agent and intelligencer, I have seen the world a little, Venice,
and (as gentlemen are permitted to do) the great Council
balloting. And truly I must needs say, that it is for a dumb show
the goodliest that I ever beheld with my eyes. You should have
some would take it ill, as if the noble Venetians thought
themselves too good to speak to strangers, but they observed them
not so narrowly. The truth is, they have nothing to say to their
acquaintance; or men that are in council sure would have tongues:
for a council, and not a word spoken in it, is a contradiction.
But there is such a pudder with their marching and
countermarching, as, though never a one of them draw a sword, you
would think they were training; which till I found that they did
it only to entertain strangers, I came from among them as wise as
I went thither But in the Parliament of Oceana you had no balls
nor dancing, but sober conversation; a man might know and be
known, show his parts, and improve them. And now if you take the
advice of this same fellow, you will spoil all with his whimsies.
Mr. Speaker -- cry you mercy, my Lord Archon, I mean -- set the
wisest man of your house in the great Council of Venice, and you
will not know him from a fool. Whereas nothing is more certain
than that flat and dull fellows in the judgment of all such as
used to keep company with them before, upon election into our
house, have immediately chitted like barley in the vat, where it
acquires a new spirit, and flowed forth into language, that I am
as confident as I am here, if there were not such as delight to
abuse us, is far better than Tully's; or, let anybody but
translate one of his orations, and speak it in the house, and see
if everybody do not laugh at him.

"This is a great matter, Mr. Speaker; they do not cant it