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Romance and Poetry: Polos

Ramusio, in his account of Marco Polo, gives, on traditional authority, a romantic story of the arrival of the Polos at Venice, laden with riches, but so changed in appearance and dress that they were not recognized. "They repaired to their own house, which was a noble palace, and found several of their relations still living in it, who, not knowing of their wealth, and probably considering them, from their coarse and common attire, poor adventurers returned to be a charge upon their families. The Polos, however, took an effectual mode of quickening the memories of their friends, and insuring a loving reception. They invited them all to a grand banquet. When their guests arrived, they received them richly dressed in garments of crimson satin of oriental fashion. When water had been served for the washing of hands, and the company summoned to table, the travellers, who had retired, appeared again in still richer robes of crimson damask. The first dresses were cut up and distributed among the servants, being of such length that they swept the ground, which was the mode in those days with dresses worn within doors. After the first course they again returned, and came in dressed in crimson velvet, the damask dresses being likewise given to the domestics; and the same was done at the end of the feast with their velvet robes, when they appeared in the Venetian dress of the day. "The guests were lost in astonishment, and could not comprehend the meaning of this masquerade. Having dismissed their attendants, Marco Polo brought forth the coarse Tartar dresses in which they had arrived. Slashing them in several places with a knife, and ripping open the seams and the linings, there tumbled forth rubies, sapphires, emeralds, diamonds, and other precious stones, until the whole table glittered with inestimable wealth acquired from the munificence of the Grand Khan, and conveyed in this portable form through the perils of their long journey. The company were out of their wits with amazement, and now clearly perceived what they had first doubted, that these were in very truth those honoured gentlemen, the Polos, and accordingly paid them great respect and reverence. "When the fame of this banquet and the wealth of the travellers became known throughout Venice, all the city, noble and simple, crowded to do honour to the extraordinary merit of the Polos. Marco was the hero of the day, and, as he always spoke of the wealth of the Grand Khan in round numbers, he was called Messer Marco Millioni."