I have already observed, that it was the usual policy of this republic to maintain a neutrality, as long as possible, in all the wars which took place among her neighbours; and when obliged, contrary to her inclinations3, to declare for either party, she generally joined with that State whose distant situation rendered its power and prosperity the least dangerous of the two to Venice.
[188]
This republic seems, however, to have too much neglected to form defensive4 alliances with other States, and by the continual jealousy5 she shewed of them, joined to her immense riches, at last became the object of the hatred6 and envy of all the Powers in Europe. This universal jealousy was roused, and brought into action, in the year 1508, by the intriguing7 genius of Pope Julius the Second. A confederacy was secretly entered into at Cambray, between Julius, the Emperor Maximilian, Lewis the Twelfth, and Ferdinand of Arragon, against the republic of Venice. A bare enumeration8 of the Powers which composed this league, gives a very high idea of the importance of the State against which it was formed.
The Duke of Savoy, the Duke of Farrara, and the Duke of Mantua, acceded9 to this confederacy, and gave in claims to part of the dominions10 of Venice. It was not difficult to form pretensions11 to the best[189] part of the dominions of a State, which originally possessed12 nothing but a few marshy13 islands at the bottom of the Adriatic Gulph. It was the general opinion of Europe, that the league of Cambray would reduce Venice to her original possessions.
The Venetians, finding themselves deprived of all hopes of foreign assistance, sought support from their own courage, and resolved to meet the danger which threatened them, with the spirit of a brave and independent people.
Their General, Count Alviano, led an army against Lewis, who, being prepared before the other confederates, had already entered Italy. However great the magnanimity of the Senate, and the skill of their General, the soldiery were by no means equal to the disciplined troops of France, led by a martial14 nobility, and headed by a gallant15 monarch16. The army of Alviano was defeated; new enemies poured on the republic from all sides; and she lost, in one[190] campaign, all the territories in Italy which she had been ages in acquiring.
Venice now found that she could no longer depend on her own strength and resources, and endeavoured to break, by policy, a combination which she had not force to resist. The Venetian Senate, knowing that Julius was the soul of the confederacy, offered to deliver up the towns he claimed, and made every other submission17 that could gratify the pride, and avert18 the anger, of that ambitious Pontiff; they also find means to separate Ferdinand from the alliance. Lewis and Maximilian being now their only enemies, the Venetians are able to sustain the war, till Julius, bearing no longer any resentment19 against the republic, and seized with remorse20 at beholding21 his native country ravaged22 by French and German armies, unites with Venice to drive the invaders23 out of Italy; and this republic is saved, with the loss of a small part of her Italian dominions, from a ruin[191] which all Europe had considered as inevitable24. The long and expensive wars between the different Powers of Europe, in which this State was obliged to take part, prove that her strength and resources were not exhausted25.
In the year 1570, the Venetians were forced into a ruinous war with the Ottoman Empire, at a time when the Senate, sensible of the great need they stood in of repose26, had, with much address and policy, kept clear of the quarrels which agitated27 the rest of Europe. But Solymon the Second, upon the most frivolous28 pretext29, demanded from them the island of Cyprus.
It was evident to all the world, that he had no better foundation for this claim, than a strong desire, supported by a sufficient power, of conquering the island. This kind of right might not be thought complete in a court of equity30; but, in the jurisprudence of monarchs31, it has always been found preferable to every other.
[192]
The Turks make a descent, with a great army, on Cyprus; they invest Famagousta, the capital; the garrison32 defends it with the most obstinate33 bravery; the Turks are repulsed34 in repeated assaults; many thousands of them are slain35; but the ranks are constantly supplied by reinforcements. Antonio Bragadino, the commander, having displayed proofs of the highest military skill, and the most heroic courage, his garrison being quite exhausted with fatigue36, and greatly reduced in point of numbers, is obliged to capitulate.
The terms were, that the garrison should march out with their arms, baggage, and three pieces of cannon37, and should be transported to Candia in Turkish vessels38; that the citizens should not be pillaged39, but allowed to retire with their effects.
Mustapha, the Turkish Bashaw, no sooner had possession of the place, than he delivered it up to be pillaged by the Janissaries; the garrison were put in chains, and[193] made slaves on board the Turkish gallies. The principal officers were beheaded, and the gallant Bragadino was tied to a pillar, and, in the Bashaw’s presence, flayed40 alive.
We meet with events in the annals of mankind, that make us doubt the truth of the most authentic41 history. We cannot believe that such actions have ever been committed by the inhabitants of this globe, and by creatures of the same species with ourselves. We are tempted42 to think we are perusing43 the records of hell, whose inhabitants, according to the most authentic accounts, derive44 a constant pleasure from the tortures of each other, as well as of all foreigners.
The conquest of the island of Cyprus is said to have cost the Turks fifty thousand lives. At this time, not Venice only, but all Christendom, had reason to dread45 the progress of the Turkish arms. The State of Venice solicited46 assistance from all the Catholic[194] States; but France was, at that time, in alliance with the Turks; Maximilian dreaded47 their power; the Crown of Portugal was possessed by a child, and Poland was exhausted by her wars with Russia. The Venetians, on this pressing occasion, received assistance from Rome, whose power they had so often resisted, and from Spain, their late enemy.
Pope Pius the Fifth, and Philip the Second, joined their fleets with that of the republic. The confederate fleet assembled at Messina. The celebrated48 Don John of Austria, natural son to Charles the Fifth, was Generalissimo; Mark Antonio Colonna commanded the Pope’s division, and Sebastian Veniero the Venetian. The Turkish fleet was greatly superior in the number of vessels.
The two fleets meet in the Gulph of Lapanta: it is said, that the Turkish gallies were entirely49 worked by Christian50 slaves, and the gallies of the Christians51 by Turkish;[195] a shocking proof of the barbarous manner in which prisoners of war were treated in that age; and, in this instance, as absurd as it was barbarous; for a cartel for an exchange of prisoners would have given freedom to the greater number of those unhappy men, without diminishing the strength of either navy. The fleets engage, and the Turks are entirely defeated. Historians assert, that twenty thousand Turks were killed in the engagement, and one half of their fleet destroyed. This is a prodigious52 number to be killed on one side, and in a sea fight; it ought to be remembered, that there is no Turkish writer on the subject.
Pius the Fifth died soon after the battle of Lapanta. Upon his death the war languished53 on the side of the Allies; Philip became tired of the expence, and the Venetians were obliged to purchase a peace, by yielding the island of Cyprus to the Turks, and agreeing to pay them, for three[196] years, an annual tribute of one hundred thousand ducats. Those circumstances have no tendency to confirm the accounts which Christian writers have given, of the immense loss which the Turks met with at the battle of Lapanta.
In the beginning of the seventeenth century, the republic had a dispute with the Pope, which, in that age, was thought a matter of importance, and engaged the attention of all Christendom.
Paul the Fifth shewed as eager a disposition54 as any of his predecessors55, to extend the Papal authority. He had an inveterate56 prejudice against the Venetian republic, on account of her having, on every occasion, resisted all ecclesiastical encroachments.
He sought, with impatience58, an opportunity of manifesting his hatred, and expected that he should be assisted by the pious59 Princes of Europe, in bringing this refractory[197] child of the church to reason. He began by demanding a sum of money, for the purpose of carrying on the war against the Turks in Hungary; he complained of certain decrees of the Senate, relating to the internal government of the republic, particularly one which forbad the building of any more new churches, without the permission of that assembly, and which, he said, smelt60 strongly of heresy61; and above all, he exclaimed against the Council of Ten, for having imprisoned62 an Ecclesiastic57, and prepared to bring him to a public trial. This reverend person, for whom his Holiness interested himself so warmly, was accused of having poisoned five people, one of whom was his own father. He was also accused of having caused another to be assassinated63; and, to prevent a discovery, had afterwards poisoned the assassin.
The Senate refused the money, confirmed their decree against the building of[198] churches, and applauded the conduct of the Council of Ten, in prosecuting64 the Ecclesiastic.
The authors of the age arranged themselves on the one side, or the other, and this became a war of controversy65; in which, though there was no blood shed, yet it appeared, by the writings of the partisans66, that a considerable number of understandings were greatly injured. Those who supported the Pope’s cause insisted, that the temporal power of Princes is subordinate to his; that he has a right to deprive them of their dominions, and release their subjects from their oaths of fidelity67, as often as this shall be for the glory of God, and for the good of the Church; of which nobody could be so good a judge as the Pope, since all the world knew he was infallible; that ecclesiastics68 were not subjected to the civil power; that an ecclesiastical court, or the Pope, only, had authority over that body of men; and nothing[199] could be more abominable69, than to continue a prosecution70 against a prisoner, whatever his crimes might be, after the Father of the church, who had the undoubted power of absolving71 sinners, had interfered72 in his favour.
The Senate, in their answers, acknowledged, that the Pope was supreme73 head of the Church, and that, in all subjects of religious belief, his power was unbounded; for which reason they remained implicit74 and submissive believers; that they were far from disputing the infallibility of his Holiness in ecclesiastical matters, particularly within his own dominions; but, with regard to the government of their subjects, they would certainly take the whole trouble of that on themselves, and would administer as impartial75 justice to Ecclesiastics, as to those of other professions. They imagined also, that they were competent judges when, and for what purposes, they ought to levy76 money upon their own[200] subjects, and whether it would be necessary to build any new churches in Venice, or not. Finally, they flattered themselves, that the prosecuting a murderer was no way inconsistent with the glory of God.
The greater number of the Princes of Christendom seemed to think the Senate were in the right. The Pope was disappointed in his expectations; and finding himself unsupported, was glad to shelter his pride under the mediation77 of Henry the Fourth of France, who endeavoured to give his Holiness’s defeat the appearance of victory.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
affected
|
|
| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
dominion
|
|
| n.统治，管辖，支配权；领土，版图 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
inclinations
|
|
| 倾向( inclination的名词复数 )； 倾斜； 爱好； 斜坡 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
defensive
|
|
| adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
jealousy
|
|
| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
hatred
|
|
| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
intriguing
|
|
| adj.有趣的；迷人的v.搞阴谋诡计(intrigue的现在分词)；激起…的好奇心 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
enumeration
|
|
| n.计数，列举；细目；详表；点查 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
acceded
|
|
| v.（正式）加入( accede的过去式和过去分词 )；答应；（通过财产的添附而）增加；开始任职 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
dominions
|
|
| 统治权( dominion的名词复数 )； 领土； 疆土； 版图 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
pretensions
|
|
| 自称( pretension的名词复数 )； 自命不凡； 要求； 权力 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
possessed
|
|
| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
marshy
|
|
| adj.沼泽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
martial
|
|
| adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
gallant
|
|
| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
monarch
|
|
| n.帝王，君主，最高统治者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
submission
|
|
| n.服从，投降；温顺，谦虚；提出 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
avert
|
|
| v.防止，避免；转移(目光、注意力等) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
resentment
|
|
| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
remorse
|
|
| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
beholding
|
|
| v.看，注视( behold的现在分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
ravaged
|
|
| 毁坏( ravage的过去式和过去分词 )； 蹂躏； 劫掠； 抢劫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
invaders
|
|
| 入侵者，侵略者，侵入物( invader的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
inevitable
|
|
| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
exhausted
|
|
| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
repose
|
|
| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
agitated
|
|
| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
frivolous
|
|
| adj.轻薄的；轻率的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
pretext
|
|
| n.借口，托词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
equity
|
|
| n.公正，公平，（无固定利息的）股票 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
monarchs
|
|
| 君主，帝王( monarch的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
garrison
|
|
| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
obstinate
|
|
| adj.顽固的，倔强的，不易屈服的，较难治愈的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
repulsed
|
|
| v.击退( repulse的过去式和过去分词 )；驳斥；拒绝 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
slain
|
|
| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
fatigue
|
|
| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
cannon
|
|
| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
vessels
|
|
| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
pillaged
|
|
| v.抢劫，掠夺( pillage的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
flayed
|
|
| v.痛打( flay的过去式和过去分词 )；把…打得皮开肉绽；剥（通常指动物）的皮；严厉批评 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
authentic
|
|
| a.真的，真正的；可靠的，可信的，有根据的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
tempted
|
|
| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
perusing
|
|
| v.读（某篇文字）( peruse的现在分词 )；（尤指）细阅；审阅；匆匆读或心不在焉地浏览（某篇文字） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
derive
|
|
| v.取得；导出；引申；来自；源自；出自 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
dread
|
|
| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
solicited
|
|
| v.恳求( solicit的过去式和过去分词 )；（指娼妇）拉客；索求；征求 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
dreaded
|
|
| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
celebrated
|
|
| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
entirely
|
|
| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
Christian
|
|
| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
Christians
|
|
| n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
prodigious
|
|
| adj.惊人的，奇妙的；异常的；巨大的；庞大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
languished
|
|
| 长期受苦( languish的过去式和过去分词 )； 受折磨； 变得（越来越）衰弱； 因渴望而变得憔悴或闷闷不乐 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
disposition
|
|
| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
predecessors
|
|
| n.前任( predecessor的名词复数 )；前辈；（被取代的）原有事物；前身 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
inveterate
|
|
| adj.积习已深的，根深蒂固的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
ecclesiastic
|
|
| n.教士，基督教会；adj.神职者的，牧师的，教会的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
impatience
|
|
| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
pious
|
|
| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
smelt
|
|
| v.熔解，熔炼；n.银白鱼，胡瓜鱼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
heresy
|
|
| n.异端邪说；异教 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
imprisoned
|
|
| 下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
assassinated
|
|
| v.暗杀( assassinate的过去式和过去分词 )；中伤；诋毁；破坏 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
prosecuting
|
|
| 检举、告发某人( prosecute的现在分词 )； 对某人提起公诉； 继续从事（某事物）； 担任控方律师 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
controversy
|
|
| n.争论，辩论，争吵 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
partisans
|
|
| 游击队员( partisan的名词复数 )； 党人； 党羽； 帮伙 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
fidelity
|
|
| n.忠诚，忠实；精确 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
ecclesiastics
|
|
| n.神职者，教会，牧师( ecclesiastic的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
69
abominable
|
|
| adj.可厌的，令人憎恶的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
prosecution
|
|
| n.起诉，告发，检举，执行，经营 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
absolving
|
|
| 宣告…无罪，赦免…的罪行，宽恕…的罪行( absolve的现在分词 )； 不受责难，免除责任 [义务] ,开脱（罪责） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
interfered
|
|
| v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
supreme
|
|
| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
implicit
|
|
| a.暗示的，含蓄的，不明晰的，绝对的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
impartial
|
|
| adj.(in,to)公正的，无偏见的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
levy
|
|
| n.征收税或其他款项，征收额 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
mediation
|
|
| n.调解 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |