As the door closed upon the retreating cortège the attitude of the Doge
grew stern. He turned as if about to address the still standing Senate,
when, remembering that he had already assumed the initiative to an
unusual degree, and having so recent a recollection of that formidable
coronation oath whose slightest infraction would be visited upon his
nearest of kin, he mounted in silence to his seat and consulted with his
Councillors until the senators were in their places. Then, in a tone of
authority, he proclaimed:
"That which hath just occurred within this hall of the Senate shall be
for those who have witnessed it as if it had not been, and the
secretaries of the day shall not transcribe it upon their records, since
it hath already more than sufficiently consumed our time. This vision of
the lady was doubtless wrought by unwise tampering, being a vision of a
nature that may gain credence with women--dependent and timid and
unversed in law--but with which men and rulers have nothing to do."
An expression of relief slowly grew upon the faces before him while the
Doge was speaking; noting which his words were allowed to produce their
full effect during the few moments of relaxation and informal talk,
which, as was immediately announced by a secretary, would occupy the
time until the return of the three senators--all meanwhile keeping their
seats that no moment might be lost in resuming the important interrupted
debate.
The strain had been so great, both during the discussion and the visit
of the Lady Marina, that there was a willingness among the senators to
unbend, to throw aside serious impressions and make light of all dread,
as womanish and weak, accepting the Doge's words as leaders. For in
those days the faith of many of the gravest walked only a little way
from the borderland of superstition; and it was long since any of their
princes had held so great a reputation for judgment and diplomacy as
Leonardo Donato.
"The Senate now being complete," the Doge solemnly announced,
immediately upon the return of the three senators, "the interrupted
speech will be concluded, and before the final vote is taken there will
be presented once more before this august body that argument of our most
learned and venerated Counsellor, Padre Maestro Paolo, upon which the
decision of the Ten hath been based, and upon which the College, the
Senate, and the Great Council will presently be called to vote."
This marshaling of the entire ruling body of the Republic could not fail
to exercise a steadying power, and neither fear nor irresolution were
revealed to the impressive, penetrating, and commanding gaze of
Leonardo, when the Senator Contarini resumed the speech which had been
so strangely interrupted. The enthusiasm and determination of the
morning had returned; the words fell upon a receptive and positive
atmosphere. The opinions of the distinguished Senator carried great
weight, so loyal and catholic was he known to be; and above the portal
of the Contarini many times the Lion of St. Mark had proudly rested.
"We are loyal sons of the Church," he said, "but no highest
ecclesiastical court--though with authority from Rome itself--may rule
that any decree of this imperial Senate of Venice, bearing upon Church
and State alike, can be set aside by Church alone."
"We have not subjected ourselves to being put out of the body of this
Church, which we revere, by any failure of duty on our part--duty being
a rendering of that which is owed.
"As citizens of this Republic, our duty in things temporal is owed to
our Prince--by right divine; as men, our duty to our Church, by right
divine, is in things spiritual alone--which we render; but in things
temporal God gave not the Church rule over us. If, at any point, these
two dominions may seem to touch and intersect it is our Prince who
disentangles, by his decree, the twisted thread. For he is Lord over us,
who are Venetians and not Romans."
The words had a ring of victory; enthusiasm spread from face to face,
and the house rose in a tumult of approval to express its loyalty,
unchecked by any sign of dissent from the dais at a demonstration so
unusual.
But the Contarini saw his advantage and broke in upon the wave of
feeling, while an imperative motion from the Chief Counsellor restored
order for the hearing of an important legal point upon which it was
desired that action should be based.
"These laws--whose abrogation the Holy Father doth demand--are ancient
rights of Venice, acknowledged by many previous popes, and reaffirmed,
in these our own days, after wise and learned scrutiny of our
chancellors, in the light of modern, civic requirements, as needful to
the healthful administration of this realm; as binding upon our Prince,
who hath ever in mind the welfare of Venice; and to be upheld by our
people who believe in the divine right of princes. They are by these
reverend Councillors also declared non-prejudicial to the spiritual
authority of our Most Holy Church, which this Serene Republic of Venice
doth ever reverently acknowledge. The question is of civil and not of
spiritual rights."
An enthusiastic senator made a motion for the casting of the final vote,
as an expression of the sense of the chamber. The speech of the
Contarini and the manner of its reception gave pleasing assurance of the
general temper of the Senate; the faces of the Doge and of his Savii
recorded the sense of security with which it was needful to impress the
assembly, and wore, if possible, a more dignified calm. Nevertheless
Leonardo, with his statesman's eye, detected here and there a face that
was set in an opposite opinion or likely to yield from fear, and his
pride decreed that the vote, when cast, should be unanimous.
Again the Doge consulted his Councillors.
"The nations will owe us much," he said, "if our unanimous vote shall
record the sentiments expressed in this speech of the noble Senator
Contarini as the faith and will of this Republic. Never hath there been
a greater opportunity to win a triumph for the liberty of princes.
"Therefore, because the question is weighty, we will request our most
learned Counsellor and Theologian to the Republic to give us an
exposition of the law as it doth appear at this latest moment of our
discussion to his judicial mind."
All Venice knew that Fra Paolo's nerve and knowledge were the central
forces of the resistance of the Republic in this crisis.
As he moved slowly forward and stood before this magnificent assembly
with the same simple dignity that had characterized him among the friars
of the Servi,--after the splendors of the ducal costume, the scarlet,
the ermine, the beretta, the gold-brocaded mantle,--the plain folds of
the violet robe of the Counsellor seemed almost austere. His lineless
face was so fresh in color that it looked youthful, though of singular
gravity and refined asceticism. Yet men of force were drawn to him
because of his strength, his broad grasp of duty, and his absolute
fearlessness.
As he stood for a moment perfectly still before them, his eyes--blue,
penetrating, and unrevealing--swept the faces of the assembly with a
magnetic glance which compelled their entire attention. The hush was
_felt_ among them, and in the silence his voice--clear, passionless,
low, and far-reaching--seemed not so much a voice as a suggestion within
the inner consciousness of his hearers of the thoughts he uttered. The
strange sense of impersonality which was one of his distinguishing
attributes prevented the usual desire for contest with which most
thinking men meet other strong minds, and was, perhaps, a secret of his
triumphs.
"Most Serene Prince, Counsellors, and Nobles of the Council, if you ask
me of the law as it hath declared itself to my understanding, the matter
is simple and quickly to be uttered.
"The dominion of the Church marches in the paths of heaven; it cannot
therefore clash with the dominion of princes, which marches on the paths
of earth. But the Roman court--calling itself the Church--is no longer
satisfied with that spiritual dominion to which it hath right, having
become aggressive and seeking to impose doctrines far removed from the
primitive law of the Church."
There was a slight pause, while the quiet eyes held his audience with a
challenge of assent; the faces of those who were unqualifiedly with him
in doctrine grew eager; here and there a dignified head bowed, unaware,
as if surrendering some belief.
"Christ himself hath said, 'My kingdom is not of this world,' and the
power of the Sovereign Pontiff over Christians is not limitless, but is
restricted to spiritual matters and hath for rule the Divine Law.
"If the Pope, to enforce his commands--unlawful when they exceed the
authority given him by Christ--fulminates his interdict, it is unjust
and null; in spite of the reverence owed to the Holy See, it should not
be obeyed.
"Seven times before hath Venice been so banned--and _never_ for anything
that had to do with religion!"
Again that strange, slight, emphatic pause, as if he need wait but a
moment for his reasoning to dissipate any conscious unwillingness.
The Contarini quoted low to his neighbor a recent _bon mot_ of the
Senate, "Everybody hath a window in his breast to Fra Paolo;" for
several senators of families closely allied to Rome started at the
boldness of the thought, and exchanged furtive glances of disapproval,
and the fearless eye of the friar immediately fixed upon them, holding
and quieting them as they moved restlessly to evade his glance. It was
as if he assured them silently, "I speak that I do know; cease to oppose
truth; let yourselves believe." And resistance lessened before the
impersonality of the pleader.
"One of the fathers tells us that an excommunication is null when it
would usurp over citizens the right of their prince. '_By me kings reign
and princes decree justice_'--it is the word of God."
There was no need of further pauses in the quiet flow of words, for
there was no longer any resistance; the Senate and Council hung
breathless upon his speech, which answered every misgiving; they knew
that his reading of canon law had never been questioned in Rome itself;
the man spoke with immense authority. But there was no triumph in his
bearing as he tuned the atmosphere of that august assembly into absolute
harmony, conquering every discordant note--only a further lowering of
the quiet voice, which seemed to utter, unchallenged, the conclusions of
each listener.
"The Sacred Canons agree that a Pope is liable to error and fallible in
cases of special judgment.
"Isaiah denounces such legislation, 'Woe unto them that decree
unrighteous decrees.'
"Wherefore I declare the justice of the cause of the Republic, and the
nullity of any judgment that may be pronounced against her in this
matter.
"Nor shall evil befall one for a sin not committed, nor can there be
disobedience to a mandate which hath been issued, without lawful
authority, by him who proclaims it; and authority, transcended, is no
longer lawful."