“The republic of Venice knows that my sentiments are in direct opposition to all persecution: that liberty of conscience which I claim for myself, I am ready to grant to others. Man cannot answer for man, at the last dread day; beware then, how you yield up your soul to the authority of a mortal like yourself!--I disclaim all power over the spiritual part of my subjects: they are responsible to God, not to their King, for those religious tenets from which their good or evil actions proceed. When I return to Portugal I return to obey and to execute the laws; to provide for the political prosperity of my people; to endeavour at forwarding their moral improvement by my example; and to live in amity with all nations who acknowledge one obligation to worship one creator, and to obey the one law of virtue that he has placed in every heart: further, than this, I exact of no man; different portions of reason and different habits, will produce, to the end of time, different degrees in the scale of religious advancement. “Morosini, you now know my sentiments; which I solemnly take Heaven to witness are faithfully delivered to you. If your republic will continue to support a man of such sentiments in his just claim, I pledge myself for eternal gratitude: if not, I condemn her not; I lament her slavery to that anti-christian authority which once fettered myself, and I will depart in peace.” “Not so, Sir!” said Morosini, changing colour, and in a hurried voice, for shame was at his heart. “The republic is under the painful necessity of detaining you until our most holy father the Pope has signified his pleasure respecting her conduct.” Sebastian was transfixed by this reply; the blood recoiled upon his heart, and he stood some moments incapable of speech; then advancing and fixing a stern look on Signor Giuseppe, he said, “On the faith of the whole republic, not merely on the word of him who proffered friendship unasked, did I come hither: eternal infamy will lighten that republic if they suffer a hair of this head to fall. Beware how you damn yourselves to posterity by this unheard of treachery.” “What treachery, does Don Sebastian injuriously apprehend?” asked Giuseppe, endeavouring to look tranquil. “That which lays upon the surface of your own words,” was the reply--“you return from the court of him who has fallen heir to my usurped dominions, with a determination to make the fulfilment of your hasty promises depend upon my renunciation of those principles, which still believing, I dare not abjure. You cannot dispute the identity which your own eyes and lips have acknowledged, therefore, (seduced into Philip’s interest,) you take refuge under papal authority, and will deliver me up to imprisonment or to death, at the ordination of Rome.”