news came that LAMPA DORIA, Captain of the Genoese Fleet, had
advanced with 70 galleys to the Island of Curzola, upon which
orders were issued by the Prince of the Most Illustrious Signory
for the arming of 90 galleys with all the expedition possible, and
Messer Marco Polo for his valour was put in charge of one of these.
So he with the others, under the command of the Most Illustrious
MESSER ANDREA DANDOLO, Procurator of St. Mark’s, as Captain
General, a very brave and worthy gentleman, set out in search of
the Genoese Fleet. They fought on the September feast of Our Lady,
and, as is the common hazard of war, our fleet was beaten, and Polo
was made prisoner. For, having pressed on in the vanguard of the
attack, and fighting with high and worthy courage in defence of his
country and his kindred, he did not receive due support, and being
wounded, he was taken, along with Dandolo, and immediately put in
irons and sent to Genoa.
“When his rare qualities and marvellous travels became known
there, the whole city gathered to see him and to speak with him,
and he was no longer entreated as a prisoner but as a dear friend
and honoured gentleman. Indeed they showed him such honour and
affection that at all hours of the day he was visited by the
noblest gentlemen of the city, and was continually receiving
presents of every useful kind. Messer Marco finding himself in
this position, and witnessing the general eagerness to hear all
about Cathay and the Great Can, which indeed compelled him daily to
repeat his story till he was weary, was advised to put the matter
in writing. So having found means to get a letter written to his
father here at Venice, in which he desired the latter to send the
notes and memoranda which he had brought home with him, after the
receipt of these, and assisted by a Genoese gentleman, who was a
great friend of his, and who took great delight in learning about
the various regions of the world, and used on that account to spend
many hours daily in the prison with him, he wrote this present book
(to please him) in the Latin tongue.
“To this day the Genoese for the most part write what they have to
write in that language, for there is no possibility of expressing
their natural dialect with the pen.[7] Thus then it came to pass
that the Book was put forth at first by Messer Marco in Latin; but
as many copies were taken, and as it was rendered into our vulgar
tongue, all Italy became filled with it, so much was this story
desired and run after.
[Sidenote: Ramusio’s account of Marco’s liberation and marriage.]