CHAPTER IV.

“A Galley full of Demons!”—The Legend of “The Fisherman and the Ring”—Doge Zorzi Il Santo—Dogaressa Franchesina “Queen of Venice”—The pathetic Story of Soranza Soranzo-Querino—A Corno for the Dogaressa—The Solemn Entry of Dogaressa Elisabetta—Brides of Stuff and Wood—Sumptuary Laws and Bridal Trousseaux—The Calar Stola—The Genesis of Venetian Painters—A learned Doge—Infatuation for Isabella de’ Fieschi—The Black Death—Francesco Petrarch—Marino Faliero—Michele Steno’s Insult—The Conspiracy—“The Doge never lies!”—Broken-hearted Dogaressa Aloycia—Frate Paolino on “Woman’s Influence”—Platonic Ideas—Courtesans—The Story of Veneranda Porta—The Bravi—A Dowdy Dogaressa—“Slippers, Cabbages and Night-caps!”—Alvise Venier’s Escapade—A Venetian “Brutus”—A Poetic Prophecy 126–166