questo Epitome, perche ognun regga almeno in parte, che quest' opera
sarebbe del titolo di _storia_ condegna, giacche essa non e che una
costante descrizione degli avvenimenti piu importanti e luminosi della
Repubblica di Venezia." The work in question is one of much research and
small philosophy, like most books which Venetians have written upon
Venice; but it has admirably served my purpose, and I am indebted to it
for most of the information contained in this chapter.] of Venice, for
each one had its origin in some great event of her existence, and they
were so numerous as to commemorate nearly every notable incident in her
annals. Though, as has been before observed, they had nearly all a general
religious character, the Church, as usual in Venice, only seemed to direct
the ceremonies in its own honor, while it really ministered to the
political glory of the oligarchy, which knew how to manage its priests as
well as its prince and people. Nay, it happened in one case, at least,
that a religious anniversary was selected by the Republic as the day on
which to put to shame before the populace certain of the highest and
reverendest dignitaries of the Church. In 1162, Ulrich, the Patriarch of
Aquileja, seized, by a treacherous stratagem, the city of Grado, then
subject to Venice. The Venetians immediately besieged and took the city,
with the patriarch and twelve of his canons in it, and carried them
prisoners to the lagoons. The turbulent patriarchs of Aquileja had long
been disturbers of the Republic's dominion, and the people now determined
to make an end of these displeasures. They refused, therefore, to release
the patriarch, except on condition that he should bind himself to send
them annually a bull and twelve fat hogs. It is not known what meaning the
patriarch attached to this singular ceremony; but with the Venetians the
bull was typical of himself, and the swine of his canons, and they yearly
suffered death in these animals, which were slaughtered during Shrovetide
in the Piazza San Marco amid a great concourse of the people, in the
presence of the Doge and Signory. The locksmiths, and other workers in