Preys and Predators 3 Love Binds, Family Destroy Chapter 16

 

16.

 

Lord Gencio Capulet was blessed with a son then; he named Romeo Montague that year. The name Romeo meant the ‘man from Rome’. The Roman Empire ended in AD 453, when the western Roman Empire came to an end. The eastern Roman Empire, more commonly known as the Byzantine Empire, survived until the fall of Constantinople. The father of the child wanted his son to be remembered greatly like the Roman Empire.

“Thank you, my lady Sofia.” Lord Gencio Capulet kissed his lover then on the left cheek. “You gave me an heir to the business.”

Lady Sofia smiled. It was a difficult birth, but she was happy that she delivered the baby. The midwives were concerned during the birth because the mother did not have the wide hips to accommodate the delivery. It was the determination of the mother to push the baby into the world that he lived.

“What is our son’s name?”

“Romeo Capulet.” Lord Gencio Capulet told her. “He will be a man among men, and remembered his name for ages; they will call upon him. I have placed the chaplet made of laurel, ivy, and parsley at the door.”

It was a Roman tradition, but Gencio, though of the Christian faith, held to some of the traditional ways of the Romans. Genoa flourished under the Roman Empire for years, although the distance between Rome and Genoa was far.

“Lord Gencio Capulet, we must bathe the mother and child now.” The midwives shooed the proud father out of the chamber. When outside, the lord was met by his family and friends.

“Good tidings, Gencio.” It was Antonio who wished him. “Your son's birth has good news for you. Here are the ducats I was to pay last moon.”

Antonio was always in dire need of bridging his loans, but he does return the coins, albeit late than never.

“Have you heard? The Montagues have another child. I was told it was a girl.” Antonio told Lord Gencio Capulet. “Lord Dante Montague is still away.”

“Do not speak ill of Lord Dante Montague.” Lord Gencio Capulet protected the name of his friend. “Where is he now?”

Lord Gencio Capulet had not harboured any anger with the Montagues then. Their rivalry was the dividing point in their friendship. He knew that Lord Dante Montague had wedded Angeline, but she did not like him, so it was no real loss. Lord Dante Montague knew that he had taken on a new mistress to his home. In his mind, the child of the mistress, to ridicule him, although everyone acknowledged Lady Sofia as his wife.

Rarely known to him, Lord Gencio Capulet’s name was mentioned elsewhere, too.

“I am unsure. I heard he is at the Court of Corvinus.” Matthias Corvinus was King of Hungary as Matthias I. He is often given the epithet "the Just". He was the son of John Hunyadi, Regent of Hungary.

“Lord Gencio Capulet is an opportunist where trade or profit can be made.” Another trader said to the King.

“Aye, he may be, but he is ever willing to help the friends of his.” Antonio defended Lord Gencio Capulet. He had arrived to speak to the King about new trades.

“And you are here on Lord Gencio Capulet to negotiate trades?” The King looked at Antonio. “Now that Lord Danio Capulet is busy at home.”

“Yes, your Highness. May we discuss?” Antonio was never one to miss an opportunity. He knew that Lord Dante Montague was there earlier. It was then that Lord Dante Montague got news of his daughter. He was elated and sent back to his home the gifts for his daughter and her mother. His letter was brief.

“I am happy that we have a new member of the family. Do take care. I will be back soon.”

Lord Dante Montague was holding an audience with the other Lords at the court. The war with the Ottomans was ongoing, and Vlad Tepes was dethroned by the boyars. Wallachia was without a Voivode, and the Ottomans placed the young Radu as the Bey of Wallachia.

The new prince returning from the Ottoman Empire to replace his brother was willing to grant concessions to the Transylvanian Saxon merchants, who had come into bitter conflict with Vlad Tepes. The latter, not to give up, sought assistance from Matthias, and they met in Brassó (now Brașov, Romania).

“I pledged my loyalty to you, King Matthias.” Vlad had bowed to the new King of Hungary, replacing John Hunyadi.

“Your history with my father was well recorded. How could I trust you then?” The King of Hungary asked.

“Does the river flow backwards? No, it does not. I am to move forward from here. Your …… The conflicts of mine with John Hunyadi were in the past. We had our differences, but over the years, I have come to terms with them. I admit youthful brashness prevailed over me. I am now more inclined to work with Hungary.”

It was a good presentation, but the rift of the Wallachian Voivode ran deep. Vlad was then betrayed by the Saxons. They presented Matthias with a letter that was allegedly written by Vlad Dracula to Sultan Mehmed, in which the prince offered his support to the Ottomans.

Much to the dismay of the lords there, Matthias had Vlad imprisoned. It was then that Lord Dante Montague decided to leave the court to see his newly born daughter. Meanwhile, Radu, with the Janissary under his command, began attacks and raids on Vlad III's mountain stronghold on the Argeș River, Castle Poenari.

“My King, we are under threat by the Ottoman Empire.” King Matthias Corvinus was not at war with the Ottoman Empire; however, assembled a new army.

“My King, Mehmet II had taken to siege Jaice.” One of the nobles spoke out.

“Then we will fight them.” The King called for the assembly of the new army along the River Sava. Mehmet II saw the assembled army and raised the siege.

“No reason to stop there. We will attack.” King Corvinus gave the command. It was then Lord Gencio Capulet stepped in.

“My King, I hold a shipment of weapons at port. Can you acquire it for a fair price?” Antonio appeared for Lord Gencio Capulet raised the bill of lading. It was agreed, and the army was given the supply.

“Good move there, Antonio.” Lord Gencio Capulet sent words to Antonio. He had changed allegiance to the King from Vlad when he heard the news of the war. He knew that the war was going will mean more supplies needed. The King will plunder the cities that he captured, and that wealth will pay for the supplies.

Lord Dante Montague, back home, found renewed interest in his life with the birth of his daughter. He wanted a name for her to be remembered. His memory rose to the name Juliette, but he found distaste then.

“Juliette is not a name. It is an abbreviation for a slut.” Lord Dante Montague was angry then. “I shall not name her after that…...”

“Juliet, not Juliette, and it means youthful. She will always be youthful, even at death.” The midwives told the father by letter. “Her mother wants that name.”

Lord Dante Montague did not argue with the mother of the child's preference and agreed.

“Juliet will be her name. She will be youthful in her life.”  That was how Juliet got her name: Juliet Montague, the youthful Goddess.

The births did not stop there.

Leah gave birth to a girl, and Shylock was not exactly thrilled. He was expecting a son who would carry on the business as he did for his father.

“Shylock, she is our child. She is God’s gift to us.” Leah told him. He looked at the child and looked away. “Why do you look away from her? She is God’s gift.”

“She is God’s gift to us. It has too many boys in the families. “Shylock’s mother stepped up to the newborn. “I can see her looks that hold some of mine.”

“Shylock, accept her, for she will make you great.” The mother of Shylock told her son. “I am proud to have her with me.”

“Give a name, mother,” Shylock said.

“She is God’s gift. A Yishai, which to us means a gift. Jessica is “to behold,” “to see before,” or “God beholds” in Hebrew. She is the 'gift from god' or 'grace of god’.” Thus, the baby was named Jessica.

“I do not like the name. Or the child.” Shylock told his mother.  

“I am her grandmother. She stays with me.” Shylock’s mother took firm action. “I will raise her as my daughter.”

Shylock was devastated and walked off. He passed the spear that was given to him. He had yet to deliver the message. He did so that day after the long delay.

“Your son died in the war in Kosovo.” Shylock met the family then. “He told me to tell you. I am late because I was wounded and needed time to recover.”

Shylock lied then.

“Thank you for telling us now. We had expected that news after such a long time.” The mother of the dead infantryman said. “War has taken his father and now him. I am left with no one to take care of me.”

“This may help.” Shylock, for the first time in his life, was charitable enough to give some coins away. “He would like you to have it.”

“You bear God’s gift, but I am dying. Take the coins back.” The lady pushed the coins away. “I shall die in peace, knowing that I have not taken any coins from strangers I do not know.”

“It is not mine. It belongs to your son.” Shylock said. “He wants …….”

“My son told me that if ever he returns, it will be with his life. He did not offer me any coins. I am a believer in that. If he is truly dead, then I am glad for him. Life was not easy for him. He has the pain in him, but he worked hard to support me. Coins will not bring him back, but his words did. Please take your coins back.”

Shylock left the lady and met a friar on the way. He explained to the priest what was said.

“Son, the lady is right. Coins you have are blood money from the ones slain. She wants no part of it. All she wanted was the return of her son, his love for her, or his spirit.” The friar told him. “Judas once took thirty silver coins to betray Jesus. He regretted it, and before he died, he had it returned to the priest. Even the priest will not keep it and had it bought a potter's field. Your coins could do the same.”

Matthew 27:7-10; the "potter's field" refers to a field purchased with the money Judas Iscariot used to betray Jesus, which was then used as a burial ground for strangers and the poor.

“Could you do this for me?” Shylock asked.

“No, my son. I cannot. The coins belong to you, but your heart holds onto them. The gift is not sincere. When you are sincere, embrace God and ask for forgiveness. Remember, God's Word tells us what is right and that we should desire to eagerly do His will. “I will run the way of thy commandments . . .. I shall observe it thy Law with my whole heart” (Psalm 119:32, 34).”

Shylock looked to the departing friar and thought of his own sincere gift at home. The gift was not what he wanted, but it was still a gift from God.