26. As Willingly Give Cure As Know
Founding an orphanage was not a task to be accomplished swiftly. Even with all the resources already at their disposal, Mercutio and Benvolio worked on the project for many months. Mercutio wrote letters to the directors of the Innocents' Hospitals in Florence and Bologna, requesting advice on the administration of such an institution. Both men responded readily enough, and Mercutio and Benvolio eventually traveled to Bologna to visit the orphanage there. They planned to stay in Bologna for four months, so that Mercutio could learn about the workings of the Innocents' Hospital in minute detail.
Bologna was a much larger city than Verona, and Benvolio marveled at the lively commercial and artistic life he saw there. Bologna boasted one of the most ancient universities in Europe, the Alma Mater Studiorum. Mercutio noted Benvolio's sighs of envy when he watched the students milling around the university's buildings, and arranged special permission for Benvolio to attend the lectures of one of the university's more notable philosophers in the mornings. When he showed Benvolio the letter, Benvolio was so overcome that he could not speak for a moment.
"I know it is not the full university education that thou dost covet," Mercutio said, "but as long as we are here, I would have thee take advantage of what opportunity is available. I think that thou needst not spend every hour in every day at the Innocents' Hospital. Attend thy philosophy lectures, and join me at the Hospital in the afternoons. That will be sufficient."
"Oh, Mercutio," Benvolio breathed. "How can I ever thank thee?"
Mercutio laughed. "It is a small enough service. Indeed, I should be the one to thank thee. All my life, thou hast given me love even when I did not merit or comprehend the grace. Were it not for thee, I should have died that day in the piazza when I fought Tybalt. I owe thee my life and my sanity, and four months of university classes is small enough repayment for that."
Benvolio read the letter again, hardly able to believe it. "How didst thou manage this?"
"Ah, well," Mercutio said with a smile. "When thou dost consort with the nephew of the Prince of Verona, thou shouldst receive some benefit."
Benvolio attended the philosophy lectures eagerly. His old tutor had never been much interested in humanist philosophy, and had preferred to teach Benvolio and Romeo pure theology and the basic works of the Greeks instead. Now he learned of the greatest writings of the modern era, and heard also about the works of Avicenna and Averroes.
He was not surprised that his fellow students were so clever and insightful as to put him to shame most days. He had expected that, and relished the challenge that they gave him. What did surprise him was that two of these fellow students were women. Christina Bernardi and Katharina Mantelli were the daughters of wealthy merchants who fully expected to marry either similarly wealthy gentlemen or titled nobles when they had received their degrees. Once he had moved past his shock at seeing women discussing philosophy at all, Benvolio was delighted to realize that both Christina and Katharina possessed as much wit and insight as any of the male students.
"We are fortunate to live in Bologna," Christina told Benvolio. "The Studium is the only university in Italy to accept women among the ranks of its students."
"And your fathers do not fear that the education will make you unsuitable for marriage?" Benvolio asked.
Christina and Katharina laughed. "On the contrary," Katharina said. "My father believes that the degree will make me more suitable for marriage. What man would wish to marry a woman with whom he could not make conversation?"
Benvolio thought of the way that he had courted Mercutio, over books and long, idle discussion, and had to admit that Katharina had a point. When he told Mercutio about the conversation, Mercutio immediately agreed with Katharina.
"Women in Bologna are permitted to do many things," he said. "It is a great city that recognizes the talents of all its inhabitants, and profits by it. Imagine what Verona could be if Juliet or Helena enjoyed the same freedom."
That, too, was a valid argument. As fond as Benvolio was of Romeo, he had to admit that Juliet was far shrewder than her husband, and would grow to be a lady of wit and wisdom. Romeo might have chosen in haste, but he had chosen well.
The four months in Bologna flew by like a dream. Benvolio was sorry to leave the Studium, but was grateful that he had been able to attend even for so short a time. Once he and Mercutio were on the road, however, he found that he missed Verona and was looking forward to coming home. For his part, Mercutio had learned much about how to run a foundling home, and had already come up with some ideas that he intended to implement as soon as he could.
"If this hospital is truly to be a refuge," he said, "it should be a good place, one where the children will receive welcome, care, and training so that they can make their way in the world without the guidance of their parents."
Benvolio heartily approved of this goal. He was sure that a not insignificant portion of Mercutio's troubles stemmed from Escalus's neglect as well as from Giacomo's abuse. He would not see the children at this orphanage suffer the same fate.
Their friends and families welcomed them back to Verona with open arms. Benvolio and Mercutio told their friends the tales of their adventures in Bologna, and their friends listened with held breath. In return, Romeo announced that Juliet was expecting a second child. Lady Capulet and Aunt Susanna both worried about Juliet enduring another pregnancy so soon after having Marcello, but nothing could be done save to hope for the best. For her part, Juliet was eagerly anticipating the new baby, and wished for a girl. Romeo said that he did not care whether his second child was a son or a daughter, only that it be born healthy and live. He asked Mercutio to stand godfather when the baby was born, and Mercutio agreed.
In the meantime, there was much work to be done. Some of Mercutio's investments had begun to pay off, and he set about furnishing the house and equipping it with workshops and a schoolroom.
"We must begin to engage nurses to care for the children, a priest to instruct them in spiritual matters, and schoolmasters and artisans to teach them the arts of the world," he said. "I would also have a physician on retainer."
"Why?" Benvolio asked. "Dost thou believe that these orphans will be so constantly ill as to require a physician nearby at all times?"
Mercutio shook his head. "I do not think we will need a physician on the grounds at all times," he explained, "but I do wish to have one available when we have need. Children may come to this refuge ill or wounded, and I would have them cared for from the moment they set foot in the door."
Escalus approved of this plan when he heard of it. "I agree that this hospital should have a physician," he said. "Especially during time of plague. If one child succumbs, others might fall ill as well."
Mercutio smiled. "I had not thought of that."
Escalus nodded at him. "Then it is well that thou dost come to me for advice on occasion. Hast thou given any thought to potential candidates for these positions?"
Benvolio placed on Escalus's desk a list of several artisans with whom he had spoken, who had agreed either to come to the orphanage to teach the children or to accept them as apprentices when they were of an appropriate age. Romeo had spoken with Friar Lawrence, and Lawrence had found two brothers of his order who would be willing to serve as priest and teacher.
"The abbot has approved their petition for this work already," Romeo had said. "Friar Lawrence says that the abbot looks kindly upon this sort of work, and hopes that it may win more souls for the Holy Church."
Escalus considered the list of names, and nodded. "This is a good beginning," he said. "Nurses for the small children are easily found, I suppose. Verona has a goodly supply of widows who might undertake this service in return for room and board. What of the physician? Has either of you found a suitable candidate?"
"I have," Mercutio said. "I would retain Eliezer Moreno in this capacity."
Escalus did not express overt disapproval, but his expression changed from one of interest to one that was completely unreadable. Benvolio swallowed nervously. Mercutio straightened his spine, ready to insist if he had to do so.
At last, Escalus sighed. "I have no personal objection to the Jewish surgeon," he said, "but others might."
"He is the best physician in Verona," Benvolio said. "He saved Mercutio's life. Had I an ailing child, I would trust him to Eliezer without a second thought."
"His skills are not in question," Escalus replied. "But there are other things that must be considered in this choice. The law of Verona does not allow such an office to be held by a Jew."
Mercutio shrugged. "Then I would ask that that law be changed, Uncle. It is within your power to do so. You have bent the law before, for my sake and for Benvolio's."
"Thou and Benvolio live here discreetly, under my protection. The matter of the Jewish surgeon is different. It would be . . . unseemly."
"The abuse of children is unseemly," Mercutio retorted, "and that is what Eliezer will help to mend."
"It would be a waste not to take advantage of Eliezer's talent," Benvolio added, before an unfortunate argument could erupt. "In Bologna, I saw women running businesses, practicing crafts, even studying for degrees at the Studium. Bologna flourishes because it uses the talents of all its citizens. Why should Verona not do the same?"
Escalus was silent for a moment as he considered the issue. Finally, he scooped up the papers and handed them back to Mercutio. "I will bend the law for Eliezer if thy donors will agree that he is the man for this post," he said. "Though thou must explain thy choice of physician thyself to those men who have invested their money in thy venture. I will give thee no aid in that matter."
Benvolio did not expect that such a task would be easy, but Mercutio was committed to his choice of physician and was prepared to make his argument as many times as he needed to do so. His wit and eloquence, which had entertained his friends as a boy, now served him well to convince the wealthy men of Verona to maintain their investment in a foundling home with a Jewish physician on retainer. Mercutio's most striking argument was the scar on his chest from his duel with Tybalt. When he explained how he had acquired it and how he had survived, some of his donors, including Uncle Tiberio, declared themselves convinced at once.
Others, such as Signior Neri, required more persuasion. "Perhaps the Jew cared for you," he said, "but your kinship with the Prince is known throughout all Verona. Who is to say that he would extend the same care to orphaned children without such connections?"
"He has said it himself," Mercutio answered. "Eliezer Moreno is prepared to give the same care to Verona's foundlings that he would give to his own family.'
Signior Neri gave a laugh that was more than half a snort. "Even if that is so, why should we entrust Verona's foundlings to a faithless Jew? I would not put my own children into the hands of such a one."
Mercutio's eyes flashed, and Benvolio stepped into the conversation before things could get out of hand. "No one is asking you to put your own children into Eliezer's care, Signior Neri," he said. "Eliezer would be responsible solely for the children dwelling in the foundling home."
"They are the children no one wants," Mercutio added. "They are the orphans who beg on the streets of our Christian city, or who are mistreated by their Christian parents. Perhaps Eliezer is a Jew, but he is also a man, and he is willing to care for these children of men."
"Eliezer will give no spiritual instruction," Benvolio said. "Friar John will do that. Eliezer will heal their bodies so that they are prepared to receive Friar John's wisdom into their souls, even as the prophets prepared us for the coming of Our Lord."
Mercutio shot Benvolio a significant glance at that last remark, but held his tongue. Signior Neri pondered their words.
"Bianca my daughter never had need of such attention from a physician," he said after a while.
"Bianca was cherished and doted upon in a fine home," Mercutio replied, his tone somewhat more gentle than before. "The children who would have need of the innocents' hospital will not have had such loving care. What you gave to your daughter, Eliezer is prepared to give to these children. He is a father himself, after all, and knows the joys of healthy children."
Signior Neri heaved a great sigh. "Very well," he said. "Your arguments have merit to them. I will agree to the appointment of Eliezer Moreno as physician to your establishment." He moved to his desk, extracted a scrap of paper, and scrawled a note to that effect. After the ink had dried, he rolled the note, tied it, and handed it to Mercutio.
"It is a shame that thou didst not decide to study law," he said. "The passion in thy voice might melt the heart of even the hardest judge."
"Perhaps," Mercutio said, a faint trace of a smile on his face from the compliment. "But there are many fine lawyers in Verona. As far as I am aware, I am the only one who wishes to institute a foundling home."
"That, too, is a fine calling," Signior Neri admitted. "And perhaps just as necessary."
In this way, Mercutio spoke with all the wealthy men of Verona who had contributed their gold to his cause. When he had convinced each of them that no disaster would come from the appointment of a Jewish physician, he presented his case to Escalus once again. He and Benvolio brought all the notes and letters into Escalus's study in a basket, and upended the basket over the Prince's desk. Escalus raised his eyebrows, but began to open the notes and read them.
When he had finished, his expression was stern, but his eyes twinkled. "Very well," he said. "Go and inform Eliezer ben David Moreno that he is offered the post of physician on retainer to the Innocents' Hospital of Verona."