THE ADRIATIC BRIDE. 



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SCARCELY had Ziani, on his return to Venice, made the Doge 

 acquainted with the unfortunate result of his pacific mission, than he 

 went through the city with a throbbing heart, to see if the plague had 

 yet taken possession of Daponte's cottage. Malapiero followed him, 

 for Ziani had disclosed to him the secret of his love, and he now 

 shared the anxiety of his friend. It was necessary to pass through 

 a considerable part of the city, which disclosed many frightful scenes 

 to their view. Many of the most populous streets were desolate ; 

 from several open houses was heard the low moaning of its last 

 inhabitant, dying alone, amid the corpses of those most loved. Dead 

 bodies were lying on the steps of the palace, whither they had 

 dragged themselves to obtain relief. Children were clinging to their 

 dead mothers, sucking in the poison from their livid but still 

 cherished lips ; and in the midst of this frightful scene of misery 

 and horror, men dressed in black were seen stalking about with 

 cold indifference, silently placing the dead on carts, and affixing 

 tickets to the houses, bearing the frightful word EXTINCT. 



Ziani's heart was seized with dread and horror, but love and 

 anguish gave wings to his steps, he flew to Daponte's dwelling. 

 The first object that struck his sight, was the appalling ticket on the 

 door. 



In vain did Malapiero endeavour to hold back his friend ; he 

 rushed pale and like a maniac into the hut, crying out; " Giovanna, 

 Giovanna !" But the hut was empty, the bodies had been taken 

 away ; furniture and clothes were lying about in disorder. Ziani 

 would not quit the hut; he wished to die where Giovanna had ceased 

 to exist, and Malapiero was obliged to take him by main force out 

 of this abode of death. 



As they quitted the cottage, a frightful noise at some little distance, 

 announced a tumult, and they saw an immense crowd of people rush- 

 ing towards the palace of the Doge. 



" Come Ziani ! M cried Malapiero, " forget your own sorrows ! 

 come, our presence will be necessary." 



The people attributed the whole blame of their misfortune to the 

 Doge; they thought, and with justice, that his imprudent delay, on 

 the island of Scio, was the sole cause of the destruction of their fine 

 fleet, and had brought death into their houses, instead of the advan- 

 tageous peace they had expected. They were accustomed to the 

 greatest sacrifices ; they did not shrink from shedding their blood in 

 defence of their country, but in their own homes, to see the lives of 

 all that were dear to them falling a sacrifice to the imprudence of one 

 person, was what they could not brook, and they called for ven- 

 geance, in the voice of despair and rage. The angry populace sur- 

 rounded the palace of the Doge ; " down from the throne ;" they 

 cried ; " down with the traitor, who has brought us the plague in- 

 stead of peace !" The Doge placed dependance on the body-guard ; 



