'In all directions. There is not a drop.'
'Ah, Marco! Marco! what are we to do? How can we go without wine?'
'Can I buy wine without money?' said Marco.
'There is money, and there shall be wine!' cried Jacopo, tossing a gold piece.
'How got you it, imp of the devil? Marry, stealing again. I suppose! Come here and I'll box your ears for you,' said Leonardo, shaking his finger at him.
'I swear by God, Master, I did not steal it. Cut out my tongue and send me to the pit if I did not win it at dice.'
'Well, stolen or not, fetch us some wine.'
Jacopo ran off to the Golden Eagle hard by, much frequented by the Swiss mercenaries, and kept open all night; presently he returned with pewter cans. The wine increased the mirth; the little Ganymede holding the vessel high so that beaded bubbles winked on the red liquid; and overflown with pride in entertaining the company at his own expense, he played pranks and jested and jumped; and mimicking the hoarse voice of a confirmed toper, he sang the song of the unfrocked monk:--
'To the devil with cowl and with frock, oh! With hood and with scapularie! Pretty nun, the lord Abbot bemock, oh! And dance at the junket with me! Ha! ha! ha! Ho! ho! ho!'
and then the solemn chorus from the Bacchanalian Mass, written in Latin, and sung by the students on festive occasions:--
'Who waters wine at this high feast supernal Shall drown in it for ages sempiternal, And after roast at fires of realms infernal!'
They drank toasts to the Master's health, to the glory of his studio, to the hopes of future wealth; and Giovanni never supped so much to his liking as at this beggars' feast, on cheese hard as rock, stale bread, and Jacopo's stolen wine. Presently Leonardo said with a smile--
'I have heard, friends, that St. Francis called melancholy the worst of sins, and preached that whoso wished to please God must be cheerful. Let us drink to the wisdom of Francis and to eternal cheerfulness in God.'
These words were surprising to all the youths except Giovanni, who understood their intention.
'Eh, Master,' said Astro, shaking his head, 'it is very well to speak of cheerfulness, but how can we be cheerful while we crawl along the ground like grave-worms? Let the others toast what they please, but I will drink to wings and to the flying-machine. May the devil carry away the laws of gravity and of mechanics which interfere with us.'