For the
government demanded that they should maintain a fine reserve in method,
and in spite of examples to the contrary freely given by their
opponents, would tolerate neither heresy nor coarseness. Every detail of
this world-renowned quarrel was conducted on the part of Venice with an
irreproachable dignity and diplomacy that raised it to the height of a
negotiation of State, and it formed no part of the policy of the
Republic to tolerate any disbelief in her own loyalty; the Venetians
should stand before the world as faithful sons of the Church, bearing
unmerited sentence of excommunication.
Then Rome, to make an end of the brilliant flow of pamphlets from
Sarpi's pen, would have lured him from Venice with flattering promises
of churchly preferment. "Nay," said he, "here lieth my duty; and my work
hath not deserved honest favor from a Pope who interpreteth the law with
other eyes than mine."
Meanwhile the schemes of the enemy were tireless for obtaining secret
influence within Venetian borders.
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