Caryl Phillips - The Nature of Blood

It happened that my attendant was a man whose family were traditionally gondoliers. He confided to me that his class, the gondolier class, were frugal in their habits, spending little on food and drink, preferring a routine of sustenance that seldom varied. Apparently, some gondoliers neglect to cover the wood on the arms of their chairs, and often tolerate beds that are little more than narrow cots with iron bedsteads, while others mix water with the wine in their hogsheads, which renders it either dead or sour. By living life in this manner, gondoliers are able to indulge their weak side, relating to their love of fine clothes and costume. According to my attendant, when exterior show is deemed necessary, a gondolier never hesitates over cost. If the fashion dictates extravagance, then a gondolier will display extravagance. Sadly, it transpired that my man, being the third son, was unlikely to benefit from the family 'business', so, to his great disappointment, he was forced to enter the service of the army where, for twenty years, he had occupied himself without rising in anyone's estimation, either on or off the battlefield. On our first evening together, he spoke endlessly and with passion about the lives of gondoliers, and he confessed his regret that he had not been able to pursue this family profession.

The gondola, he informed me, was unique to Venice, its great and impressive length obeying the impulse of a single rower, or sometimes two. It had only recently been decreed that these boats should be painted black, and black only, for some among the richer families of the city had begun to offend dignity by painting their vessels in a variety of gaudy colours in the hope of drawing attention to themselves. I was, of course, familiar with these vessels which dominated the waters of this city of the sea, but I listened eagerly as my attendant expounded upon their unique features. He gave me to understand that it requires only a delicate turn of the wrist for these artists — gondoliers — to guide their boats wherever they will, and he suggested that, with the sea and sky in one's sole possession, and the opportunity to indulge in contemplation that was afforded by both solitude and space, surely this was the perfect way to travel. Apparently gondoliers become very devoted to their boats, studying their characters and temperaments, and a large part of their skill depends upon this intimacy of knowledge. Many hours of each day are spent sponging, scrubbing and drying the boat so that every scratch, nail or blemish is known and recorded. A gondolier who attends lovingly to his boat can expect it to last him for five years or so, after which time he can sell the hull for a decent sum, and this former gondola will probably do duty for some years as a ferry on a back canal, all the while losing its graceful curves as the woodwork fails. The gondolier, however, will ensure that he keeps about him the canopy, the cushions, the carpeting and seats, and other fixtures, for these are often individual in design and part of the family inheritance. I listened with great interest, and felt that we were establishing the beginning of some form of understanding, but regrettably this conversation marked both the onset and the conclusion of our amity, for the next day an incident occurred that seemed to change this man's opinion of my character.

It had been the custom of a Venetian woman of middle years and frantic passion to visit me occasionally while I stayed at my merchant's house. Indeed, it was my merchant who suggested that it would be quite unnatural for an unattached man of my station not to have some legitimate avenue in which his pleasures might be indulged. For the aristocratic Venetian marriage was a carefully controlled economic and political ritual, and it was therefore important to keep the bloodlines pure. This being the case, prostitution was not only tolerated but positively encouraged, for it enabled the aristocratic man to indulge his desires without endangering the sanctity of his class. The woman whom my merchant deemed suitable to play host to my natural instincts was pleasant enough, and conversation formed part of her trade with me. However, on her first appearance during my new attendant's service, she found herself being rudely dismissed from the doorstep, despite her pleas that she had most definitely arrived at the correct house. I overheard this disturbance and was shocked by the vulgar intemperance of my attendant's tongue, therefore I intervened on the side of my woman friend and quickly ushered her into my chamber. I immediately endeavoured to engage her in some conversation in the hope that the unpleasantness of what had just occurred might be quickly forgotten. Fortunately, after some tedious pouting and a predictable display of hurt emotions, she soon calmed down and, upon my urging, began to explain to me the rules of courtship that are peculiar to Venetians of all classes.

I learnt that, in this city of Venice, courtship is both lengthy and expensive. Young men attempt to find their future loved ones by sailing the canals, or walking the streets, all the while looking up to windows and balconies. Having identified an object of attraction, the young man has to discover whether she is available to be approached by him, and this he is able to do in a variety of ways. He might continually pass by her house and observe whether he is being watched, he might offer flowers, or he might even sing to her. She will, if she is interested, soon let him know this fact by her continual appearance, or perhaps by bestowing a smile upon him. At this signal, the suitor dresses in his best clothes and, together with his closest friend, he will call on the father of the girl and formally request permission to court her. If the father is satisfied with the boy and his profession, he will set a time limit — usually two months — in which the pair might meet and decide whether they are suited. At the end of this time, if love does not prosper they will part and nothing further is mentioned of the matter. However, if love blooms, the parents of the girl nominate a day, and the young man and his whole family are invited to a supper at which the two families will be formally introduced. After the food, the lover requests the hand of the girl and he presents her with a gift. The father will usually give his consent, then make a speech on the blessings and important duties of the married state.

I listened, somewhat dumbfounded by the complex details that my woman friend seemed to be delighting in sharing with me, but to my astonishment there was yet more to this performance. A day or so after this supper at which the families meet, it seems that the father of the girl has to organize yet another supper which the young man must attend, this time bearing a wedding ring, and other rings, all of which pass into the girl's keeping. Apparently, should she abandon her suitor at any point after this, she is obliged to hand back the rings. Should, however, the man find reason to change his mind, then the girl keeps everything. At this point my woman friend showed me her richly bedecked fingers, from which I was able to surmise that, on more than one previous occasion, a young man had found reason to change his mind. Between this day of the rings and the wedding itself, many further presents are exchanged between would-be bride and bridegroom. The girl is expected to furnish silk handkerchiefs or neckties that are traditionally embroidered with her lover's initials, or his name, and the man is encouraged to give simple gifts such as fruit, raw mustard seed, cake, and, at Christmas, roast chestnuts. However, on no account must he give a comb, for this is deemed to be a witch's instrument, and books or pictures of saints are thought to bring misfortune. And then, my woman friend announced with a smile, there is only the wedding.

At the conclusion of her story, my friend began to prepare herself for the main purpose of her visit, but I stopped her, then reassured her that she would nevertheless be paid in full. She seemed confused and somewhat hurt, so I let it be known that I would have to explain my situation with her to my attendant, and, having done so, I imagined that all would be as before. This seemed to reassure her and she began to repair her clothing. However, upon her departure I immediately sensed a new tone to my dealings with my attendant. I gave this matter some thought and decided that, in order to protect my new and undoubtedly more important relationship, I could happily forgo the pleasures of the flesh, particularly as I held no real affection for the woman. However, it soon became clear that in my attendant's eyes I had seriously transgressed, and it would be difficult, if not impossible, for me to amend the damage of this woman's unannounced visit. I had no doubt that, had I been a foreigner of his own complexion, he would have had little difficulty in accepting my desire to engage a courtesan. I suspected the problem was that he objected to one such as I coupling with one of his own, even though she who entertained me was merely acting out the rank and station of her life.