“[I]t seems to me Fra Francesco is the greater hero, for he offers to enter the fire for the truth, though he is sure the fire will burn him.” . . . “It is true, Messer Segretario,” said the shopkeeper, with subdued impatience. “But will you favour us by interpreting the Latin?” “Assuredly,” said Tito. “It does but express the conclusions or doctrines which the Frate specially teaches, and which the trial by fire is to prove true or false.”

You fish, pal. Old grumpy-pants doesn't own the ocean!

He has scoured the known world for information on this ancient land turned to myth and has tried many times to locate it with his magic, only to be denied as some unseen force tampered with his scryings.

In its elongated form, the shen ring became the cartouche which enclosed and protected a royal name.