Roscoe, Thomas; Prout, Samuel [Ill.]: The tourist in Italy (London: Robert Jennings and William Chaplin, 1831)

THE LANDSCAPE ANNUAL.

dom, consequently, that a vessel set sail, before the whole
of the crew had put up solemn prayers in the church for
a safe voyage, and when they were departed, the parents,
wives, and other relatives of the sailors would be seen
pressing round the altars, and offering vows for the safe
return of their friends.
The affairs of the republic continued in this state till
the time of Pepin, when that ambitious monarch turned
his attention to the Venetian islands, and a desperate con-
flict took place, in which great numbers of the inhabit-
ants were destroyed, and the islands desolated. But the
courage and resolution of the people prevailed. The
king, in endeavouring to gain the Rialto, after losing his
fleet and several hundreds of his bravest soldiers, was at
length obliged to retreat. The country, however, after
this event presented a miserable prospect to the afflicted
Venetians they were surrounded by a melancholy waste
instead of the numerous houses which rose as monuments
of their industry, and the sea threatened soon to regain
its ancient domain, and cover the islands and every
mark of human labour with its waves. The only spot
which had escaped the effects of the invasion was the
Rialto; thither, therefore, the remnant of the people
repaired, and as soon as they were recovered from
their panic they began to examine what resources they
still possessed. It was soon finally determined that the
Rialto should be the seat of government, and that for the
present the whole strength of the people should be em-
ployed in constructing edifices for their residence there,
and in rendering it fit to be the centre and citadel of the
Venetian republic.