During three decades of peace the Venetian battle fleet had stagnated, but soon, once again, reserve galleys were pushing out of the Arsenal. A colossal quadrireme constructed by the scholar-turned-shipwright Vettor Fausto was loaded with batteries of cannon.

One August afternoon he was returning from his dinner, when near the public square, he came to a little white fice dog and another little dog grining and growling at each other on the sidewalk.

No cox'n will ever be hanged; he will always have half-inched the rope from the hangman first.

Meanwhile, from Russia French women adopted witz-chouras, or fur-lined (usually wolf) coats.