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Marco Polo, Rustichello of Pisa - The Travels of Marco Polo, 1
was one of the ports on the route from Venice to Constantinople, Tana, Trebizond. - H. C.]
NOTE 3. - The edition of the Soc. de Geographie makes Mark's age twelve, but I have
verified from inspection the fact noticed by Pauthier that the manuscript has distinctly xv. like all
the other old texts. In Ramusio it is nineteen, but this is doubtless an arbitrary correction to suit
the mistaken date (1250) assigned for the departure of the father from Constantinople.
There is nothing in the old French texts to justify the usual statement that Marco was born after the
departure of his father from Venice. All that the G. T. says is: "Meser Nicolau treuve que sa fame estoit
morte, et les remes un filz de xv. anz que avoit a nom Marc," and Pauthier's text is to the same effect.
Ramusio, indeed, has: "M. Nicolo trovo, che sua moglie era morta, la quale nella sua partita haveva
partorito un figliuolo," and the other versions that are based on Pipino's seem all to have like statements.
CHAPTER X. HOW THE TWO BROTHERS AGAIN DEPARTED FROM VENICE, ON THEIR
WAY BACK TO THE GREAT KAAN, AND TOOK WITH THEM MARK, THE SON OF MESSER
NICOLAS.
When the Two Brothers had tarried as long as I have told you, and saw that never a Pope was made, they
said that their return to the Great Kaan must be put off no longer. So they set out from Venice, taking
Mark along with them, and went straight back to Acre, where they found the Legate of whom we have
spoken. They had a good deal of discourse with him concerning the matter, and asked his permission to
go to JERUSALEM to get some Oil from the Lamp on the Sepulchre, to carry with them to the Great
Kaan, as he had enjoined.[NOTE 1] The Legate giving them leave, they went from Acre to Jerusalem
and got some of the Oil, and then returned to Acre, and went to the Legate and said to him: "As we see
no sign of a Pope's being made, we desire to return to the Great Kaan; for we have already tarried long,
and there has been more than enough delay." To which the Legate replied: "Since 'tis your wish to go
back, I am well content." Wherefore he caused letters to be written for delivery to the Great Kaan,
bearing testimony that the Two Brothers had come in all good faith to accomplish his charge, but that as
there was no Pope they had been unable to do so.
NOTE 1. - In a Pilgrimage of date apparently earlier than this, the Pilgrim says of the Sepulchre: "The
Lamp which had been placed by His head (when He lay there) still burns on the same spot day and
night. We took a blessing from it (i.e. apparently took some of the oil as a beneficent memorial),
and replaced it." (Itinerarium Antonini Placentini in Bollandists, May, vol. ii. p. xx.)
["Five great oil lamps," says Daniel, the Russian Hegoumene, 1106-1107 (Itineraires russes en
Orient, trad. pour la Soc. de l'Orient Latin, par Mme. B. de Khitrowo, Geneva, 1889, p. 13), "burning
continually night and day, are hung in the Sepulchre of Our Lord." - H. C.]
CHAPTER XI. HOW THE TWO BROTHERS SET OUT FROM ACRE, AND MARK ALONG
WITH THEM.
When the Two Brothers had received the Legate's letters, they set forth from Acre to return to the Grand
Kaan, and got as far as Layas. But shortly after their arrival there they had news that the Legate aforesaid
was chosen Pope, taking the name of Pope Gregory of Piacenza; news which the Two Brothers were very
glad indeed to hear. And presently there reached them at Layas a message from the Legate, now the
Pope, desiring them, on the part of the Apostolic See, not to proceed further on their journey, but to
return to him incontinently. And what shall I tell you? The King of Hermenia caused a galley to be got
ready for the Two Ambassador Brothers, and despatched them to the Pope at Acre.[NOTE 1]
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