VI. RED AND WHITE CLOUDS 265

Church in the island of Olivolo,¹ where at present is the seat and cathedral church of Venice.

“Afterwards appeared to him the Angel Raphael, committing it to him, that at another place, where he should find a number of birds together, he should build him a church: and so he did, which is the church of the Angel Raphael in Dorsoduro.

“Afterwards appeared to him Messer Jesus Christ our Lord, and committed to him that in the midst of the city he should build a church, in the place, above which he should see a red cloud rest: and so he did; and it is San Salvador.

“Afterwards appeared to him the most holy Mary the Virgin, very beautiful; and commanded him that where he should see a white cloud rest, he should build a church: which is the church of St. Mary the Beautiful.

“Yet still appeared to him St. John the Baptist, commanding that he should build two churches, one near the other,-the one to be in his name, and the other in the name of his father. Which he did, and they are San Giovanni in Bragola, and San Zaccaria.

“Then appeared to him the apostles of Christ, wishing, they also, to have a church in this new city; and they committed it to him that where he should see twelve cranes in a company, there he should build it. Lastly appeared to him blessed Virgin Giustina, and ordered him that where he should find vines bearing fresh fruit, there he should build her a church.”

74. Now this legend is quite one of the most precious things in the story of Venice: preserved for us in this form at the end of the fourteenth century, by one of her most highly educated gentlemen, it shows the very heart of her religious and domestic power, and assures for us, with other evidence, these following facts.

¹ [Afterwards called Castello: see Stones of Venice, Vol. IX. p. 419.]

[Version 0.04: March 2008]