[109] A rich heiress who, when fifteen years of age, eloped to Florence with a poor bookkeeper and married him. She there became the mistress, then the wife, of Francesco de’ Medici, Duke of Tuscany, who was implicated in the assassination of her first husband. Notwithstanding her scandalous past and condemnation by the laws of Venice, the Signory, on her second marriage, took her under their protection for political reasons, and proclaimed her the “true and particular daughter of the Republic.” She and the Grand Duke died within a day of each other in 1587, not without suspicion of poison. The Ca’ Trevisan was bought by Bianca in 1577, and given to her brother, Vittore Cappello. Francesco Sansovino dedicated his _Venezia Città Nobilissima_ to her. [110] The widening was effected at the end of the eighteenth century. [111] “Hoc circa templum sit jus mercatoribus aequm: pondera ne vergant nec sit conventio prava.” [112] It was the custom of the early Doges to make a coronation present of wild ducks to each of the nobles in Venice. Owing to the difficulty of finding sufficient game in the lagoons Doge Celsi in 1361 gave a sum of money instead. In 1521 the number of recipients had so increased that the Grand Council permitted Doge Ant. Grimani to substitute a silver medal which was called an _osella_, the Venetian for bird. The custom survived till the end of the Republic. [113] In the sixteenth century a catalogue was published _de tutte le principali e più onorate cortigiane de Venetia_. [114] How wayward are Ruskin’s judgments at times may be illustrated by this poor work on which he lavishes the most ecstatic eulogy in the “Shrine of the Slaves,” p. 38, where it is referred to as the finest picture in the world, superior even to the Bellinis in the Frari and in S. Zaccaria. [115] From Franc. Sansovino’s description of it as being reputed a jewel rather than a stone. [116] The factions were formally reconciled in 1848. [117] Now hidden by workmen’s dwellings. [118] _Italiae brevis descriptio._ Ultrajecti, 1650. [119] Painted in Walter Crane’s “Bridge of Life.” [120] In primitive times the bishop sat in the centre of the apse facing the congregation, just as the judge had done in the law-courts, which served as models for the first Christian churches. [121] _Italiæ Brevis Descriptio._ [122] The walk may be shortened by taking the direct steamer to S. Nicolo which leaves the Riva hourly. [123] See Browning’s “Sordello,” _passim_. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Venice and its Story, by Thomas Okey