigues of the siege of Trino, by forming some other sieges, at the expense of the beauties and the husbands of Turin. As the campaign had finished early, they thought they should have time to perform some exploits before the bad weather obliged them to repass the mountains.

They sallied forth, therefore, not unlike Amadis de Gaul, or Don Galaor, after they had been dubbed knights, eager in their search after adventures in love, war, and enchantments. They were greatly superior to those two brothers, who only knew how to cleave in twain giants, to break lances, and to carry off fair damsels behind them on horseback, without saying a single word to them; whereas our heroes were adepts at cards and dice, of which the others were totally ignorant.

They went to Turin, met with an agreeable reception, and were greatly distinguished at court. Could it be otherwise? They were young and handsome; they had wit at command, and spent their money liberally. In what country will not a man succeed, possessing such advantages? As Turin was at that time the seat of gallantry and of love, two strangers of this description, who were always cheerful, brisk, and lively, could not fail to please the ladies of the court.

Though the men of Turin were extremely handsome, they were not, however, possessed of the art of pleasing. They treated their wives with respect, and were courteous to strangers. Their wives, still more handsome, were full as courteous to strangers, and less respectful to their husbands."

-- Philbert, Comte de Grammont, "the Memoirs of Count Grammont." 1713

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Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.

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Certainty? In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes.

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Wise men don't need advice. Fools won't take it.

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Content makes poor men rich; discontentment makes rich men poor.

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God heals and the doctor takes the fee.

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Guests, like fish, begin to smell after three days.

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He that falls in love with himself will have no rivals.

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If you would know the value of money try to borrow some.

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Keep your eyes wide open before marriage, and half-shut afterwards.

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Were it offered to my choice, I should have no objection to a repetition of the same life from its beginning, only asking the advantages authors have in a second edition to correct some faults in the first.

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Here comes the orator with his flood of words and his drop of reason.

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He that is of the opinion money will do everything may well be suspected of doing everything for money.

-- Dr. Benjamin Franklin, various dates

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The secret of being a bore is to tell everything.

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A witty saying proves nothing.

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All men are born with a nose and ten fingers, but no one was born with a knowledge of God.

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All murderers are punished unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets.

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All styles are good except the tiresome kind.

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An ideal form of government is democracy tempered with assassination.

-- Voltaire, various dates

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"I wish either my father or my mother, or indeed both of them, as they were in duty both equally bound to it, had minded what they were about when they begot me; had they duly consider'd how much depended upon what they were then doing;that not only the production of a rational Being was concerned in it, but that possibly the happy formation and temperature of his body, perhaps his genius and the very cast of his mind....Pray my Dear, quoth my mother, have you not forgot to wind up the clock?Good G..! cried my father, making an exclamation, but taking care to moderate his voice at the same time,Did ever woman, since the creation of the world, interrupt a man with such a silly question?...Then, let me tell you, Sir, it was a very unseasonable question at least,because it scattered and dispersed the animal spirits, whose business it was to have escorted and gone hand in hand with the Homunculus, and conducted him safe to the place destined for his reception....

I was begot in the night betwixt the first Sunday and the first Monday in the month of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighteen. I am positive I was.But how I came to be so very particular in my account of a thing which happened before I was born, is owing to another small anecdote known only in our own family, but now made publick for the better clearing up this point.

My father, you must know....was, I believe, one of the most regular men in every thing he did, whether 'twas matter of business, or matter of amusement, that ever lived. As a small specimen of this extreme exactness of his, to which he was in truth a slave, he had made it a rule for many years of his life,on the first Sunday-night of every month throughout the whole year,as certain as ever the Sunday-night came,to wind up a large house-clock, which we had standing on the back-stairs head, with his own hands:And being somewhere between fifty and sixty years of age at the time I have been speaking of,he had likewise gradually brought some other little family concernments to the same period, in order, as he would often say to my uncle Toby, to get them all out of the way at one time, and be no more plagued and pestered with them the rest of the month.

It was attended but with one misfortune, which, in a great measure, fell upon myself, and the effects of which I fear I shall carry with me to my grave; namely, that from an unhappy association of ideas, which have no connection in nature, it so fell out at length, that my poor mother could never hear the said clock wound up,but the thoughts of some other things unavoidably popped into her head& vice versa:Which strange combination of ideas, the sagacious Locke, who certainly understood the nature of these things better than most men, affirms to have produced more wry actions than all other sources of prejudice whatsoever."

-- Laurence Sterne, "Tristram Shandy," 1759

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"Reader, I think proper, before we proceed any further together, to acquaint thee that I intend to digress, through this whole history, as often as I see occasion, of which I am myself a better judge than any pitiful critic whatever; and here I must desire all those critics to mind their own business, and not to intermeddle with affairs or works which no ways concern them; for till they produce the authority by which they are constituted judges, I shall not plead to their jurisdiction."

Henry Fielding, "The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling," 1749

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A crown is merely a hat that lets the rain in.

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A German singer! I should as soon expect to get pleasure from the neighing of my horse.

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My people and I have come to an agreement which satisfied us both. They are to say what they please, and I am to do what I please.

-- Frederick the Great, various dates

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As long as I don't write about the government, religion, politics, and other institutions, I am free to print anything.

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Drinking when we are not thirsty and making love at all seasons, madam: that is all there is to distinguish us from other animals.

I hasten to laugh at everything, for fear of being obliged to weep.

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If a thing isn't worth saying, you sing it.

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It is not necessary to understand things in order to argue about them.

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Vilify, Vilify, some of it will always stick.

-- Pierre de Beaumarchais, various dates

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Peachum : ''Do you think your mother and I should have lived comfortably so long together, if ever we had been married? Baggage!''

-- John Gay, "the Beggar's Opera," 1728

Diary of a Contessa, Venezia June 17th, Year of our Lord 1781

I was reading in the Salotto, when my maid Devi came to tell me that there was a man called Achille with a message from Melioria. I remembered that Achille was in the service of Sior Stern, and told Devi to show him up immediately.

Achille explained that he was bringing a Verbal message from my Father and Sior Stern. Verbal because neither of them trusted the written word, or the pigeons.

It would seem that my father had been sent a message which he had assumed was from me, asking him to come to Melioria, as I was in trouble. He arrived in all haste, and off course found I had left because of the message I received from him requesting me to return to Venice as soon as possible.

It would seem that both messages were false, and certainly explains why Father wasnt here when I arrived.......and now I am worried, Sior Gandt suggested there was something suspicious in my Father not being here, I thought he was being silly, seeing dangers everywhere, now I wonder.....

And I dont feel at all reassured when Achille points out that the house is being watched, and shows me the two men watching. By myself I would never have noticed. From now on I shall see them everywhere. My Fathers instructions,however, are to stay put and not to travel anywhere until I hear from him again.

I thank Achille and send him to the kitchens for refreshments.

So while I pretend to gaze across the Canal Grande, but actually observe the two men observing me, I wonder what is going on. Who is having me watched? And why? and what can I do? Father can't seriously expect me to do nothing and just sit here waiting?

(furnishings by Delos Helstein and SERENYA Burnstein)

So today, i found a magnificent baroque/french style hideaway, right on my front door step- so to speak- in the most unlikely places (i would have thought) of South Lanarkshire, greater Glasgow, Scotland.

My boyfriend had been nagging me for months to go for a walk in the country park and we finally went today. Well, boy am i glad i agreed! Driving up the drive i saw the sign "Chtellerault" said "oh thats french!" and was then faced with the imposing and beautiful manour house dating from 1773.

Heres some pics i took (from a crappy iphone, next visit will be with some serious photography equip to do it justice (and some awesome textures for sl!)

Brief History: (by wikipedia)

Chatelherault Country Park is a country park in Hamilton, south lanarkshire, Scotland. Its name is derived from the French town of Chtellerault , the title Duc de Chtellerault being held by the Duke of Hamilton.The country park is centred on the former hunting lodge of the now demolished Hamilton Palace. The lodge was designed by William Adam who favoured baroque and pavilion architecture, and was completed in 1734. It comprises two pavilions linked by a gateway. The north facade was visible from the palace and forms the front of the building. To the rear are formal parterre gardens. The buildings provided kennels, stables and accommodation for hunting parties returning from the woodlands to the south. Adam jokingly referred to his creation as 'The Dogg Kennel'. An avenue of lime trees linked the lodge and the palace, formerly located in Hamilton.

So who lived in a house like this?

James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Arran (15151575) (also Duke of Chtellerault in the French nobility from 1548 until 1559).

Arran joined the pro-French faction, consenting to the marriage of the Queen to the French Dauphin, later Francis II of France .This led to the seven-year war with England now called the rough wooling which was declared on 20 December 1543. In 1548 the Queen of Scots went to live in the French court. For his work on negotiating her marriage, Hamilton was created Duke of Chtellerault , and made a knight of the order of St Micheal.

In 1554, Arran surrendered the regency to Mary of Guise, Queen Mary's mother. Hamilton gave up the Regency on the condition that he would be next in line after the Queen, if she died childless. But the Scottish succession had been secretly promised to France. In the first months of the Scottish Reformation, Hamilton continued to support Mary of Guise. He changed allegiance again in August 1559, joining the Protestant Lords of congregation to oppose the regency of Mary of Guise, and lost his French dukedom as a result. After the death of Guise, Hamilton persuaded the Parliament of Scotland to back a plan to marry his son James to Elizabeth 1 of England ^, and then after the death of Francis II of France in 1560 he attempted, without success, to arrange for James to marry the young widowed Queen Mary.

After Mary married Lord Danley in 1565 he withdrew to his estates in France. In 1569, he returned to Scotland and was imprisoned until, in 1573, he agreed to recognize Mary's infant James as King of Scotland.

So, all in all a great find today, i hope to re-create this estate in SL soon!

HRH, Louis-Stanislas, comte de Provence, decided to throw a picnic in the forest near the palace to celebrate all things natural and presumably good. When telling his plans to his dear Tantes the week before, the Madame Royale scoffed at him, suggesting that only a fool would host a dinner "in the old swamp," as she called it.

But, in all of his learned wisdom, he forged ahead with planning and created what he thought would be a most magnificent feast, attracting some of the most favoured of the French court. Madame Victoire hosted the event along with her nephew, much to the dismay of Royale (who cursed them both privately). The abbe' Joseph Terray was in attendance, along with a visiting Archbishop. The comte de Fraisac and the Mlle de Louvigny (who will wed later this week) cooed at each other, as the table did toward the newly engaged.

Toward the end of the meal, shortly after dessert had been served, after they had talked about nearly everyone that wasn't present (well, there were a few whispers when some weren't looking), HRH raised his glass to salute an accomplished feast, one that had united the harmony of humanity with the beauty of nature.

At that moment ... a swarm of mosquitoes descended on the courtiers like fabled locusts in Egypt, forcing the most delicate creatures in France toward the safety of a stone palace.

Stanislas was last to make it inside, and as he ran toward his suites, he was tortured by a familiar voice - that of his beloved aunt Adelaide, whose cackling could be heard clear across the vestibule.

((photos courtesy of Brownbat, aka "the Madame Victoire."

I am picking up my pen after a long while as my life has begun to take an interesting turn.

My dear protege, Vicomte Burly Mothman joined me in tasting lovely glass of wine this evening, during which time he asked me whether I would give some advice to a new friend of his, Sgnr Mercury Gandt and has already invited him to my rooms next Friday!! It seems I have no choice but to accept. According to Burly, Sgnr Gandt seems to be a rather nomadic soul who moves from town to town, tasting its pleasures and surviving off his gambling. He is here hoping to be introduced to members of the Venetian aristocracy so he may rise in wealth and influence. I am not too clear how he is going to achieve such an end with his limited resources since if one does not have friends in high places, one would need a great deal of money to buy the clothes and titles that would allow one to climb to those lofty realms. Clothes are expensive and honorary titles hard to acquire without a great number of ducats.

I am also afraid Sgnr Gandt may be disappointed by me, as my connections are not with the aristocracy but with the demi monde of courtesans, who, although rich and powerful, do not inhabit the higher echelons of the society of La Serenissima, no matter how low the Republic has sunk in the past century! One never knows, however, perhaps one courtesan may take him under her heavily perfumed wing and introduce him to her patron.

I hope that others might come to this meeting on Friday; they may be able to supplement the information I can give and connections I can generate.

The sun was just coming up as the tavern keeper Achille Giglio made his way along the so-called smuggler's wharf to where his brother Alfonso kept their small fishing boat. The weather looked good, so he was not concerned about crossing over to the mainland in such a modest little craft. And as the padrone had asked him to exercise extreme discretion in carrying out this assignment, it was going to work out well. No one would think he was going on a journey of any significance. He took no supplies with him, no extra clothing, no pack. It would look as if he was just going out for a while, maybe to catch something for the soup kettle.

In fact, Achille actually was carrying something--but he was carrying it entirely in his head. The Professore had carefully rehearsed him in memorizing the message that was go to la Contessa Foscari, all the way in Venezia. But Achille's part of the asignment would only take him to Caserta, to the old cathedral, where he would pass on the verbal message to his cousin the Sacristan. His cousin would then see that it got to the Professore's old friend at the Abazzia di Monte Cassino. From there, the message would be passed along, moving from one friend or associate to another...always verbal, never written down. Even so, the Padrone could have confidence it would get to its destination in its entirety and absolutely correct. All those who made up the network were men used to memorizing and repeating...actors, clerics, poets, scholars...

As he cast off and raised his sails, Achille thoughtabout how he was soon to be an actor himself. The Professore had asked him to help with the play that a visiting Frenchman was organizing. They wanted him to play some spanish fellow, a servant....Figaro, was the name...apparently he was the hero.

Achille reflected that he had not heard of any plays before in which a servant was the hero. What an interesting idea. Weren't the heroes in stories always supposed to be something like a great king, or maybe a knight? Never a servant...or a barber...

...or a tavern-keeper.

Like this task. Nothing heroic about it...just doing the job that the Padrone asked him to do. In this case, it wasn't even one of those dire situations that the Professore sometimes got himself into. Just trying to straighten out some confusion that probably was created by a business competitor of that silver-haired Venetian Conte who had showed up on the island recently.

Achille was glad that he was not the Conte. The man obviously had a great many concerns and worries weighing him down, and probably seldom was allowed to have any fun. He could tell that from the look in the Conte's eyes. The tavern-keeper could also tell that the Conte Foscari had aged prematurely. The Professore was probably a good ten years older than the Conte, but they looked the same age. No, truth be told, his Padrone actually looked younger than the Conte by a few years.

Must be a damn hard life being the head of a noble mercantile house in Venezia , thought Achille. Sure am glad all I have to do is run a tavern on Melioria and carry messages for the Padrone every now and then.

As he rounded the rocks that sheltered the harbor and headed towards the rising sun over the distant mainland, Achille looked around to make sure no one was paying much attention to him, and then let out his mainsail a bit more to catch the breeze that was running from the west. It filled nicely and pulled the little boat along at a rapidly increasing clip. Achille smiled as he sat up on the gun'l to counterbalance the pull of the sail. With the sunrise washing his face with warmth, the cries of the gulls filling his ears, and the clean smell of the sea pouring over him while the little boat hurried along, he felt absolutely convinced that he had a far better life than any nobleman from Venezia.

A dark thought suddenly flickered through his mind -- perhaps the situation was more serious than it seemed? He hoped that the pretty Contessa was not in some kind of real trouble or danger. Everyone liked the Contessa Foscari and were always glad when she came to visit Melioria. She was very nice -- so good to those apprentices -- and she had the most beautiful hair. Achille thought about the Contessa's hair and sighed.

Oh well , he thought. Everything's probably just fine . Not that big of a deal.

He looked around once more to make sure no one was following him. Nothing.

As he turned his eyes back towards the mainland, another thought crossed his mind. If this is not a serious situation, why is the Professore sending me with this message? The Conte was also sending the same message by carrier pigeon. The verbal message being carried by Achille to the Padrone's network of friends was a back-up, in case something happened to the Conte's pigeons.

Achille mused to himself, The Conte and the Professore...they are so determined to make sure the message gets to the Contessa, one way or the other...

This must be something important...

I will not let the Padrone down...

Journal of Conte Filippe Foscari

26 of May, year of our Lord 1781

...Whileonbusiness in Tuscany, Ireceiveda message from my daughter Elena, requesting me to join her in Melioria as soon as possible.

The Ship from Naples arrived in Melioria late in the afternoon, and following the advice of the Inn keeper, Signora Macbain, I set of in search of a certain Sior Aldo Stern, who has taken over the smooth running of the island since the Princippe disappeared in the new world.

Sior Stern proved a most hospitable and charming fellow, and invited me to take coffee in his office.

We discussed many general subjects for some time.

I could not help observing that there was only one picture in his office. Alovelyportrait of the late Madame Pompadour. I commented on her unique charm, and note that Sior Stern looked very wistful, as he told me he had known her well.

There is more to Sior Aldo Stern then meets the eye, of that I am sure.

Finally I enquired about the whereabouts of my daughter Elena.

Sior Stern became very serious, put his finger to his lips to indicate for me to be silent and led me out of the office onto the pier.

Here, safe from being overheard, he informed me that Elena had sailed forVenice2 weeks previously, with two companions. Fiorino one of theyoungApprentices, and a Sior Mercury Gandt, an English Gambler and Adventurer.

It seems that Elena made this decision based on a message she had received from me requesting her to return Homeimmediately.

I inform Sior Stern that I sent no such message. We agree that both messages must have been forgeries, and sent by someone who has an interest in having us both travel in opposite directions.

But whom?

Sior Stern offers me the full use of hisintelligenceand courier service, which I , always interested in a good organisation, gratefully accept.

Later after having taken my leave of Sior Stern, I sit, in the best of company, watching the sun set accross the bay of Naples, pondering all these questions.

Saturday, May 26

[10:06] Aldo Stern: ((thank you for coming--it is good to see you all--as always please keep in mind that we are doing this discussion in the context of the year 1781--so exerccise your imagination and think like a person of the enlightenment!))

10:07] Myron Verne: Fencing and duels can be seen from many angles...which one should we start with?

[10:07] Aldo Stern: let me ask this first

[10:07] Aldo Stern: how many of you here have actually fought a duel..not frnedly fencing

[10:07] Aldo Stern: but a duel

[10:07] Aldo Stern: an affair of honor

[10:08] EllementaryPartical: shudders

[10:08] Mercury Gandt: Me, definitely

[10:08] Myron Verne: I did once, when i was younger

[10:08] JJ Drinkwater: I fought a duel once, but the weapons were...unusual

[10:08] Aldo Stern: yes

[10:08] Aldo Stern: that is always a possiblity

[10:08] Aldo Stern: may I ask why you each took part in a duel?

[10:09] Myron Verne: Mercury?

[10:09] Mercury Gandt: An unknown gentleman made insulting remarks on ladies in my presence

[10:09] JJ Drinkwater: A certain Colonel Somme impugned my behavior towards a duchess

[10:10] Aldo Stern: ahh

[10:10] Myron Verne: Personally, a courtier insulted my family...

[10:10] Aldo Stern: there is often the honor and dignity of a lady

[10:10] Aldo Stern: and family

[10:10] Myron Verne: I did want to challenge him, but could not keep it unnoticed

[10:11] Myron Verne: so I replied to him in the most sarcastic manner

[10:11] Aldo Stern: so...did all of you make the challenge?

[10:11] Myron Verne: and he challenged me to a duel, I could not go back

[10:11] Aldo Stern: rather than being the chllenged?

[10:11] Aldo Stern: ahhh I see

[10:12] Myron Verne: Nowadays i wouldn't act like this, but I was younger

[10:12] JJ Drinkwater: I was the challenged, not the challenger

[10:12] Aldo Stern: but you would have challenged under different circumstances?

[10:12] Myron Verne: Never

[10:12] Mercury Gandt: I was the challenger and I'm always prepared to be the challenger

[10:12] Aldo Stern: *smiles*

[10:12] Myron Verne: I am a Noble of the Enightenment, trying to put honor in its right place, after reason and humanity

[10:13] Aldo Stern: do any of you regret having taken part in the duel?

[10:13] JJ Drinkwater: Not in the least

[10:13] Myron Verne: I don't, but I wouldn't do it gain

[10:13] Mercury Gandt: Not at all, I would do the same

[10:13] Myron Verne: I won:-)

[10:13] Myron Verne: but did not kill him!

[10:13] Aldo Stern: that was an honorable thing to do

[10:14] Aldo Stern: as well as something far less complicated

[10:14] Aldo Stern: after all, in many places dueling is actually illegal

[10:14] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): I have also participated in a duel...or two in my younger days

[10:14] Aldo Stern: ANd if you kill someone, you can be tried for murder

[10:14] Myron Verne: exactly

[10:14] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): again a question of honour

[10:14] EllementaryPartical: times change and so do values

[10:15] Myron Verne: I would say this one of the reasons, duelling is so popular in the Nobility: because it's illegal!

[10:15] Aldo Stern: but we do have an interesting dichtomy here, don't we?

[10:15] Myron Verne: we have this gorgeous feeling of transgression:-)

[10:15] Aldo Stern: the church and the state, even Kings like Louis XVI, they disapproved of duelling

[10:15] Aldo Stern: they make rules and laws

[10:15] Aldo Stern: they try to stop it

[10:15] Myron Verne: yes, and duels still go on and on

[10:15] Aldo Stern: buton the other hand

[10:16] Aldo Stern: we have this strong sense of honor

[10:16] Aldo Stern: if someone refuses a challenge, they are looked down upon

[10:16] EllementaryPartical: mothers of the men killed by duelling may not see it that way

[10:16] Aldo Stern: and none of you regret your dueling episdoes

[10:16] Aldo Stern: a good point Signorina

[10:17] EllementaryPartical: inclines her head

[10:17] Aldo Stern: though there are also those mothers who like a spartan lady tell the son to come back with your shield or on it

[10:17] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): At the time I had no regrets....but in retropsect I think it would have been cleverer to avoid the conflict in the first place

[10:17] Aldo Stern: there are plenty of people in european society

[10:17] Aldo Stern: mostly the affluent, yes

[10:17] Aldo Stern: who would rather die than have dishonor

[10:18] Aldo Stern: or would rather see their son or husband die than be branded a coward or an outcast

[10:18] EllementaryPartical: back to my earlier comment .. values change

[10:18] Aldo Stern: we have very mixed feelings about duelling, don't we?

[10:18] JJ Drinkwater: Which leads me to ask...what is this thing "Honour"?

[10:18] Aldo Stern: ah, a very good question!

[10:18] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): excellent question

[10:19] Aldo Stern: what do you think it is Signor JJ?

[10:19] EllementaryPartical: or we would still be behaving like neolithic people

[10:19] JJ Drinkwater ponders....

[10:19] Candace Ducatillon: Honour is situational, and often has a different meaning for different individuals.

[10:19] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): and different cultures

[10:19] Candace Ducatillon: yes

[10:20] JJ Drinkwater: It has neither form nor extension....it is intangible....and yet people will die for it

[10:20] JJ Drinkwater: It is made of how a person is regarded by certain other people

[10:20] Aldo Stern: is it something within us, or external?

[10:21] EllementaryPartical: no two people feel the same, naturally ..

[10:21] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): Both perhaps?

[10:21] Aldo Stern: ah...

[10:21] Candace Ducatillon: I think both also

[10:21] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): there is personal honour and then there is social honour

[10:22] Aldo Stern: so you could be regarded as honorable by the rest of society

[10:22] Aldo Stern: but internally, feel you are not so much?

[10:22] EllementaryPartical: what happens in our lives shapes us

[10:22] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): on a personal level it has to do with honesty and personal life standards

[10:22] JJ Drinkwater: Does a hermit, who lives alone, far from all society, have honour?

[10:22] Aldo Stern: perhaps that is between him and God

[10:22] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): certainly if he lives up to his own standards

[10:22] Mercury Gandt: ....and there is a thing like revenge... I feel revenge more, than any kind of honour, which, I often think I lack...

[10:23] JJ Drinkwater: Ah, is that honor, or faith?

[10:23] Aldo Stern: perhaps both

[10:23] Candace Ducatillon: But if you succeed in getting that revenge, then do you feel it an honour to yourself?

[10:23] Aldo Stern: as to have a sense of honour requries beliving in something

[10:23] EllementaryPartical: the fairer sex have much practice at turning away from trouble

[10:24] EllementaryPartical: sometimes we would like our men to do the same

[10:24] JJ Drinkwater: There is a saying "No man is a hero in the eyes of his valet" Does a gentleman care what the rabble think of him?

[10:24] Aldo Stern: well clearly one of the factors here is that if a man, like Mercury, for example, were to not accept a duel...

[10:24] Aldo Stern: society he wants to be a part of would reject him, would it not?

[10:25] Candace Ducatillon: likely

[10:25] Myron Verne: I think not

[10:25] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): Yes but would that matter to Sior Gandt if he felt he had lived up to his own standard of honour?

[10:25] Myron Verne: it's diffrent for Nobles, and Mercury is not a Noble

[10:25] Aldo Stern: let us ask him

[10:25] Candace Ducatillon: hmmm, yes

[10:25] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): Sior Gandt?

[10:26] Mercury Gandt: I'm confused, what is the question exactly?

[10:26] JJ Drinkwater: Military gentlemen also stand by their honour, most fiercely

[10:26] Aldo Stern: if you yourself were satisfied that you have acted honorably

[10:26] Aldo Stern: would it matter to you if high society thought you a coward?

[10:26] EllementaryPartical: i am sorry, i have to leave now

[10:27] JJ Drinkwater: Farewell, Madmae

[10:27] Myron Verne: Good Bye, Madame

[10:27] Aldo Stern: thank you fro taking part in the discussion

[10:27] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): Buona sera Signora

[10:27] Aldo Stern: arrivderci

[10:27] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): It was apleasure to meet you

[10:27] Mercury Gandt: I would feel satisfied if I was able to be an opponent - if I win, that is a triumphant feeling, like a revenge fulfilled, but if I lose, I also feel satisfaction of some kind

[10:27] EllementaryPartical: please give my best to aph, if she comes along

[10:28] Aldo Stern: and in fact, you might get some sympathy from an attractive lady or two, no?

[10:28] Myron Verne: yes, what saves the Honor is not the victory, it is the fact that you duelled at your own peril

[10:28] Aldo Stern: we shall do so Signorina Elle

[10:28] Aldo Stern: a good point Don Myron

[10:28] Mercury Gandt: Not really - I try to hide my duels - but of course I have my opponent and the seconds who see how I behave

[10:28] Aldo Stern: it is remarkable how often the loser

[10:29] Aldo Stern: as long as he is not dead

[10:29] Aldo Stern: actually ends up getting the girl

[10:29] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): Yes indeed

[10:29] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim) chuckles

[10:29] Myron Verne: I should not win so often, then * smiles*

[10:29] Aldo Stern: so let us talk about where this comes from

[10:29] Aldo Stern: the heritage of our mixed feelings

[10:29] Aldo Stern: that this is a bit barbaric

[10:29] Aldo Stern: and unreasonable

[10:30] Aldo Stern: and at the same time

[10:30] Aldo Stern: there are expectations

[10:30] Aldo Stern: and people show approval to those who take part

[10:30] Aldo Stern: and disapprovbal to those who refuse

[10:30] Aldo Stern: at least in certain circles

[10:31] Aldo Stern: is this part of our heritage of the judicial duel?

[10:31] Aldo Stern: that in the days before real laws

[10:31] Aldo Stern: a dispute would be settled by arms

[10:31] Aldo Stern: and God would give victory to the one in the right?

[10:32] Myron Verne: This was two or three centuries ago

[10:32] Myron Verne: i don't think it is the reason nowadays

[10:32] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): yes better than the trials by ordeal

[10:33] Aldo Stern: but do we still feel on some level that God will give victory to the one in the right?

[10:33] Aldo Stern: or does God favor he who has practiced with the foil more?

[10:33] Myron Verne: I don't think anyone still thinks this, in 1780

[10:33] JJ Drinkwater: It is rather for a gentleman to show how highly he values his honour, which is to say his reputation...is it not?

[10:33] Myron Verne: I think soo

[10:33] Aldo Stern: so then is it perhaps not so much about who is right...

[10:34] Aldo Stern: as the fact that both willingly take part?

[10:34] Myron Verne: exactly

[10:34] Myron Verne: for Nobles, it is defending three things

[10:34] Myron Verne: 1, their glorious name and its reputation

[10:35] Myron Verne: 2 the social high postion that is linked to this name, and all the ensuing privileges

[10:35] Myron Verne: 3 one's own self esteem

[10:35] Myron Verne: that's what I think

[10:35] Myron Verne: this is their only way to remain role models for the rest of society

[10:36] Myron Verne: the common people find this is chivalrous, in some way

[10:36] Aldo Stern: so ultimately we have duels not to actually settle issues

[10:36] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): do you think the rest of soceity sees them as Role models?

[10:36] JJ Drinkwater: So it seems we should now ask...what is Reputation?

[10:36] Aldo Stern: but to support and enhance how certain people are percived

[10:36] Aldo Stern: and perceive themselves

[10:37] Myron Verne: yes

[10:37] Aldo Stern: this is very interesting...

[10:37] Myron Verne: and this is linked to social ambition too

[10:37] Aldo Stern: two of the wisest men I know of

[10:37] JJ Drinkwater: A very good point, sir

[10:37] Aldo Stern: one is the american scientist Dr. Franklin

[10:37] Aldo Stern: and the other the legal Scholar Signor Beccaria

[10:38] Aldo Stern: Dr.. Franklin has said that dueling is pointless, precisely because it settles nothing

[10:38] Aldo Stern: but what we are saying is that it is meant to really settle nothing

[10:38] Aldo Stern: it is all about reputation and perception

[10:39] Aldo Stern: and Signor JJ has asked, what is reputation...

[10:39] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): another good question

[10:39] Myron Verne: and for some, it is for fun, also...

[10:39] Aldo Stern: well yes that too

[10:39] Myron Verne: they love the trill of danger, risking their lives, they enjoy killing

[10:39] Aldo Stern: but I know people who do some strange things for fun

[10:39] Myron Verne: but they are not the majority

[10:40] Aldo Stern: no

[10:40] Mercury Gandt feels himself a bit awkward and moves on his chair

[10:40] Aldo Stern: each time we injure another...especially when we kill, we diminish ourselves that much as well

[10:40] Aldo Stern: I think most people understand that on some level

[10:40] Aldo Stern: so they only injure or kill when necessary

[10:40] Aldo Stern: is reputation necessary?

[10:41] Candace Ducatillon: Reputation is a "tag" that follows individuals around based on what people perceive from what they have seen or heard

[10:41] Candace Ducatillon: Reputation is not necessary, but certainly can play a role.

[10:41] Aldo Stern: and it affects how others interact with you, no?

[10:41] JJ Drinkwater: Certain others

[10:41] Myron Verne: yes, and for nowadays Nobles, it is absolutely necessary

[10:42] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): On a business level a good reputation is vital

[10:42] Myron Verne: what else could they be proud of?

[10:42] JJ Drinkwater: why do you say it is necessary?

[10:42] Myron Verne: The Nobles do not have the right to work, at least in France

[10:42] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): Ones reputation goes before one and affects how one is recieved

[10:42] Myron Verne: they are mostly idle courtiers

[10:43] Myron Verne: no great achievements

[10:43] Myron Verne: thay have only tie family name and reputation to sustain

[10:43] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): Yes its a great waste that they are left idle

[10:43] JJ Drinkwater: This makes it sound like an idle amusement for idle people

[10:44] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): well in france it probably is

[10:44] Myron Verne: this name and reputation is what brought them where they are

[10:44] Aldo Stern: in effect you are syaing they have no other asset than their name?

[10:44] Aldo Stern: and in effect the reputation that goes with it?

[10:44] Myron Verne: most of the time, yes

[10:44] Aldo Stern: and so..this is all they can do to distinguish themselves?

[10:44] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): well they consume and produce nothing

[10:44] Myron Verne: it is the highest value they can assess

[10:44] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): they do not even look after the very estates that provide their incomes

[10:45] Myron Verne: true, Signor Conte

[10:45] Aldo Stern: here is anothe irony

[10:45] Myron Verne: with a few exceptions, like me:-))

[10:45] Aldo Stern: the ones who do have some purpose

[10:45] Aldo Stern: they go into the army

[10:45] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): Of course Sior Verne. you would not be here otherwise

[10:46] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): you would be at the French court with a perfumed hankerchief

[10:46] Aldo Stern: they get bested in a battle and they surrender without too much thought

[10:46] JJ Drinkwater: Ah, the honour of military men is a different kind of reputation, is it not?

[10:46] Aldo Stern: so professionally, honor is not based on their combativeness

[10:46] Myron Verne: Greetings, lady Glenrothes

[10:46] MariaLouisa Muircastle: Hello Everyone!

[10:46] Aldo Stern: but personally, if you insult the fellow who just surrendered

[10:46] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): Greetings Signora

[10:46] JJ Drinkwater: Welcome, m'lady

[10:46] Aldo Stern: he will probably fight you to the death over it

[10:46] Mercury Gandt: Greetings, Lady Maria

[10:46] MariaLouisa Muircastle: Thank you

[10:47] Myron Verne bows deeply

[10:47] Aldo Stern: Donna Maria,. good to see you

[10:47] Candace Ducatillon: Ah, your timing is perfect .... we are at the meat of the matter so to speak!

[10:47] MariaLouisa Muircastle: It is nice to see you too...all of you

[10:48] MariaLouisa Muircastle: Please, no need to remain standing on my account.

[10:48] Candace Ducatillon impressed by all the attentive gentlemen

[10:48] Aldo Stern: Donna Maria please take my chair

[10:48] MariaLouisa Muircastle: Thank you Aldo, that is most kind.

[10:49] Wulfrie Blitzen (ancasta) is Online

[10:49] Aldo Stern: so anyway, we can say that reputation in a highly valued thing

[10:49] Aldo Stern: among the noblity

[10:49] Aldo Stern: among scholars

[10:49] Aldo Stern: among businessmen

[10:49] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): well also amongst the working class

[10:49] Aldo Stern: it affects how other treat you

[10:49] Aldo Stern: and if they are willing to interact with you or not

[10:49] Mercury Gandt: and among those who sit by a cards table...

[10:50] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): we would not go to a sword smith with a bad reputation for example

[10:50] Aldo Stern: but is dueling to protect one's reputation essential?

[10:50] Aldo Stern: or will it become less important?

[10:50] Myron Verne: i think a revealing thing happened recently

[10:50] Aldo Stern: oh?

[10:50] JJ Drinkwater: I think there will always be those who are touchy about their reputation

[10:50] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): Yes Sior?

[10:50] Myron Verne: the Encycopedia of Diuderot and D'alembert

[10:51] Myron Verne: they have a special part on fencing

[10:51] Myron Verne: you all have seen the images

[10:51] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): Yes indeed

[10:52] Myron Verne: it's about duels seen as a friendly and sporting practice

[10:52] Myron Verne: a physical exercise for fun

[10:52] MariaLouisa Muircastle: Isn't it illegal otherwise now?

[10:52] Myron Verne: and they, the philosophers, ...

[10:52] JJ Drinkwater: ( )

[10:52] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): But I fear that it will become fashionable to use pistols rather than the Foil

[10:52] Myron Verne: put the stress on this , rather than on the tradition of duels of honor, that they despise

[10:53] Myron Verne: I think this indicates the future trend about these matters

[10:53] JJ Drinkwater: Pistols will "level the ground" will they not?

[10:53] Aldo Stern: yes excatly

[10:53] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): and tend to be more permanent in their damage

[10:54] Aldo Stern: well here is a possiblity....as the middle class grows

[10:54] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): while before it was a combat...a competition of skill...now its become more serious

[10:54] Aldo Stern: their sons will want to demonstrate some of the same values as the nobility

[10:54] Aldo Stern: like duelling

[10:54] Myron Verne: you cannot have a friendly duel with pistols, hahahaha

[10:54] MariaLouisa Muircastle: Too true Myron

[10:54] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): exactly

[10:54] Aldo Stern: but not having thad the same level of instruction

[10:54] Aldo Stern: they do not do well with the sword

[10:55] MariaLouisa Muircastle: Fencing is an art....firing a pistol, not so much

[10:55] Aldo Stern: so the pistol allows them to protect their name and reputationwithout having the skill?

[10:55] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): They don't do much better with pistols either

[10:55] Myron Verne: I agree with lady Maria

[10:55] Aldo Stern: yes, but it does add a random element as well

[10:55] Aldo Stern: bad powder, a msifire

[10:55] JJ Drinkwater: You see a burgeoning of murder, Professore?

[10:55] Aldo Stern: then we are back to God having a hand in the outcome

[10:56] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): where as before the contest was judged on skill and sportsmanship -- now it has become more seriously about killing the other party

[10:56] Aldo Stern: perhaps, unless we find a way of convincing young men there are better ways of building and protecting one's reputation

[10:56] Myron Verne: clever remark, Conte

[10:56] Mercury Gandt: I couldn't imagine a world when no one has duels.... Imagine that you are insulted... humiliated... your face blushes and burns.... you feel uncomfortable for days and days... your soul is poisoned... and you can't challenge the other one because there is no such thing as a duel... I think it will be most unhealthy

[10:57] JJ Drinkwater: Your thoughts will turn instead to revenge, perhaps...

[10:57] Aldo Stern: *aside* or having the fellow poisoned

[10:57] Myron Verne: If you are stronger mentally than the insulting party, you will find the right answer, mercury

[10:57] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): I imagine that in the outre young hotheads will find other ways of showing off

[10:57] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): they will race, perhaps?

[10:58] JJ Drinkwater: Lady Sere, good day to you

[10:58] Myron Verne: Bongiorno Signora!

[10:58] Sere Timeless (serenek.timeless): Buon giorno everyone.

[10:58] Aldo Stern: or..I am curious Signor JJ, when you had your duel you said it was with strange weapons?

[10:58] Aldo Stern: may i ask what you chose to use?

[10:58] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): Buona sera Signora

[10:58] Sere Timeless (serenek.timeless): Gentemen, please do sit down.

[10:58] MariaLouisa Muircastle: Hello Sere

[10:58] Aldo Stern: buona sera Signorina Sere

[10:59] JJ Drinkwater: It was duel of compliments..a contest of wit and courtesy

[10:59] Myron Verne: how unusual!

[10:59] Candace Ducatillon: Greetings Signorina Sere

[10:59] Myron Verne: and how clever!

[10:59] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): ahhh now that sounds very interesting

[10:59] Aldo Stern: what a splendid idea

[10:59] Sere Timeless (serenek.timeless): Goodness Sir JJ, you must have excelled at that duel.

[10:59] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): and how was this contest judged?

[10:59] Mercury Gandt: Please have my seat, Lady Sere

[10:59] Mercury Gandt: I prefer pacing

[11:00] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): a contest of education and wit

[11:00] Sere Timeless (serenek.timeless): You're more than kind, Mr. Gandt. But I have just drawn a chair over.

[11:00] JJ Drinkwater: I am pleased to say I was the victor

[11:00] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): Congratulations Sior

[11:00] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): but how was this competion judged?

[11:00] Myron Verne: the winner was decided when the other part was short on compliments?

[11:01] JJ Drinkwater: Ah! It was the time of year when money is raised for medical research...you know whereof I speak?So the audience voted with their wallets

[11:01] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): a good way to show ones opinion

[11:01] Aldo Stern: that is fascinating, a contest of wits..sadly it will never catch on among the nobility, as for so many of them, they would enter the fray only half-armed

[11:01] Myron Verne: ahahahahaha

[11:02] JJ Drinkwater: You are pleased to be droll, Professore...but there is something to what you say

[11:02] Myron Verne: May I tell you about the most clever pistol duel I heard about?

[11:02] JJ Drinkwater: Pray do!

[11:02] Aldo Stern: yes of course Don Myron

[11:03] Myron Verne: It was Commander Hornblower"s duel, an English officer in the Navy

[11:03] Myron Verne: he had been challenged to duel by a man, a pistol champion

[11:04] Myron Verne: he had the choice of the rules of the duel

[11:04] Myron Verne: so knowing he was far less good at pistol shooting

[11:04] Myron Verne: he chose to duel with the man at a distance of two yards

[11:05] Myron Verne: with only one bullet loaded in the two guns

[11:05] Aldo Stern: good lord!

[11:05] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): Great courage

[11:05] Myron Verne: no one knew which one had the bullet in it

[11:05] Myron Verne: a very mathematical idea, to make the levels more even!

[11:06] Aldo Stern: yes, essentially 50/50

[11:06] Myron Verne: so the duel began... and his opponent fainted!

[11:06] Sere Timeless (serenek.timeless): Do I dare ask the outcome of that duel?

[11:06] MariaLouisa Muircastle: Is that a sort of Russian Roulette?

[11:06] Myron Verne: Hornblower had won

[11:06] MariaLouisa Muircastle: LOL

[11:06] Myron Verne: yes, Maria

[11:06] Sere Timeless (serenek.timeless): Hahaha!

[11:06] Aldo Stern: and without killing his opponet?

[11:06] JJ Drinkwater: A most clever concept

[11:07] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): I think a duel of Wits is a better course of action, and less likely to decimate our young men

[11:07] Mercury Gandt: Buon giorno, Baronessa

[11:07] Wulfrie Blitzen (ancasta): My apologies for being late

[11:07] Wulfrie Blitzen (ancasta) curtsies respectfully

[11:07] Myron Verne: Greetings, Signora

[11:08] Sere Timeless (serenek.timeless): Buon giorno, Lady Blitzen

[11:08] Aldo Stern: but back to Donna Maria's point that dueling is in fact illegal in many nations

[11:08] Wulfrie Blitzen (ancasta): Good afternoon

[11:08] Aldo Stern: and certainly killing another person is illegal

[11:08] Sere Timeless (serenek.timeless): May I pull a chair around for you?

[11:08] Aldo Stern: although the man who does so will often be pardoned

[11:08] MariaLouisa Muircastle: Hello

[11:08] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): Greetings Signora

[11:09] Aldo Stern: My friend Signor Beccaria makes the point that someone who is willing to die in a duel, for whom honor and reputation is more important than life itself...

[11:09] Aldo Stern: threatening them with being hung or put in prison isn't much of a deterrent

[11:09] MariaLouisa Muircastle: Very true

[11:10] Aldo Stern: so if we did want to actualy discourage dueling, how could we do it?

[11:10] Myron Verne: Jail would be a much more efficient way

[11:10] JJ Drinkwater says drily "Such folk will always be among us"

[11:10] MariaLouisa Muircastle: Don't take the challenge?

[11:10] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): and those that insist on a duel will find somewhere private

[11:10] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): Jail or a hefty fine

[11:10] JJ Drinkwater: Confiscation of their estates would do it...

[11:10] Aldo Stern: hmmm

[11:10] Myron Verne: what is the honor of ending up in jail?

[11:11] MariaLouisa Muircastle: Indeed

[11:11] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): or having to explain to ones parents why one has to pay a large fine

[11:11] Aldo Stern: all interesting ideas

[11:11] MariaLouisa Muircastle: A fine won't hurt enough, if the person is very rich

[11:11] Aldo Stern: but you know it crosses my mind...

[11:11] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): Some could turn a jail sentwence into an honourable martyrdom

[11:11] Aldo Stern: perhaps the vulnerable spot here is the reputation...the position in society

[11:11] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): a fine....less easy

1:12] JJ Drinkwater: Make them an outlaw then, strip them of their titles...

[11:12] Aldo Stern: Aha! you know in certain german states,they don't want the nobles to engage in business

[11:12] Aldo Stern: and if you do, your title is taken away

[11:12] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): That would have more of an effect then death or jail

[11:12] Aldo Stern: it is proving very effective

[11:12] Aldo Stern: perhaps if as Signor JJ suggested, a deullist had his title taken away?

[11:12] MariaLouisa Muircastle: I think that is smart indeed

[11:12] Mercury Gandt: Greetings, dear Summer

[11:13] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): Yes let the hothead son explain this to his parents

[11:13] Summer Serendipity: Bongiourno

[11:13] Aldo Stern: of course that will not deter those who are untitled

[11:13] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): there is nothing honourable in losing your title

[11:13] Summer Serendipity: dear Mercury

[11:13] Myron Verne: Oh Summer!

[11:13] Myron Verne: Bongiorno, Dear

[11:13] Summer Serendipity: Hello Myron

[11:13] Summer Serendipity: Candace

[11:13] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): Buona sera Signora

[11:14] Candace Ducatillon: Greetings dear friend !

[11:14] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim) bows to Sumer

[11:14] Aldo Stern: it is good to see you Signorina Summer

[11:14] Summer Serendipity: Hello Maria ... Sere .. Aldo

[11:14] Sere Timeless (serenek.timeless) nods to Summer.

[11:14] Summer Serendipity: thank you please excuse my interruption

[11:14] MariaLouisa Muircastle: Hello

[11:15] Summer Serendipity: so good to see you all again

[11:15] JJ Drinkwater: Wre were discussing punishment for duelists

[11:15] Myron Verne: we mean those who kill their opponents, not the En garde fencers! ahahaha

[11:16] Wulfrie Blitzen (ancasta) smiles - and thinks of her en garde matches

[11:16] Aldo Stern: yes, there is a great difference between the sport of fencing and the act of dueling

[11:16] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): Fencing in itself is an honourable sport

[11:17] Aldo Stern: as Don Myron will tell you practice in fencing actually builds discipline, self control

[11:17] Aldo Stern: but you look at duels and how they often play out without self control at work

[11:17] Aldo Stern: the blood is hot, the fellows hack at each other like mad tartars

[11:17] Myron Verne: yes, more of a catfight...

[11:18] Myron Verne: wild cats:-)

[11:18] Mercury Gandt: Merci beaucoup

[11:18] Aldo Stern: it would better to give them big clubs and let them bash at each other

[11:18] JJ Drinkwater: Better than clubs..give each a live goose...

[11:18] MariaLouisa Muircastle: LOL

[11:18] Candace Ducatillon: ((*nerf bats)

[11:19] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): There are other ways to do combat

[11:19] MariaLouisa Muircastle: No tickling with a feather, just throw the whole bird at them.

[11:19] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): Boxing for example

[11:19] Aldo Stern: ah yes

[11:19] MariaLouisa Muircastle: ((LOL...Candace))

[11:19] Wulfrie Blitzen (ancasta): ((Laughs))

[11:19] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): Bird throwing is an ancient and honourable art

[11:19] JJ Drinkwater grins

[11:20] Myron Verne: never tried this one, yet... interesting idea

[11:20] Candace Ducatillon: Bird Throwing ??

[11:20] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim) smiles

[11:20] MariaLouisa Muircastle: *snickers

[11:20] Aldo Stern: having been around geese a good bit in my childhood

[11:20] Aldo Stern: I can say that this is an interesting plan

[11:20] Aldo Stern: but unnecessarily cruel

[11:20] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): you will be aware of how vicious they can be

[11:21] Aldo Stern: yes, it is cruel not to the geese, which are after all, insufferable monsters

[11:21] Aldo Stern: but to the duelists

[11:21] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): exactly

[11:21] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): hahaha

[11:21] Myron Verne smiles

[11:21] JJ Drinkwater: It would be all the more likely to discourage them, then

[11:21] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): geese are well able to defend themselves

[11:21] Aldo Stern: a good point signor JJ

[11:21] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): and more likely than not to start the fight

[11:21] Aldo Stern: by the way, I had shared around the 26 rules of the Clonmel Code Duello

[11:22] Aldo Stern: did any of you find anything particularly of interest in those?

[11:22] JJ Drinkwater: I was quite lost halfway through the rules

[11:22] Wulfrie Blitzen (ancasta): There were rules of rules

[11:22] Aldo Stern: they are quite elaborate aren't they?

[11:23] MariaLouisa Muircastle: I wonder how often they were truly followed to the letter.

[11:23] Candace Ducatillon: rules of rules ... (thinks of Tristram Shandy ... thoughts all over the place))

[11:23] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): I used to be more familiar with them

[11:23] Don Alejandro de Padilla (colosodorado88): greetings

[11:23] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): but have forgotten

[11:24] Mercury Gandt: Good day, Don Alejandro

[11:24] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): Greetings Signore

[11:24] Myron Verne: Greetings, Don Alejandro

[11:24] Aldo Stern: hola Don Alejandro please join us

[11:24] MariaLouisa Muircastle: Hello Don Alejandro

[11:25] Sere Timeless (serenek.timeless): Don Alejandro, you are welcome to join the discussion. Please take one of the empty chairs.

[11:25] Aldo Stern: but at any rate we were speaking of the rules of duelling that were devleoped by the irish gentlemen at the Clonmel assizes in 1777

[11:25] Aldo Stern: and as Signor JJ points out

[11:25] Aldo Stern: they are rather complex

[11:26] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): which exlains why I forgot them

[11:26] Aldo Stern: I do suspect a great deal of drinking was invovled in the creative process

[11:26] Wulfrie Blitzen (ancasta) laughs

[11:26] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): maybe one needs to drink to understand

[11:26] Candace Ducatillon: lol

[11:26] Myron Verne: coffee won't do

[11:27] Aldo Stern: no it would be the distilled spirits that the irish habitually drink

[11:27] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): ahh no...I suspect it must be wiskey

[11:27] Myron Verne: I think the rules were different according to countries

[11:27] Myron Verne: and the opponents had the liberty to agree on modifications

[11:27] Aldo Stern: yes, but this irish Code Duello became the basis for the rules in other countries with some variatons of course

[11:28] Aldo Stern: but why go to the effort of making such rules when what is likely to happenis that the blood runs hot

[11:28] MariaLouisa Muircastle: Ah, leave it to the Irish

[11:28] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): a hot blooded passionate people

[11:28] Aldo Stern: the fighters get to hacking and fight on, even with broken blades

[11:29] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): so I have heard

[11:29] JJ Drinkwater: The rules put a veneer of civilization on the thing, I suppose

[11:29] Aldo Stern: why try to put the veneer of civilization on what is a brutal act

[11:30] JJ Drinkwater: For the vanity of the class which duels, perhaps?

[11:31] Aldo Stern: perhaps...or is it accepting the fact that even despite laws against it

[11:31] Aldo Stern: that we can't stop fellows from dueling

[11:31] Aldo Stern: so do we try to mitigate it

[11:31] Aldo Stern: we accept the reality and try to keep it under control

[11:31] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): there will always be hotheaded young men looking for an excuse to fight and show off

[11:32] Aldo Stern: a lot of the rules seem to be desgined to try to prevent unncessary deaths

[11:32] JJ Drinkwater: A deep question, Professore

[11:32] Myron Verne: Well, I am so sorry I have to leave, Ladies and Gentlemen... I hope you will have excused the "rough on the edge" English of a French Baron:-)

[11:32] Myron Verne: It was very enlightening, and a very pleasant company

[11:32] Summer Serendipity: awww Myron, so sorry to see you leave

[11:32] JJ Drinkwater: Farewell, Sir

[11:32] Candace Ducatillon: ((just read back ... broken blades ... gringes))

[11:33] Aldo Stern: Don Myron it was good to have you with us

[11:33] Myron Verne: I hope to see you soon on the Pistes of En Garde!

[11:33] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): It was a pleasure to meet you Sior Verne

[11:33] MariaLouisa Muircastle: It has been good to see you again, Myron...as always

[11:33] Aldo Stern: next week, yes?

[11:33] Myron Verne: Farewell!

[11:33] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): I hope to see you on the Pistes

[11:33] MariaLouisa Muircastle: Au revoir

[11:33] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): Buona Sera

[11:34] sevilla Abbot: oh good evenings

[11:34] Mercury Gandt: Your Highness, welcome

[11:34] sevilla Abbot: i am sorry if i am late

[11:34] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): Buona Sera magesta

[11:34] Aldo Stern: Principessa!

[11:34] Aldo Stern: welcome

[11:34] Don Alejandro de Padilla (colosodorado88): greetings

[11:34] sevilla Abbot: sorry I am coming late

[11:35] sevilla Abbot: Lady goodnight Glenrothes

[11:35] Wulfrie Blitzen (ancasta) nods to the later arrivals and smiles

[11:35] Aldo Stern: that is quite alright , Highness

[11:35] sevilla Abbot: Professore?

[11:35] Aldo Stern: we are pleased to have you join us

[11:35] Aldo Stern: we are talking about dueling

[11:35] sevilla Abbot: oh thanks you always so kind

[11:35] sevilla Abbot: oh yes i read the note

[11:35] Candace Ducatillon: Greetings

[11:35] Aldo Stern: may I ask do you ever have duels in Amalfi, or has your good husband the Principe outlawed it?

[11:35] sevilla Abbot: please take a seat

[11:35] Summer Serendipity: Buenos Noches Princess

[11:36] sevilla Abbot: oh we never have the dueling

[11:36] sevilla Abbot: with your permission Lady Ancasta

[11:37] Aldo Stern: and again, even though Don Myron has left I will again point out on his behalf as a fencing master,that when we say dueling

[11:37] Aldo Stern: we do not mean friendly fencing for sport and exercise

[11:37] Aldo Stern: we mean a serious challenge in which a man

[11:38] Aldo Stern: or even now and then a lady

[11:38] Aldo Stern: fights another to protect honor and reputation

[11:38] Aldo Stern: possibly to the death

[11:39] Aldo Stern: may I ask, since we now have so many ladies here

[11:39] Aldo Stern: have any of you ever fought a duel?

[11:39] Aldo Stern: and if not..would you as a lady ever consder doing so?

[11:39] Candace Ducatillon: only in my mind

[11:39] Aldo Stern: ha! Donna Candace

[11:40] Aldo Stern: it would be impolite for us to ask about the circumstances

[11:40] Aldo Stern: but seriously, I know some of you ladies fence...

[11:40] Aldo Stern: would you consider a serious duel for honor?

[11:41] Candace Ducatillon: yes, I think it possible

[11:41] MariaLouisa Muircastle: I fence but would never duel. I would hope my ego is not so large as to be easily offended.

[11:41] Wulfrie Blitzen (ancasta): I would, if someone offended me that much

[11:42] MariaLouisa Muircastle: I still would not. I value you life too highly.

[11:42] Aldo Stern: that is interesting

[11:42] MariaLouisa Muircastle: Mainly because I've had to fight so much in the past for it.

[11:42] Aldo Stern: *nods*

[11:42] Candace Ducatillon: Now that Maria has said that ... I realize I could not duel to the death.

[11:43] Wulfrie Blitzen (ancasta): No, it would be a duel for 'first blood'

[11:43] Candace Ducatillon: ... just to make a "point"

[11:43] Wulfrie Blitzen (ancasta): Honour would be satisfied

[11:43] sevilla Abbot: ah

[11:44] Aldo Stern: this all very interesting

[11:44] Aldo Stern: may I then ask the question of the gentlemen present...

[11:44] Aldo Stern: how would you regard a lady who was willing to fight a duel?

[11:45] Aldo Stern: even if only to "first blood"

[11:45] JJ Drinkwater: With some trepidation!

[11:45] Wulfrie Blitzen (ancasta) hides her grin behind her fan

[11:45] Candace Ducatillon liking this question

[11:45] JJ Drinkwater: Well, are the ladies not sensitive as to their honour?

[11:46] JJ Drinkwater: As much so as the gentlemen?

[11:46] MariaLouisa Muircastle: That is what the gentlemen are for...LOL

[11:46] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): I would admire her, even though I suspect society would frown

[11:46] MariaLouisa Muircastle whispers: j/k

[11:46] Aldo Stern: well Donna maria, you said so in jest

[11:46] Aldo Stern: but is that not actualy true for many women?

[11:47] Aldo Stern: I can think of plenty of court ladies who if offended would be more than happy to have some fellow risk getting punctured on her behalf

[11:47] MariaLouisa Muircastle: Yes, but again...is there really any honor in it? Wounded pride is more the case...

[11:47] Don Alejandro de Padilla (colosodorado88): please excuse me , i must leave

[11:47] Candace Ducatillon: Farewell Sir

[11:47] MariaLouisa Muircastle: Ciao

[11:47] Mercury Gandt: Goodbye, Don Alejandro

[11:47] Aldo Stern: arrividerci Don Alejandro

[11:47} Aldo Stern: and what if the lady were to challenge a man? what would you think?

[11:47] Mercury Gandt: well if I were the man, after a hesitation, I would accept her challenge - perhaps because of respecting her dignity

[11:47] JJ Drinkwater: Ah, but would a gentleman not be bound by courtesy to let a lady win?

[11:47] Aldo Stern: I must say I have a certain level of admiration for a lady who would take it into her own hands to protect her own reputation and honorand not leave the danger to some surrogate

[11:48] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): and as fathers, brothers and husbands are we not expected to be prepared to find for the reputation of our ladies?

[11:48] Aldo Stern: yes of course

[11:48] MariaLouisa Muircastle: Yes, but not all women have such family...so we must grant that

[11:48] Candace Ducatillon: "let a lady win" ... such a dilemma ?

[11:48] Aldo Stern: but still that does not keep me from admiring the lady who takes on her own role in that

[11:49] Aldo Stern: if they have the ability and skill..say as your Daughter the Contessa does

[11:49] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): I am proud of my daughter's skills in fencing but greatly hope she would not get herself involved in a duel

[11:49] Candace Ducatillon: Yes, with the ability , skill, and desire ... it would be most admirable to either gender I would think.

[11:50] MariaLouisa Muircastle: Again, I don't see much that is admirable in dueling

[11:50] Candace Ducatillon: so very thought provoking this all is.

[11:50] MariaLouisa Muircastle: Fighting simply because your pride or "honor" is wounded in some way...it's silly

[11:51] Mercury Gandt: You choose enduring it, instead, Mylady?

[11:51] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): indeed

[11:51] MariaLouisa Muircastle: Yes...I've seen enough bloodshed in my life, Monsieur

[11:51] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): honour on its own has little meaning unless it represents certain standards of behaviour

[11:51] Candace Ducatillon: pride can often be deadly in and of itself

[11:51] MariaLouisa Muircastle: Exactly, Conte

[11:51] Aldo Stern: this is very true

[11:51] Candace Ducatillon: Honour is in another category

[11:51] MariaLouisa Muircastle: Indeed CAndace

[11:52] Candace Ducatillon: ... somehow

[11:52] Aldo Stern: Signor JJ mentioned vanity as a motivation for dueling at one point

[11:52] Aldo Stern: it is after all, a deadly sin

[11:52] Aldo Stern: in this case, literally so

[11:52] Wulfrie Blitzen (ancasta) nods

[11:52] MariaLouisa Muircastle: Vanity...that is the word I was looking for!

[11:52] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): and I would hope that one would be able to either avoid such quarells or as the gentleman said before use ones wits rather than tne foil

[11:52] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): and there is a great difference between honour and Vanity

[11:52] MariaLouisa Muircastle: A duel of wits is very entertaining

[11:52] Mercury Gandt: And those poor souls who have no wits?

[11:53] MariaLouisa Muircastle: But often the two are tied closely together Conte

[11:53] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): they should avoid fencing at all cost

[11:53] Summer Serendipity: have no sword lol

[11:53] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim) smiles at the gentleman

[11:53] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): but those who want to fight will find a way

[11:53] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): even if its just using their fists

[11:54] MariaLouisa Muircastle: of course

[11:54] Aldo Stern: ah, you know Signorina Summer, that is one idea that has been put forth... that if gentlmen did not all wear swords

[11:54] Aldo Stern: they would not be so readily inclined to fight with them

[11:54] Summer Serendipity: yes

[11:55] Candace Ducatillon: they serve a decorative purpose also ...

[11:55] Aldo Stern: but that may be a straw man...for after all it is not the sword that kills a man

[11:55] Aldo Stern: it is the man wielding the sword

[11:55] Aldo Stern: free will and all that

[11:55] Summer Serendipity: and where there is a will there is a way ...

[11:55] Summer Serendipity: so any weapon will serve its purpose

[11:55] Candace Ducatillon: yet, men seem to be drawn to "battle"

[11:56] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): Young men

[11:56] Summer Serendipity: the commaraderie of it all

[11:56] Summer Serendipity: lol

[11:56] Candace Ducatillon: women are more drawn to "discuss"

[11:56] JJ Drinkwater: The ladies have their chosen weapons, I am sure

[11:56] Aldo Stern: ah yes, I have met some women in this world who have tongues sharper than any epee

[11:57] MariaLouisa Muircastle: True, Candace, unless a knife or sword or other weapon is held directly at your person

[11:57] Candace Ducatillon: absolutely Maria

[11:57] MariaLouisa Muircastle: Then we will fight for our lives

[11:57] Candace Ducatillon: yes

[11:57] Candace Ducatillon: or children

[11:57] MariaLouisa Muircastle: yes

[11:57] Wulfrie Blitzen (ancasta) nods

[11:58] Aldo Stern: well this has been a truly interesting discussion

[11:58] JJ Drinkwater: It would be a vastly different world if ladies went armed, we may be sure...the mind boggles to think of it

[11:58] Summer Serendipity: lol

[11:58] Aldo Stern: does anyone have any further points (no pun intended) they wish to make?

[11:58] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): sharper than an Epeee and more deadly

[11:58] MariaLouisa Muircastle: Ah, but we are often armed Sir...more than you know

[11:58] MariaLouisa Muircastle: LOL...Aldo

[11:58] Mercury Gandt: Just remember this warning:

[11:59] Mercury Gandt: There will be much more suffering more in a world without duels

[11:59] JJ Drinkwater bows to Lady Glenrothes

[11:59] Candace Ducatillon: Hmmm, Mercury

[11:59] Aldo Stern: an interesting idea Signor Gandt

[12:00] Aldo Stern: do you wish to elaborate?

[12:00] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): without the healthy outlet of a duel?

[12:00] Mercury Gandt: If I feel hurt, a duel is a short, effective way to close the case, and in the end, maybe I shake hands with my opponent

[12:00] Mercury Gandt: On the other hands, if no duels at all...

[12:01] Mercury Gandt: I will suffer (yes, my vanity),

[12:01] Mercury Gandt: and I think about him/her as an enemy - forever perhaps?

[12:01] Mercury Gandt: Without this simple solution

[12:01] Candace Ducatillon: Do you mean as if one keeps their anger inside , without finding an appropriate outlet?

[12:01] Mercury Gandt: Yes exactly

[12:02] Wulfrie Blitzen (ancasta): It is also a mark of a gentleman of good breeding - a fight in the bar is so undignified, a duel much more interesting

[12:02] Candace Ducatillon: ty

[12:02] Summer Serendipity: I fear I must take my leave now.... this has been so very pleasant sitting with you all again....

[12:02] Aldo Stern: it has been very good to have you with us

[12:02] Candace Ducatillon: ... and pleasant to have you among us.

[12:02] Aldo Stern: thank you for coming Signorina

[12:02] Summer Serendipity: thank you so much for the stimulating conversation and discussion

[12:02] MariaLouisa Muircastle: Take care Summer

[12:02] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): Arriverderci Signora

[12:03] Summer Serendipity: have a lovely day to all of you...

[12:03] Mercury Gandt: See you Summer

[12:03] Summer Serendipity: bye

[12:03] JJ Drinkwater: Farewell, Madame

[12:03] Wulfrie Blitzen (ancasta) nods - Good Day

[12:03] Summer Serendipity is Offline

[12:03] Aldo Stern: so back to Signor Gandt's point

[12:03] Aldo Stern: that this is a useful outlet for emotions and bad blood

[12:04] Aldo Stern: then we are back to the idea that rules like the code duello are important to keep it from becoming mere butchery?

[12:04] Sere Timeless (serenek.timeless): It would seem a useful outlet only if one of the parties are not seriously wounded.

[12:04] Candace Ducatillon: *cringes at the word butchery

[12:05] MariaLouisa Muircastle: Then really, it would be simply sparing

[12:05] JJ Drinkwater: With all repect to Mr Gandt...what of the loss of life?

[12:05] MariaLouisa Muircastle: which to me is more acceptable

[12:06] Mercury Gandt: I don't think about loss of life intentionally - yes, accidents may happen, unfortunately

[12:06] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): Yes are there not other, less harmful forms of outlets for one's anger?

[12:07] MariaLouisa Muircastle: Truly there must be

[12:07] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): Geese throwing sounded good

[12:07] MariaLouisa Muircastle: LOL

[12:07] Candace Ducatillon: not for the geese though !

[12:07] MariaLouisa Muircastle: Good luck getting a hold of one

[12:07] Candace Ducatillon: lol

[12:07] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): Ohh the geese give as good as they get

[12:08] MariaLouisa Muircastle: to throw it in the first place

[12:08] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): exactly

[12:08] MariaLouisa Muircastle:

[12:08] Wulfrie Blitzen (ancasta) chuckles

[12:08] Aldo Stern: well if you grab one, you've already demonstrated your degree of bravery

[12:08] Candace Ducatillon: yes indeed!

[12:08] Aldo Stern: and perhaps lack of common sense[12:08] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): Sior gandt I can imagine a future where duelling as we understand it will be a thing of the past

[12:09] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): but surelly there will be other competitions available to pitch one man against another

[12:09] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): I think sports will take over

[12:09] Mercury Gandt: And what would you do with me, Signore Conte, in the future, if I insulted you by a remark?

[12:09] MariaLouisa Muircastle: So, Monsieur Gandt, you feel no remorse at taking another's life?

[12:09] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): Well we could play tennis

[12:10] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): we could box?

[12:10] Mercury Gandt: I wouldn't take another"s life intentionally - I just want to see his blood, a small sample of it, that's all

[12:10] MariaLouisa Muircastle: And this gives you satisfaction?

[12:10] Mercury Gandt is looking right into Lady Glenrothes' eyes deeply: Yes, that would give me satisfaction

[12:10] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): if you box and hit your opponent right you will draw blood

[12:11] Aldo Stern: well that's the good thing about dueling with the small sword..

[12:11] Aldo Stern: you can be pierced mutliple times, and as long as a major artery or organ isn't hit, you can function quite well for a while and probbly recover nicely, but there's still plenty of blood spilled

[12:11] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): you should try it...most satisfying

[12:12] MariaLouisa Muircastle hand aches at the memory of breaking a few noses in the past

[12:12] JJ Drinkwater makes a note not to get on Lady Glenrothes' wrong side

[12:12] Aldo Stern: very well

[12:12] Aldo Stern: signore e signori

[12:12] Aldo Stern: thank you , I myself am going to go to the pistes

[12:12] MariaLouisa Muircastle: *Gives Mercury a sad smile in return

[12:13] Mercury Gandt: ((lol, I thought you mean my nose to break...))

[12:13] Sere Timeless (serenek.timeless): Thank you for leading such a stimulating discussion Professore.

[12:13] Wulfrie Blitzen (ancasta) thinks about her blades needing another airing

[12:13] Aldo Stern: this has been an excellent conversation

[12:13] Aldo Stern: many different viewpoints and ideas

[12:13] Conte Fillipe Foscari (nero.shim): It has indeed

[12:13] MariaLouisa Muircastle: I've thoroughly enjoyed it

[12:13] JJ Drinkwater: Indeed, thank you, Professore

[12:13] Mercury Gandt: Thank you very much, Professore, for the notecards, too

[12:13] Aldo Stern: I have enjoyed it immensely and I hope all of you have as well

[12:13] MariaLouisa Muircastle: Thank you all

[12:14] Aldo Stern: milie grazie

[12:14] MariaLouisa Muircastle: I hope you all have a wonderful afternoon/evening

[12:14] Wulfrie Blitzen (ancasta): thank you all