第11章

TheCountLuigiraisedmoney，liketherest，andonemildSeptembermorning，armedwithbattle—ax，portcullisandthunderingculverin，herodethroughthegreavesandbucklersofhisdonjon—keepwithasgallantatroopofChristianbanditsaseversteppedinItaly。Hehadhissword，Excalibur，withhim。Hisbeautifulcountessandheryoungdaughterwavedhimatearfuladieufromthebattering—ramsandbuttressesofthefortress，andhegallopedawaywithahappyheart。Hemadearaidonaneighboringbaronandcompletedhisoutfitwiththebootysecured。Hethenrazedthecastletotheground，massacredthefamilyandmovedon。Theywerehardyfellowsinthegrandolddaysofchivalry。Alas！Thosedayswillnevercomeagain。CountLuigigrewhighinfameinHolyLand。Heplungedintothecarnageofahundredbattles，buthisgoodExcaliburalwaysbroughthimoutalive，albeitoftensorelywounded。HisfacebecamebrownedbyexposuretotheSyriansuninlongmarches;hesufferedhungerandthirst;

hepinedinprisons，helanguishedinloathsomeplague—hospitals。Andmanyandmanyatimehethoughtofhislovedonesathome，andwonderedifallwaswellwiththem。Buthisheartsaid，Peace，isnotthybrotherwatchingoverthyhousehold？*******Forty—twoyearswaxedandwaned;thegoodfightwaswon;GodfreyreignedinJerusalem——theChristianhostsrearedthebannerofthecrossabovetheHolySepulchre！Twilightwasapproaching。Fiftyharlequins，inflowingrobes，approachedthiscastlewearily，fortheywereonfoot，andthedustupontheirgarmentsbetokenedthattheyhadtraveledfar。Theyovertookapeasant，andaskedhimifitwerelikelytheycouldgetfoodandahospitablebedthere，forloveofChristiancharity，andifperchance，amoralparlorentertainmentmightmeetwithgenerouscountenance——"for，"saidthey，"thisexhibitionhathnofeaturethatcouldoffendthemostfastidioustaste。""Marry，"quoththepeasant，"an\'itpleaseyourworships，yehadbetterjourneymanyagoodroodhencewithyourjugglingcircusthantrustyourbonesinyondercastle。""Hownow，sirrah！"exclaimedthechiefmonk，"explainthyribaldspeech，orby\'rLadyitshallgohardwiththee。""Peace，goodmountebank，Ididbututterthetruththatwasinmyheart。SanPaolobemywitnessthatdidyebutfindthestoutCountLeonardoinhiscups，sheerfromthecastle\'stopmostbattlementswouldhehurlyeall！Alack—a—day，thegoodLordLuigireignsnothereinthesesadtimes。""ThegoodLordLuigi？""Aye，noneother，pleaseyourworship。Inhisday，thepoorrejoicedinplentyandtherichhedidoppress;taxeswerenotknown，thefathersofthechurchwaxedfatuponhisbounty;travelerswentandcame，withnonetointerfere;andwhosoeverwould，mighttarryinhishallsincordialwelcome，andeathisbreadanddrinkhiswine，withal。Butwoeisme！sometwoandfortyyearsagonethegoodcountrodehencetofightforHolyCross，andmanyayearhathflownsincewordortokenhavewehadofhim。MensayhisbonesliebleachinginthefieldsofPalestine。""Andnow？""Now！God\'amercy，thecruelLeonardolordsitinthecastle。Hewringstaxesfromthepoor;herobsalltravelersthatjourneybyhisgates;hespendshisdaysinfeudsandmurders，andhisnightsinrevelanddebauch;heroaststhefathersofthechurchuponhiskitchenspits，andenjoyeththesame，callingitpastime。ThesethirtyyearsLuigi\'scountesshathnotbeenseenbyanyheinallthisland，andmanywhisperthatshepinesinthedungeonsofthecastleforthatshewillnotwedwithLeonardo，sayingherdearlordstilllivethandthatshewilldieeresheprovefalsetohim。Theywhisperlikewisethatherdaughterisaprisoneraswell。Nay，goodjugglers，seekyerefreshmentotherwheres。

\'TwerebetterthatyeperishedinaChristianwaythanthatyeplungedfromoffyondizzytower。Giveyegood—day。""Godkeepye，gentleknave——farewell。"Butheedlessofthepeasant\'swarning，theplayersmovedstraightwaytowardthecastle。WordwasbroughttoCountLeonardothatacompanyofmountebanksbesoughthishospitality。"\'Tiswell。Disposeoftheminthecustomarymanner。Yetstay！

Ihaveneedofthem。Letthemcomehither。Later，castthemfromthebattlements——or——howmanypriestshaveyeonhand？""Theday\'sresultsaremeagre，goodmylord。Anabbotandadozenbeggarlyfriarsisallwehave。""Hellandfuries！Istheestategoingtoseed？Sendhitherthemountebanks。Afterward，broilthemwiththepriests。"Therobedandclose—cowledharlequinsentered。ThegrimLeonardosateinstateattheheadofhiscouncilboard。Rangedupanddownthehalloneitherhandstoodnearahundredmen—at—arms。"Ha，villains！"quoththecount，"Whatcanyedotoearnthehospitalityyecrave。""Dreadlordandmighty，crowdedaudienceshavegreetedourhumbleeffortswithrapturousapplause。AmongourbodycountwetheversatileandtalentedUgolino;thejustlycelebratedRodolpho;thegiftedandaccomplishedRoderigo;themanagementhavesparedneitherpainsnorexpense——""S\'death！Whatcanyedo？Curbthypratingtongue。""Goodmylord，inacrobaticfeats，inpracticewiththedumb—bells，inbalancingandgroundandloftytumblingareweversed——andsithyourhighnessaskethme，IventureheretopublishthatinthetrulymarvelousandentertainingZampillaerostation——""Gaghim！throttlehim！BodyofBacchus！amIadogthatI

amtobeassailedwithpolysyllabledblasphemyliketothis？Buthold！

Lucretia，Isabel，standforth！Sirrah，beholdthisdame，thisweepingwench。

ThefirstImarry，withinthehour;theothershalldryhertearsorfeedthevultures。Thouandthyvagabondsshallcrowntheweddingwiththymerry—makings。

Fetchhitherthepriest！"Thedamesprangtowardthechiefplayer。"O，saveme！"shecried;"savemefromafatefarworsethandeath！Beholdthesesadeyes，thesesunkencheeks，thiswitheredframe！

Seethouthewreckthisfiendhathmade，andletthyheartbemovedwithpity！Lookuponthisdamosel;noteherwastedform，herhaltingstep，herbloomlesscheekswhereyouthshouldblushandhappinessexultinsmiles！

Hearusandhavecompassion。Thismonsterwasmyhusband\'sbrother。Hewhoshouldhavebeenourshieldagainstallharm，hathkeptusshutwithinthenoisomecavernsofhisdonjon—keepforlothesethirtyyears。Andforwhatcrime？NoneotherthanthatIwouldnotbeliemytroth，rootoutmystrongloveforhimwhomarcheswiththelegionsofthecrossinHolyLand，（forO，heisnotdead！）andwedwithhim！Saveus，O，savethypersecutedsuppliants！"Sheflungherselfathisfeetandclaspedhisknees。"Ha！—ha！—ha！"shoutedthebrutalLeonardo。"Priest，tothywork！"andhedraggedtheweepingdamefromherrefuge。"Say，onceforall，willyoubemine？——forbymyhalidome，thatbreaththatuttereththyrefusalshallbethylastonearth！""NE—VER？""Thendie！"andtheswordleapedfromitsscabbard。Quickerthanthought，quickerthanthelightning\'sflash，fiftymonkishhabitsdisappeared，andfiftyknightsinsplendidarmorstoodrevealed！

fiftyfalchionsgleamedinairabovethemen—at—arms，andbrighter，fiercerthanthemall，flamedExcaliburaloft，andcleavingdownwardstruckthebrutalLeonardo\'sweaponfromhisgrasp！"ALuigitotherescue！Whoop！""ALeonardo！tareanouns！""Oh，God，Oh，God，myhusband！""Oh，God，Oh，God，mywife！""Myfather！""Myprecious！"[Tableau。]CountLuigiboundhisusurpingbrotherhandandfoot。ThepracticedknightsfromPalestinemadeholydaysportofcarvingtheawkwardmen—at—armsintochopsandsteaks。Thevictorywascomplete。Happinessreigned。Theknightsallmarriedthedaughter。Joy！wassail！finis！"Butwhatdidtheydowiththewickedbrother？"

"Ohnothing——onlyhangedhimonthatironhookIwasspeakingof。Bythechin。"

"Ashow？"

"Passeditupthroughhisgillsintohismouth。"

"Leavehimthere？"

"Coupleofyears。"

"Ah——is——ishedead？"

"Sixhundredandfiftyyearsago，orsuchamatter。"

"Splendidlegend——splendidlie——driveon。"

WereachedthequaintoldfortifiedcityofBergamo，therenownedinhistory，somethree—quartersofanhourbeforethetrainwasreadytostart。

Theplacehasthirtyorfortythousandinhabitantsandisremarkableforbeingthebirthplaceofharlequin。Whenwediscoveredthat，thatlegendofourdrivertooktoitselfanewinterestinoureyes。

Restedandrefreshed，wetooktherailhappyandcontented。IshallnottarrytospeakofthehandsomeLagodiGardi;itsstatelycastlethatholdsinitsstonybosomthesecretsofanagesoremotethateventraditiongoethnotbacktoit;theimposingmountainscenerythatennoblesthelandscapethereabouts;noryetofancientPaduaorhaughtyVerona;noroftheirMontaguesandCapulets，theirfamousbalconiesandtombsofJulietandRomeoetal。，buthurrystraighttotheancientcityofthesea，thewidowedbrideoftheAdriatic。Itwasalong，longride。Buttowardevening，aswesatsilentandhardlyconsciousofwherewewere——subduedintothatmeditativecalmthatcomessosurelyafteraconversationalstorm——someoneshouted——

"VENICE！"

Andsureenough，afloatontheplacidseaaleagueaway，layagreatcity，withitstowersanddomesandsteeplesdrowsinginagoldenmistofsunset。

Chapter22

ThisVenice，whichwasahaughty。invincible，magnificentRepublicfornearlyfourteenhundredyears;whosearmiescompelledtheworld\'sapplausewheneverandwherevertheybattled;whosenavieswellnighhelddominionoftheseas，andwhosemerchantfleetswhitenedtheremotestoceanswiththeirsailsandloadedthesepierswiththeproductsofeveryclime，isfallenapreytopoverty，neglectandmelancholydecay。Sixhundredyearsago，VenicewastheAutocratofCommerce;hermartwasthegreatcommercialcentre，thedistributing—housefromwhencetheenormoustradeoftheOrientwasspreadabroadovertheWesternworld。To—dayherpiersaredeserted，herwarehousesareempty，hermerchantfleetsarevanished，herarmiesandhernaviesarebutmemories。Hergloryisdeparted，andwithhercrumblinggrandeurofwharvesandpalacesabouthershesitsamongherstagnantlagoons，forlornandbeggared，forgottenoftheworld。Shethatinherpalmydayscommandedthecommerceofahemisphereandmadethewealorwoeofnationswithabeckofherpuissantfinger，isbecomethehumblestamongthepeoplesoftheearth，——apeddlerofglassbeadsforwomen，andtriflingtoysandtrinketsforschool—girlsandchildren。

ThevenerableMotheroftheRepublicsisscarceafitsubjectforflippantspeechortheidlegossippingoftourists。Itseemsasortofsacrilegetodisturbtheglamourofoldromancethatpictureshertoussoftlyfromafaroffasthroughatintedmist，andcurtainsherruinandherdesolationfromourview。Oneought，indeed，toturnawayfromherrags，herpovertyandherhumiliation，andthinkofheronlyasshewaswhenshesunkthefleetsofCharlemagne;whenshehumbledFrederickBarbarossaorwavedhervictoriousbannersabovethebattlementsofConstantinople。

WereachedVeniceateightintheevening，andenteredahearsebelongingtotheGrandHoteld\'Europe。Atanyrate，itwasmorelikeahearsethananythingelse，thoughtospeakbythecard，itwasagondola。AndthiswasthestoriedgondolaofVenice！——thefairyboatinwhichtheprincelycavaliersoftheoldentimewerewonttocleavethewatersofthemoonlitcanalsandlooktheeloquenceofloveintothesofteyesofpatricianbeauties，whilethegaygondolierinsilkendoublettouchedhisguitarandsangasonlygondolierscansing！Thisthefamedgondolaandthisthegorgeousgondolier！——theoneaninky，rustyoldcanoewithasablehearse—bodyclappedontothemiddleofit，andtheotheramangy，barefootedguttersnipewithaportionofhisraimentonexhibitionwhichshouldhavebeensacredfrompublicscrutiny。Presently，asheturnedacornerandshothishearseintoadismalditchbetweentwolongrowsoftowering，untenantedbuildings，thegaygondolierbegantosing，truetothetraditionsofhisrace。I

stooditalittlewhile。ThenIsaid:

"Now，here，RoderigoGonzalesMichaelAngelo，I\'mapilgrim，andI\'mastranger，butIamnotgoingtohavemyfeelingslaceratedbyanysuchcaterwaulingasthat。Ifthatgoeson，oneofushasgottotakewater。

ItisenoughthatmycherisheddreamsofVenicehavebeenblightedforeverastotheromanticgondolaandthegorgeousgondolier;thissystemofdestructionshallgonofarther;Iwillacceptthehearse，underprotest，andyoumayflyyourflagoftruceinpeace，buthereIregisteradarkandbloodyoaththatyoushan\'tsing。Anotheryelp，andoverboardyougo。"

IbegantofeelthattheoldVeniceofsongandstoryhaddepartedforever。

ButIwastoohasty。InafewminuteswesweptgracefullyoutintotheGrandCanal，andunderthemellowmoonlighttheVeniceofpoetryandromancestoodrevealed。Rightfromthewater\'sedgeroselonglinesofstatelypalacesofmarble;gondolaswereglidingswiftlyhitherandthitheranddisappearingsuddenlythroughunsuspectedgatesandalleys;ponderousstonebridgesthrewtheirshadowsathwarttheglitteringwaves。Therewaslifeandmotioneverywhere，andyeteverywheretherewasahush，astealthysortofstillness，thatwassuggestiveofsecretenterprisesofbravoesandoflovers;andcladhalfinmoonbeamsandhalfinmysteriousshadows，thegrimoldmansionsoftheRepublicseemedtohaveanexpressionaboutthemofhavinganeyeoutforjustsuchenterprisesastheseatthatsamemoment。Musiccamefloatingoverthewaters——Venicewascomplete。

Itwasabeautifulpicture——verysoftanddreamyandbeautiful。ButwhatwasthisVenicetocomparewiththeVeniceofmidnight？Nothing。Therewasafête——agrandfêteinhonorofsomesaintwhohadbeeninstrumentalincheckingthecholerathreehundredyearsago，andallVenicewasabroadonthewater。Itwasnocommonaffair，fortheVenetiansdidnotknowhowsoontheymightneedthesaint\'sservicesagain，nowthatthecholerawasspreadingeverywhere。Soinonevastspace——sayathirdofamilewideandtwomileslong——werecollectedtwothousandgondolas，andeveryoneofthemhadfromtwototen，twentyandeventhirtycoloredlanternssuspendedaboutit，andfromfourtoadozenoccupants。Justasfarastheeyecouldreach，thesepaintedlightsweremassedtogether——likeavastgardenofmany—coloredflowers，exceptthattheseblossomswereneverstill;theywereceaselesslyglidinginandout，andminglingtogether，andseducingyouintobewilderingattemptstofollowtheirmazyevolutions。

Hereandthereastrongred，green，orblueglarefromarocketthatwasstrugglingtogetaway，splendidlyilluminatedalltheboatsaroundit。

Everygondolathatswambyus，withitscrescentsandpyramidsandcirclesofcoloredlampshungaloft，andlightingupthefacesoftheyoungandthesweet—scentedandlovelybelow，wasapicture;andthereflectionsofthoselights，solong，soslender，sonumberless，somany—coloredandsodistortedandwrinkledbythewaves，wasapicturelikewise，andonethatwasenchantinglybeautiful。Manyandmanyapartyofyoungladiesandgentlemenhadtheirstategondolashand—somelydecorated，andatesupperonboard，bringingtheirswallow—tailed，white—cravattedvarletstowaituponthem，andhavingtheirtablestrickedoutasifforabridalsupper。Theyhadbroughtalongthecostlyglobelampsfromtheirdrawing—rooms，andthelaceandsilkencurtainsfromthesameplaces，Isuppose。Andtheyhadalsobroughtpianosandguitars，andtheyplayedandsangoperas，whiletheplebeianpaper—lanternedgondolasfromthesuburbsandthebackalleyscrowdedaroundtostareandlisten。

Therewasmusiceverywhere——chorusses，stringbands，brassbands，flutes，everything。Iwassosurrounded，walledin，withmusic，magnificenceandloveliness，thatIbecameinspiredwiththespiritofthescene，andsangonetunemyself。However，whenIobservedthattheothergondolashadsailedaway，andmygondolierwaspreparingtogooverboard，Istopped。

Thefêtewasmagnificent。Theykeptitupthewholenightlong，andIneverenjoyedmyselfbetterthanIdidwhileitlasted。

WhatafunnyoldcitythisQueenoftheAdriaticis！Narrowstreets，vast，gloomymarblepalaces，blackwiththecorrodingdampsofcenturies，andallpartlysubmerged;nodrylandvisibleanywhere，andnosidewalksworthmentioning;ifyouwanttogotochurch，tothetheatre，ortotherestaurant，youmustcallagondola。Itmustbeaparadiseforcripples，forverilyamanhasnouseforlegshere。

ForadayortwotheplacelookedsolikeanoverflowedArkansastown，becauseofitscurrentlesswaterslavingtheverydoorstepsofallthehouses，andtheclusterofboatsmadefastunderthewindows，orskimminginandoutofthealleysandby—ways，thatIcouldnotgetridoftheimpressionthattherewasnothingthematterherebutaspringfreshet，andthattheriverwouldfallinafewweeksandleaveadirtyhigh—watermarkonthehouses，andthestreetsfullofmudandrubbish。

Intheglareofday，thereislittlepoetryaboutVenice，butunderthecharitablemoonherstainedpalacesarewhiteagain，theirbatteredsculpturesarehiddeninshadows，andtheoldcityseemscrownedoncemorewiththegrandeurthatwashersfivehundredyearsago。Itiseasy，then，infancy，topeoplethesesilentcanalswithplumedgallantsandfairladies——withShylocksingaberdineandsandals，venturingloansupontherichargosiesofVenetiancommerce——withOthellosandDesdemonas，withIagosandRoderigos——withnoblefleetsandvictoriouslegionsreturningfromthewars。InthetreacheroussunlightweseeVenicedecayed，forlorn，poverty—stricken，andcommerceless——forgottenandutterlyinsignificant。Butinthemoonlight，herfourteencenturiesofgreatnessflingtheirgloriesabouther，andoncemoreisshetheprinceliestamongthenationsoftheearth。"Thereisagloriouscityinthesea;

Theseaisinthebroad，thenarrowstreets，Ebbingandflowing;

andthesalt—seaweedClingstothemarbleofherpalaces。

Notrackofmen，nofootstepstoandfro，Leadtohergates！Thepathlieso\'erthesea，Invisible:andfromthelandwewent，toafloatingcity——steeringin，Andglidingupherstreets，asinadream，Sosmoothly，silently——bymanyadome，Mosque—like，andmanyastatelyportico，Thestatuesrangedalonganazuresky;

Bymanyapile，inmorethanEasternpride，Ofoldtheresidenceofmerchantkings;

Thefrontsofsome，tho\'timehadshatter\'dthem，Stillglowingwiththerichesthuesofart，Astho\'thewealthwithinthemhadruno\'er。"WhatwouldonenaturallywishtoseefirstinVenice？TheBridgeofSighs，ofcourse——andnexttheChurchandtheGreatSquareofSt。Mark，theBronzeHorses，andthefamousLionofSt。Mark。

WeintendedtogototheBridgeofSighs，buthappenedintotheDucalPalacefirst——abuildingwhichnecessarilyfigureslargelyinVenetianpoetryandtradition。IntheSenateChamberoftheancientRepublicweweariedoureyeswithstaringatacresofhistoricalpaintingsbyTintorettoandPaulVeronese，butnothingstruckusforciblyexcepttheonethingthatstrikesallstrangersforcibly——ablacksquareinthemidstofagalleryofportraits。Inonelongrow，aroundthegreathall，werepaintedtheportraitsoftheDogesofVenice（venerablefellows，withflowingwhitebeards，forofthethreehundredSenatorseligibletotheoffice，theoldestwasusuallychosenDoge，）andeachhaditscomplimentaryinscriptionattached——tillyoucametotheplacethatshouldhavehadMarinoFaliero\'spictureinit，andthatwasblankandblack——blank，exceptthatitboreaterseinscription，sayingthattheconspiratorhaddiedforhiscrime。

Itseemedcrueltokeepthatpitilessinscriptionstillstaringfromthewallsaftertheunhappywretchhadbeeninhisgravefivehundredyears。

AttheheadoftheGiant\'sStaircase，whereMarinoFalierowasbeheaded，andwheretheDogeswerecrownedinancienttimes，twosmallslitsinthestonewallwerepointedout——twoharmless，insignificantorificesthatwouldneverattractastranger\'sattention——yettheseweretheterribleLions\'Mouths！Theheadsweregone（knockedoffbytheFrenchduringtheiroccupationofVenice，）butthesewerethethroats，downwhichwenttheanonymousaccusation，thrustinsecretlyatdeadofnightbyanenemy，thatdoomedmanyaninnocentmantowalktheBridgeofSighsanddescendintothedungeonwhichnoneenteredandhopedtoseethesunagain。ThiswasintheolddayswhenthePatriciansalonegovernedVenice——thecommonherdhadnovoteandnovoice。TherewereonethousandfivehundredPatricians;

fromthese，threehundredSenatorswerechosen;fromtheSenatorsaDogeandaCouncilofTenwereselected，andbysecretballottheTenchosefromtheirownnumberaCouncilofThree。AllthesewereGovernmentspies，then，andeveryspywasundersurveillancehimself——menspokeinwhispersinVenice，andnomantrustedhisneighbor——notalwayshisownbrother。

NomanknewwhotheCouncilofThreewere——noteventheSenate，noteventheDoge;themembersofthatdreadtribunalmetatnightinachambertothemselves，masked，androbedfromheadtofootinscarletcloaks，anddidnotevenknoweachother，unlessbyvoice。Itwastheirdutytojudgeheinouspoliticalcrimes，andfromtheirsentencetherewasnoappeal。

Anodtotheexecutionerwassufficient。Thedoomedmanwasmarcheddownahallandoutatadoor—wayintothecoveredBridgeofSighs，throughitandintothedungeonanduntohisdeath。Atnotimeinhistransitwashevisibletoanysavehisconductor。Ifamanhadanenemyinthoseolddays，thecleverestthinghecoulddowastoslipanotefortheCouncilofThreeintotheLion\'smouth，saying"ThismanisplottingagainsttheGovernment。"IftheawfulThreefoundnoproof，tentoonetheywoulddrownhimanyhow，becausehewasadeeprascal，sincehisplotswereunsolvable。

Maskedjudgesandmaskedexecutioners，withunlimitedpower，andnoappealfromtheirjudgements，inthathard，cruelage，werenotlikelytobelenientwithmentheysuspectedyetcouldnotconvict。

WewalkedthroughthehalloftheCouncilofTen，andpresentlyenteredtheinfernaldenoftheCouncilofThree。

Thetablearoundwhichtheyhadsatwastherestill，andlikewisethestationswherethemaskedinquisitorsandexecutionersformerlystood，frozen，uprightandsilent，tilltheyreceivedabloodyorder，andthen，withoutaword，movedoffliketheinexorablemachinestheywere，tocarryitout。Thefrescoesonthewallswerestartlinglysuitedtotheplace。

Inalltheothersaloons，thehalls，thegreatstatechambersofthepalace，thewallsandceilingswerebrightwithgilding，richwithelaboratecarving，andresplendentwithgallantpicturesofVenetianvictoriesinwar，andVenetiandisplayinforeigncourts，andhallowedwithportraitsoftheVirgin，theSaviourofmen，andtheholysaintsthatpreachedtheGospelofPeaceuponearth——buthere，indismalcontrast，werenonebutpicturesofdeathanddreadfulsuffering！——notalivingfigurebutwaswrithingintorture，notadeadonebutwassmearedwithblood，gashedwithwounds，anddistortedwiththeagoniesthathadtakenawayitslife！

Fromthepalacetothegloomyprisonisbutastep——onemightalmostjumpacrossthenarrowcanalthatintervenes。TheponderousstoneBridgeofSighscrossesitatthesecondstory——abridgethatisacoveredtunnel——youcannotbeseenwhenyouwalkinit。Itispartitionedlengthwise，andthroughonecompartmentwalkedsuchasborelightsentencesinancienttimes，andthroughtheothermarchedsadlythewretcheswhomtheThreehaddoomedtolingeringmiseryandutteroblivioninthedungeons，ortosuddenandmysteriousdeath。Downbelowthelevelofthewater，bythelightofsmokingtorches，wewereshownthedamp，thick—walledcellswheremanyaproudpatrician\'slifewaseatenawaybythelong—drawnmiseriesofsolitaryimprisonment——withoutlight，air，books;naked，unshaven，uncombed，coveredwithvermin;hisuselesstongueforgettingitsoffice，withnonetospeakto;thedaysandnightsofhislifenolongermarked，butmergedintooneeternaleventlessnight;farawayfromallcheerfulsounds，buriedinthesilenceofatomb;forgottenbyhishelplessfriends，andhisfateadarkmysterytothemforever;losinghisownmemoryatlast，andknowingnomorewhohewasorhowhecamethere;devouringtheloafofbreadanddrinkingthewaterthatwerethrustintothecellbyunseenhands，andtroublinghiswornspiritnomorewithhopesandfearsanddoubtsandlongingstobefree;ceasingtoscratchvainprayersandcomplainingsonwallswherenone，notevenhimself，couldseethem，andresigninghimselftohopelessapathy，drivelingchild—ishness，lunacy！Manyandmanyasorrowfulstorylikethisthesestonywallscouldtelliftheycouldbutspeak。

Inalittlenarrowcorridor，nearby，theyshoweduswheremanyaprisoner，afterlyinginthedungeonsuntilhewasforgottenbyallsavehispersecutors，wasbroughtbymaskedexecutionersandgarroted，orsewedupinasack，passedthroughalittlewindowtoaboat，atdeadofnight，andtakentosomeremotespotanddrowned。

TheyusedtoshowtovisitorstheimplementsoftorturewherewiththeThreewerewonttowormsecretsoutoftheaccused——villainousmachinesforcrushingthumbs;thestockswhereaprisonersatimmovablewhilewaterfelldropbydropuponhisheadtillthetorturewasmorethanhumanitycouldbear;andadevilishcontrivanceofsteel，whichinclosedaprisoner\'sheadlikeashell，andcrusheditslowlybymeansofascrew。Itborethestainsofbloodthathadtrickledthroughitsjointslongago，andononesideithadaprojectionwhereonthetorturerrestedhiselbowcomfortablyandbentdownhiseartocatchthemoaningsofthesuffererperishingwithin。

OfcoursewewenttoseethevenerablerelicoftheancientgloryofVenice，withitspavementswornandbrokenbythepassingfeetofathousandyearsofplebeiansandpatricians——TheCathedralofSt。Mark。Itisbuiltentirelyofpreciousmarbles，broughtfromtheOrient——nothinginitscompositionisdomestic。Itshoarytraditionsmakeitanobjectofabsorbinginteresttoeventhemostcarelessstranger，andthusfarithadinterestforme;

butnofurther。Icouldnotgointoecstaciesoveritscoarsemosaics，itsunlovelyByzantinearchitecture，oritsfivehundredcuriousinteriorcolumnsfromasmanydistantquarries。Everythingwaswornout——everyblockofstonewassmoothandalmostshapelesswiththepolishinghandsandshouldersofloungerswhodevoutlyidledhereinby—gonecenturiesandhavediedandgonetothedev——no，simplydied，Imean。

UnderthealtarreposetheashesofSt。Mark——andMatthew，LukeandJohn，too，forallIknow。Venicereveresthoserelicsaboveallthingsearthly。ForfourteenhundredyearsSt。Markhasbeenherpatronsaint。

Everythingaboutthecityseemstobenamedafterhimorsonamedastorefertohiminsomeway——sonamed，orsomepurchaseriggedinsomewaytoscrapeasortofhurrahingacquaintancewithhim。Thatseemstobetheidea。TobeongoodtermswithSt。Mark，seemstobetheverysummitofVenetianambition。TheysaySt。Markhadatamelion，andusedtotravelwithhim——andeverywherethatSt。Markwent，thelionwassuretogo。

Itwashisprotector，hisfriend，hislibrarian。AndsotheWingedLionofSt。Mark，withtheopenBibleunderhispaw，isafavoriteembleminthegrandoldcity。ItcastsitsshadowfromthemostancientpillarinVenice，intheGrandSquareofSt。Mark，uponthethrongsoffreecitizensbelow，andhassodoneformanyalongcentury。Thewingedlionisfoundeverywhere——anddoubtlesshere，wherethewingedlionis，noharmcancome。

St。MarkdiedatAlexandria，inEgypt。Hewasmartyred，Ithink。However，thathasnothingtodowithmylegend。AboutthefoundingofthecityofVenice——sayfourhundredandfiftyyearsafterChrist——（forVeniceismuchyoungerthananyotherItaliancity，）apriestdreamedthatanangeltoldhimthatuntiltheremainsofSt。MarkwerebroughttoVenice，thecitycouldneverrisetohighdistinctionamongthenations;thatthebodymustbecaptured，broughttothecity，andamagnificentchurchbuiltoverit;

andthatifevertheVenetiansallowedtheSainttoberemovedfromhisnewresting—place，inthatdayVenicewouldperishfromoffthefaceofthetheearth。Thepriestproclaimedhisdream，andforthwithVenicesetaboutprocuringthecorpseofSt。Mark。Oneexpeditionafteranothertriedandfailed，buttheprojectwasneverabandonedduringfourhundredyears。

Atlastitwassecuredbystratagem，intheyeareighthundredandsomething。

ThecommanderofaVenetianexpeditiondisguisedhimself，stolethebones，separatedthem，andpackedtheminvesselsfilledwithlard。ThereligionofMahometcausesitsdevoteestoabhoranythingthatisinthenatureofpork，andsowhentheChristianwasstoppedbytheofficersatthegatesofthecity，theyonlyglancedonceintohispreciousbaskets，thenturneduptheirnosesattheunholylard，andlethimgo。Theboneswereburiedinthevaultsofthegrandcathedral，whichhadbeenwaitinglongyearstoreceivethem，andthusthesafetyandthegreatnessofVeniceweresecured。

AndtothisdaytherebethoseinVenicewhobelievethatifthoseholyasheswerestolenaway，theancientcitywouldvanishlikeadream，anditsfoundationsbeburiedforeverintheunrememberingsea。

Chapter23

TheVenetiangondolaisasfreeandgraceful，initsglidingmovement，asaserpent。Itistwentyorthirtyfeetlong，andisnarrowanddeep，likeacanoe;itssharpbowandsternsweepupwardfromthewaterlikethehornsofacrescentwiththeabruptnessofthecurveslightlymodified。

Thebowisornamentedwithasteelcombwithabattle—axattachmentwhichthreatenstocutpassingboatsintwooccasionally，butneverdoes。

ThegondolaispaintedblackbecauseinthezenithofVenetianmagnificencethegondolasbecametoogorgeousaltogether，andtheSenatedecreedthatallsuchdisplaymustcease，andasolemn，unembellishedblackbesubstituted。

Ifthetruthwereknown，itwoulddoubtlessappearthatrichplebeiansgrewtooprominentintheiraffectationofpatricianshowontheGrandCanal，andrequiredawholesomesnubbing。ReverenceforthehallowedPastanditstraditionskeepsthedismalfashioninforcenowthatthecompulsionexistsnolonger。Soletitremain。Itisthecolorofmourning。Venicemourns。Thesternoftheboatisdeckedoverandthegondolierstandsthere。

Heusesasingleoar——alongblade，ofcourse，forhestandsnearlyerect。

Awoodenpeg，afootandahalfhigh，withtwoslightcrooksorcurvesinonesideofitandoneintheother，projectsabovethestarboardgunwale。

Againstthatpegthegondoliertakesapurchasewithhisoar，changingitatintervalstotheothersideofthepegordroppingitintoanotherofthecrooks，asthesteeringofthecraftmaydemand——andhowintheworldhecanbackandfill，shootstraightahead，orflirtsuddenlyaroundacorner，andmaketheoarstayinthoseinsignificantnotches，isaproblemtomeandaneverdiminishingmatterofinterest。IamafraidIstudythegondolier\'smarvelousskillmorethanIdothesculpturedpalacesweglideamong。Hecutsacornersoclosely，nowandthen，ormissesanothergondolabysuchanimperceptiblehair—breadththatIfeelmyself"scrooching，"

asthechildrensay，justasonedoeswhenabuggywheelgrazeshiselbow。