with the same which is plac'd at the top of the Steeple with the Wings spread and the hand pointing to the Wind. The Walls of this Steeple are double on the inside between which you circulate insensibly ascending without any Steps until you come to the Bells insomuch as one is apt to believe that to raise such a building upon so mean a foundation the Expence under Ground cannot be much inferiour to that above from whence is discern'd their Dominion upon Terra firma as likewise several other places beyond that Sea Of the Religious Houses and Churches of Venice IT will be a difficult matter to find any City so fill'd with Churches as this of Venice there are 72 Parishes all serv'd by ordain'd Priests above 30 Monasteries and about 35 Convents of Religious Women besides several Chappels and a great many Confraternities of Penitents which are here call'd Schools much like those that were formerly and are yet in some Provinces of France I do not know what hath been the occasion of the Veneteans affecting to dedicate their Churches to the Saints of the old Testament there being several consecrated to St. Job St. Mones St. Daniel St Jeremy St. Samuel St. Zachary as if the Book of Martyrs was not sufficiently fill'd when they begun to build their Churches The greatest part of the Parish Churches are small neither are they the richest or best adorned those of the Convents both Men and Women are the most handsome and neat but some of the great Confraternities are incomparably more magnificently Built and better Furnish'd both with Pictures and noble Services of Plate The Venetians having a greater Inclination to these particular Devotions than for their Parish Churches which do not much affect them Yet nevertheless there is not that Church in Venice in which there is not something remarkable either for Painting or Architecture Those who are well acquainted with Venice are of the opinion that she hath near upon as many excellent pieces of Painting as all the other parts of Italy together for not only the major part of the Nobles Houses but likewise other particulars are fill'd with the choicest pieces yet much more the Churches and other publick Places whose Walls and Ceilings are cover'd with the the best Drawings of the greatest Masters The School or Confraternity of St. Roch hath the precedency for Riches beauty of Architecture and for the extraordinary number of Tintoret's Works That of St. Mark is not much inferior the Front being in Basse relief of extraordinary Marble and the inside wholly painted by the hand of the same Master which hath produc'd so vast a quantity of extraordinary Works that the life of another Painter would not be sufficient to execute what he did in two Years only at the Church of St. Roch. The Church of St. Sebastian is admirable both for its beauty and great number of pieces by Paul Veronese who lies there Interr'd That of St. Mary Major hath divers Works of Bassan extreamly fine but among all the modern Churches for Architecture that of our Lady Delta Salute must be reckon'd in the first place when finished it was built upon the occasion of a Vow the Republick made in hopes of being deliver'd from a great Plague the design is particular and its scituation admirable being at the entrance of the great Canal It is a great Octagonal that incloseth one not so large whose eight Pillars at the Angles support a very handsom Cupola The great Altar is at the lower end of a great Oval inrich'd with several curious Figures of white Marble which represent the driving away of that raging Sickness by the zeal and piety of the Republick there are six more Chappels in the other six sides of the Octagone with Altars and Ballusters of Marble the Porch and outside of the building is not much less adorn'd than the Inside The Church and Convent of St George Major that solely possesseth a little Island over against the Place of St. Mark at the distance only of a Musket shot are most noble buildings here is that admirable piece of the Marriage of Cana in Galilee it wholly takes up the end of the Refactory and is esteem'd for the Master-piece of Paul Veronese This Abby is of the Order of St. Benedict the Garden is the most agreeable Spot of Venice it is encompass'd with Terrass Walks rais'd like Ramparts from whence you behold whatsoever is worthy of observation in the Lagunes The Convent of St. John and Paul in the City is remakable for the fine Dormitory the Church is one of the largest but the Piece of St Peter the Martyr done by Titian's Hand is its finest Ornament it was both the Master-piece of that great Painter and one of the four finest in the World but is at present so much abused that it is in danger of being quite gone in 20 Years more it being not only kept in a bad place but likewise the Painters that are continually copying of it have already passed their sponges so often upon the Face of the Saint that the colour is in a manner quite extinguished notwithstanding all the care that is observ'd to prevent the Copyers from approaching it too nigh as likewise to prevent their working but upon particular leave There are at Venice several small Churches of an uncommon and particular agreeableness built by the Architects Sansouin and Du Palcadio the last of these never did any thing comparable to the Church of our Saviour at La Zueca it being much like to that of our Lady De La Salute and the effect of a Vow made by the Republick as it was design'd for the Capuchins who would not accept it in that magnificence it was first intended so one must allow that Du Palladio hath dexterously deceiv'd their Eyes and acquir'd a more than ordinary beauty to the simplicity of this Structure by building it according to the most exact rules of Art and Proportion rather than by the most ostentary decorations of Artichecture which may nevertheless be there in some measure admir'd the Roof is plain and even vaulted but thought to be too much declin'd It would be very tedious to enter into the particulars of all things of this Nature at Venice I shall content my self with mentioning only the great number of Mausoleum's that are in their Churches they being Erected to the Memory of almost all their Doge's and principal Senatoss The Venetians having been ever very careful in raising noble Monuments to the Virtue and Memory of their great Men by which means Venice abounds with a mighty number of fine Marble Sepulchres amongst which the magnificence of that for the last Doge Pasaro at the Cordelier's is much Esteem'd as likewise that of their victorious General Mocenigo at the Friers Mendicawts Of the Mercery and Rialto THese two places are the Richest in Venice best Peopled and the most agreeable to the Eye next to the Place of St Mark all that part from the
troubles that might happen to rise the Senat could not but have very great Apprehensions of this Nobility if they lived in a Perfect good understanding with each other but they endeavour to keep them at variance by sowing Jealousies among them when more proper Occasions are wanting to enervate their Forces There was a manifest proof of this Policy in the time of Francis Erizzo's being General of the Forces in Frivoli who was afterwards Elected Doge He observed that the Nobility of this Province living in a very good Intelligence might possibly join themselves at the first Opportunity and declare in Favour of the Emperour to which province he makes great pretensions and so deprive the Republick of a very Advantageous Frontire to their States he acquainted the Senate with his sentiments who much approv'd the foresight of their General and the expedient proposed against those dangerous consequences The Project was for to send him several Letters Patents with a blank space for the Names of such he should think fit to honour with the title of Marquis or Count so these marks of Favour being distributed by the General contrary to what in Justice they ought to have been did not miss of being attended with the proposed Effects in strowing among that Gentry those seeds of implacable discord which dividing the Families arm'd Brother against Brother causing an Infinite Number of Murthers and the Treasury to be fill'd with the confiscated Estates of this Nobility Which for a long time freed the Republick of that fear they had conceiv'd from the good correspendence which was formerly among the Gentry of that Province Of the Procurator of Saint Mark. Gli Procuratori di St. Marco AFter having shewn what the qualities are of those Persons invested with the Management of the Sovereign Power I think it will not be improper to speak of the dignity of the Procurator of Saint Mark as also of that of the Great Chancellor for as they acquire those in possession of them very Eminent places in the Republick by introducing them into a great share of the Management of the State so it is Necessary to know what these dignities are before we enter upon the description of the Councils of the Republick as well to Facilitate the Intelligence of the matters I shall engage in as to avoid sending the Reader to other places for what he may more properly find here These Two great Dignities with that of Doge are the only Preferments that are conferr'd for Life they being bestow'd upon services Done to the State The great Priviledges and Extraordinary Prerogatives attending the Dignity of Procurator of St. Mark do render it the utmost Point of the Ambition of the Venetian Nobility Especially seeing that of Doge as shall be observed is upon such hard Conditions as make it only sought for by a few of the Senators A Venetian Gentleman cannot pretend to the Honour of a Procurator's Vest but through the important Services he hath render'd to the State in the discharge of several Embassies by the command of the Naval Forces or through the long Exercise of the most considerable Employs of the State This dignity hath the precedence in the Senate as likewise the place of all the Venetian Nobility for the Procurators are esteem'd the first Senators and by this Quality are exempted of all the Expensive Publick Employs excepting that of Embassador extraordinary and other Important Commissions as was the adjusting of the limits between the Port and the Republick which the Procurator Nani successfully Executed after the Peace of Candia We see by the Annals of Venice that it is above Six Hundred Years since there was a Procurator who undertook the care of building this Church he manag'd the revenue and was a sort of an Ecclesiastical Intendant The Republick made a Second Procurator about Fourscore Years afterwards but the Revenues of the Church mightily encreasing the Republick created three Procurators to each of which was assign'd at several times two Associates so that about two Hundred and Thirty Years ago the Number was settled at Nine who are divided into three Procuratories or Chambers the first is called the Procuratory above Stairs this takes Cognisance of whatever regards the Church The Second and Third have the direction of whatsoever is bequeath'd to the Poor Inhabiting this side of the Great Canal as likewise those of the other side that Canal for which reason these Chambers are distinguish'd by these several Terms Di Procuratie di Sopra di Citra di Vltra The Republick was not only oblig'd to create Nine Procurators of Saint Marks for to dispose of the great Riches bequeath'd to the Church of Saint Mark and the Poor especially after they were much augmented by the great Gifts of the Rich Doge Sebastian Ziani but they were likewise willing to encrease the Number of this Dignity that they might be more able to recompence the Services of the Nobility particularly observing that there is nothing so satisfactory or so much sought for by the Venetian Nobles These Nobles are the Executors of all Charitable and Pious Legacies Tutors of Orphans and the Protectors of Widows They Annually apply considerable Sums to the marrying of poor Young Women and permit several Families to live Rent-free in the Houses that belong to their Procuratories The Place which this Dignity possesses in this Republick hath Ever render'd it so much desir'd by the Venetian Nobility that the Senate hath in all the troublesome Wars of the State been able to raise considerable Treasures by selling the Vest of Procurator but so many have never been known at once as in the last War of Candia for in the Year 1672 there were five and thirty living They that Execute the Nine places of the Ancient Procuratories are called Procurators by merits to distinguish them from such as have bought this dignity Nevertheless they all enjoy the same Privileges there being no difference between them excepting that when a Procurator by merit dies the great Council do proceed always to the choice of another before the deceased is Interred besides they do not fill up those that have acquired it by their Money but endeavour to reduce them to the Number established the Nobility that purchas'd the Vests of Procurators pay'd for them Thirty Thousand Ducats but those that I mentioned who after they had bought their Nobility would ascend to this dignity by a ladder of Gold payed down double that Sum as not being just that the most Junior Nobility should be used on this occasion with the same consideration of that of the more Ancient Order All the Procurators wear the Ducal Vest that is with long Sleeves hanging to the ground and according to their degree of Seniority have habitations in the stately new Procuratories But the Library of which they are the Keepers and the Chamber of the Archives of the Republick to which they are Guardians as likewise the apartment where the Council commonly assembles three
the Republick The Name of Pregadi is given to the Senate because formerly it was assembled but upon extraordinary occasions as when any affair of importance required the advice of the Principal Citizens they were then desired to be there At present the Senate assembles every Wednesday and Saturday But the Sage for the week can Summon an extraordinary Pregadi when the affairs that are to be brought thither require the speedy deliberation of the Senate According to the first Institution the Pregadi was compos'd of Sixty Senators which was called the ordinary Pregadi But as they have been oblig'd to add several others according to the urgency of affairs so they created sixty more which is called la Guinta These Sixcore are always possess'd by Persons of an advanc'd Age and known Merits and of the first Nobility All the Members of the College those of the Council of Ten the Forty Judges of the Council Criminal and all the Procurators of Saint Mark have entrance into the Pregadi as likewise the greatest part of the Magistrates of the City whereby this assembly of the Senate may amount unto about Two Hundred and Fourscore Gentlemen part of them having deliberative voices others are only there to observe and form themselves to business The Doge the Councellors of the Seignory and the Great Sages are the only Persons whose Opinions can be Ballotted which is to avoid the confusion that would proceed from the diversity of sentiments in so great an assembly where the Opinions cannot pass if they have not one half of the voices Yet those who have not the right of voting may harangue in the defence or against the Opinions proposed As the Sixscore ordinary and extraordinary Senators are every year Ballotted in the great Council to be chang'd or continu'd as this assembly thinks necessary so the desire which every one of them have to be continued in the condition that is so very honourable and the fear of being deprived of it by the great Council that never spares any Body inviolably engages them to the Duty of their Employs and prevents them from making any ill use of their Authority No body can imagine but that there must be great Inconvenience's to be feared seeing all affairs are regulated by the plurality of Voices more especially because they are made by balls that are thrown into boxes which the Secretaries carry about the Hall some of which are mark'd with the word YES and the other NO the last are designed for the balls of such that equally reject both pro and the contra which are called the Non Suceres for as these Votes are given so as it shall not be distinguish'd what any one hath done so such a person is oftentimes of an Opinion that he durst not own if he was to declare himself publickly Amongst the multitude of Senators in the Pregadi there are some very Ignorant who are only introduc'd hither in honour of their Age and Family There are others very poor who may be liable to err from the Right way Neither is there any want of those Old fellows who have any other knowledge than that of their Ancient Customes these are the Opiniators that never acommodate their Judgments to the various Junctures of time and who regard Novelty as a Crime against the State Insomuch that the Senate must be often Subject to fall upon those Resolutions which would not be ever conformable to the real Interests of the Republick if the most able heads of this Body who are Sensible of the defects did not prevent these inconveniency's by another that some times ruines their affairs which is by temporizing that so in time and by the force of their Speeches they may prevail upon their Sentiments to give the true motion to these important affairs Secrecy is rarely to be found in a multitude that abounds with Youth and Poverty it is therefore much to be admir'd how it becomes inviolable at Venice seeing the Examples of such who have sold it to the Ministers of Great Princes are not at all considerable in Number but the Republick hath provided against it by the power she hath given the Inquisitors of State to punish the Guilty as shall be observ'd hereafter and by the oaths that are renewed so often as they enter upon any matter of the last importance as likewise by the exclusion of all such as have any relation with the Court of Rome when the affairs lyes that way however far the affinity or dependance is distant for the Senate is not Satisfied with excluding all Ecclesiasticks from the Government but they even distrust their Fathers and nearest Allied insomuch that when any thing is there agitated which may any ways concern the Court of Rome it is Publickly cried in the Pregadi Fuora Papalini that is for all such as have Children or Brothers provided with benefices or other Ecclesiastical dignities to withdraw themselves at that instant least the Secret of the State should be made known to foreign Princes Of the Great Council THE whole Authority of the Republick is divided between the Senate and the Great Council and as the first regulates without controul the affairs of State so the second disposes absolutely of all Magistracy's upon which depend the Order of Government This Council hath power to Erect new Laws choose Senators confirm the Elections of the Senate Nominate to all Employs to Create the Procurators of St. Mark the Podestats Governors and Commanders that are sent in to the several Provinces in short the Great Council hath the rectifying of all publick â—rrors as also to reform the methods of such who use not their Authority to the Satisfaction of the Nobles consequently as the Great Council is the assembly General of the Nobility so it is also the first Tribunal the basis and support of the Government All the Venetian Gentlemen of five and twenty and that have assum'd the Vest may enter into the Great Council and claim the Right of balloting that is of Voting To gratifie moreover the young Nobility of twenty thirty of them are drawn by lot who have the same priviledge with those of five and twenty This ceremony is observ'd upon the day of St. Barbara so the thirty which Fortune hath particularly favour'd from the Names of all the rest in the Urne are called Barbarini The Republick hath often times bestowed this privilege upon the Children of such Nobles as have very eminently served the State in any perticular juncture during the War dispensations of Age were sold at two hundred Ducates this Sum is no ways considerable in regard of the advantages that are acquired by the entrance into the Great Council which renders these Nobles of the Body of the Republick who by the right of Balloting are received into the same consideration with the other more ancient Members of the State The Great Council assembles all Sundays and Holidays excepting that of St. Mark and those of the Virgin This Council is not to
end they may throw the ball into which side they please without being discerned therefore to give several balls to serve a friend or to injure an Enemy is forbidden upon the penalty of being for ever excluded the Council which is the same thing with being deprived of Nobility as hath sometimes happened In these Ballotations the party 's of the Young-men are almost ever the strongest especially when the matter in debate is for the mortification of a Senator either by not continuing him in his Dignity at the end of the year or by fetching a Noble out of the great Employs of the Seignory to execute one of the least considerable Offices in the State as I have already observed for not having regulated his conduct according to their sentiments In the Great Council hatred and Enmity put in Practice all the Artifices of revenge it is there that Dissimulation reigns in the full height where not being Liable to be detected of falsehood they usually protest to the Excluded all the good offices of sincere Friendship Notwithstanding that these secret ways of satisfying their passions are attended with no other effect than that of preventing the Nobility from carrying their resentments higher yet this advantage is very considerable to a Republick which can apprehend nothing so much as the division of her principal Members but the reciprocal dependance in which the Great Council keeps the Nobles and the continual fear of seeing themselves Balloted to the prejudice of their Interest and Honours does not only oblige them to observe the necessary measures of living well with each other at least apparently in a perfect good understanding but these considerations do moreover inspire them with a real Zeal and an intire attachement to the good of the Publick which are the most assured meanes for a Nobleman to attain the principal Employs of the Republick as likewise to acquire the esteem and affection of his equals if he any ways studies their good Opinions All the Ballotations of the great Council are perform'd in a manner before the eyes of the Publick for the doors are not only open but there is likewise an elevated bench for such Strangers who come out of curiosity to see these Gentlemen pass their Suffrages but as the Nobles that come to the Great Council are permitted to speak their sentiments upon the things proposed by the Councellor for the week according to the custom of the Sage for the week in the Senate or to give his Opinion upon any other important matter of State so in these occasions all strangers are oblig'd to go out that they may not enter into the Cognisance of those things that belong to the Nobility only There is in the Hall of the Great Council a sort of a chair which is design'd for the use of such as harangue in the assembly it was there that Marc Attonio Cornaro more than a Year after the loss of Candia made an unexpected Speech upon the Surrender of that place where by the strength of his Arguments he brought the Senate at that instant to resolve upon the Trial of Francis Morosini Captain General who delivered it to the Turks and he made Avogador to give the Instructions and prosecute the matter that was the Person who made the accusation Nevertheless this General who got himself promoted to the Dignity of Procurator of Saint Mark for the assurances he gave to the Republick that he would be buried in the ruines of Candia before he would yield up the place even at that very time when he was forc'd in Necessity to capitulate shewed here no less address to extricate himself out of the Danger He endeavour'd at first to gain time and to assure himself of what votes he could in the Great Council by distributing large Summs of Money among the Poor Nobility who are at Venice called Barnaboti being most of them live in the Ward or Quarter of Saint Barnaby he likewise contriv'd it so that the Chevalier Johannes Sagredo made there an excellent Speech in his behalf wherein he shewed the weakness of the Accuser who could not answer the force of his Reasons and consequently was thought not to be the Author of that harangue he pronounc'd against this General Yet this did not hinder them from suspecting that the Chevelier Sagredo was well rewarded for the trouble as likewise his Son afterwards in another case for having maintain'd a bad cause in the Senate in consideration of two hundred Pistols presented him The Son was banish'd both the City and State of Venice and the Father upon the Point to succeed the Doge of the same Name who did not so long enjoy that Dignity as his merits deserved bad the Mortification of seeing his exclusion Publickly pass'd both by the Nobility and People The Nobility sufficiently demonstrate the distrust they live in by all the precautions they take 〈◊〉 the safety of the Great Council and the 〈◊〉 which the smallest occasions are capable of causing to them Not long since there was near the Place of Saint Mark a litâ—â—e Galiot of people from the Coast of Greece whom they call Maignotes Greeks both by Religion and Nationa but resembling the Turks by whom they are Subdued yet their Upland Countrymen continue to defend themselves by the means of their Mountains the poet Wretches Selling their Cheeses about the City were insulted by a Venetian according to the custom of their Country they went to his House took him by force without doing him any harm to carry him before the Judges of the Palace in order to have Justice done them The Great Council being Assembled that day the Guards at the doors seeing these people make to them stopp'd and drove them away by force but they not understanding the venetian Language took this proceeding for a new affront went back to their Galiot from whence they return'd with the rest of their Countrymen and Seymiters in hand resolutely going to attack the Guards who immediately made a discharge upon them Which join'd with the noise upon the place and the sight of naked Arms before the Door of the Great Council Struck such a Terrour upon the Assembly that it was judg'd to be a Conspiracy against the Nobility Some stood neither able to stir or speak others endeavour'd to save themselves by the Top of the Palace but the more couragious betook themselves to the Armes in the little Arcenal of the Council of Ten which is for that purpose near the Hall But the tumult being appeased by the presence of the Procurators of the Guard the Ignorance of these strangers was excused and the Nobility got clear of their dreadful apprehensions I shall not stop here to enter into the description of all the Magistracies of Venice which particulars would not be less Tedious than they are unnecessary to the understanding the form of Government in this Republick I shall only add that there are above Three Score several Tribunals or Courts of Justice which
their Expectations for the Beauties of the Carnaval doe not as they imagine consist in the Magnificence of the many Publick Shows or in the Pompous Masquerades that are oftentimes seen in several other Parts of Italy Therefore it is something difficult to say precisely from whence proceeds that esteem which is so generally conceiv'd of the Carnaval yet I am perswaded that an infinity of things concur to the rendering of it Famous particularly the Custom of assuming any sort of Disguise the great Liberty which all Masques every where enjoy the inviolable Respect that is shewn them and the great number of Diversions which are then at Venice Nothing can be more singular than to see in a manner all the City in Masquerade the Mothers carrying in their Arms their little Children in Disguise Such of both Sexes as go to the Market or to the Haberdashers for Six Penny-worth of Tape are sure to be in Masque The Place of Saint Mark is the great Theater upon which is to be seen the chief Appearance of the Carnaval for there is scarce a Masque in Venice that does not come here about an Hour before Sun-set insomuch that the great Capaciousness of the Place is barely sufficient to receive them and others that come to see them The Gentledonna's do not only Disguise themselves to partake of the Diversions in the last Days of the Carnaval but such as have Intrigues do at this time by a Thousand different ways deceive both Husband and Guards For there is hardly any or House which is not in a manner open to the Masques whereby this time of Carnaval seems to be the Season in which the Gallants get in the Harvest of their Amours for in this juncture are gather'd all the Fruits of those Intrigues that have been in suspence during the other less favourable Seasons New Correspondences are settled even with the Ladies most narrowly watch'd by taking the exactest and most probable means for the long Continuance of them The length of the Carnaval which begins after Christ-mass Holy-Days is one of the things that contribute most to render it agreeable 'T is likewise impossible to express what a Consternation there is throughout the whole City especially of such Persons that wait with impatience the various Advantages of this Season when One of the Presidents of the Council of Ten either through Capriciousness or possibly some other Motives forbids the use of Masquerade or at least restrains the appearance of them to the last Days of Carnaval only As this Order takes away the greatest part of the Pleasures of the Season so it may be said That it is very rare notwithstanding the frequent threatnings to accomplish the Execution of it especially if some Reason of State do not particularly oblige the Council to it However they are always permitted to go in Masques to the Banque's the Opera and Comedy The Carnaval is likewise the principal Season of the Courtisans They Dress themselves very Neatly in their Disguises in which they appear upon the Place of Saint Mark where they endeavour to Contract new Familiarities Yet a great part of them are Hired or retain'd for the whole time of the Carnaval seeing he cannot expect to pass for a Man of Gallantry that has not such a Companion in this time of Diversion in which it is accounted Honourable to appear with a Lady at the Opera Play-House Ball and all other Places of Diversion Of the Ridotti or Basset-Banque's WHen the Evening puts an end to the Diversions of the Place of Saint Mark those of the Ridotti begin these Places being so call'd where the Venetian Nobility keep an open Bank against all such as are desirous to try their Fortunes at Play There are several of these Banks at Venice which the Nobility frequent all the Year round but the Great Ridotti of the Carnaval is in a House near the Place of Saint Mark to which resorts a great deal of Company when the Diversions of the aforesaid Place are over They scruple at letting any enter that are not in Masquerade for that Privilege is reserv'd to the Venetian Nobility However a counterfeit Beard Nose or any other thing that causes an alteration in the Face is sufficient and such as are not desirous to Play may take it off if they please when they are in There are a great many Sconces c. in a Hall and several other Rooms of the same Floor round which are plac'd a great many Tables to each of which there is a Noble who sits on that side next the Wall to keep the Banque Before each of them there are Two Candles several Packs of Cards a Cup full of Gold-Pieces and another of Silver-Ducats In this manner they sit ready to receive all such as are willing to Play either Masques or Venetian Gentlemen The Crowd is so great that very often one can hardly pass from out of one Room into another nevertheless the Silence here observ'd is much greater than that in the Churches Strangers are much surpriz'd at this Spectacle which is infinitely more admirable for the Singularity then diverting in its Pleasures The Game play'd here is Basset only which was unknown in France until Signior Justiniani now Ambassador for that Republick very lately brought it into fashion at Paris Since which it is become so common as to need no Description here it being only used with this difference at Venice that neither the Noble who deals or the Masques that Play do ever exchange any Words with each other The Young Venetian Gentlemen commonly choose rather to Play than to keep the Banque but to see in how much Tranquillity and Gravity very Considerable Summs are lost is really so very Extraordinary that one would almost think this is a School to learn the Art of behaving one's self with Moderation in the Alternatives of Fortune rather than a Place of Diversion and Gaming A Noble Man very rarely continues to keep the Banque for a whole Carnaval so the Tables are successively undertaken by different Gentlemen who are not all equally good Gamesters for some lose and others get Considerably but those that love Play and are well acquainted with Venice do generally know which are the Nobles that have the Reputation of being the fairest Gamesters For however equal this Game seems to be yet there are several Gentlemen so very dextrous in cutting and drawing the Cards that the most intelligent and quick-sighted Player may be sometimes deceiv'd As the Person who Plays may heap what Summ he pleases without any exception by the Noble that Deals so he may leave off after he has acquir'd a considerable Summ at once or by length of Play to which the Noble has no other remedy than biting his Fingers and saying to himself La maledetta Maschara The Gentledonna's frequently Play at the Ridotti without any other Disguise than that of a Velvet-Visard whereby such as know them Unmask'd have not much trouble to do it here