VIII. THE REQUIEM 305

nature, than the swindling-born and business-bred virtues which most Christians nowadays are content in acquiring. But these old Venetian virtues are compliant, also, in a way. They are for sea-life, and there is one for every wind that blows.

128. If you stand in mid-nave, looking to the altar, the first narrow window of the cupola-(I call it first for reasons presently given)-faces you, in the due east. Call the one next it, on your right, the second window; it bears east-south-east. The third, south-east; the fourth, south-south-east; the fifth, south; the ninth, west; the thirteenth, north; and the sixteenth, east-north-east.

The Venetian Virtues stand, one between each window. On the sides of the east window stand Fortitude and Temperance; Temperance the first, Fortitude the last; “he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved.”¹

Then their order is as follows: Temperance between the first and second windows,-(quenching fire with water);-between the second and third, Prudence; and then, in sequence,

III. Humility.

IV. Kindness (Benignitas).

V. Compassion.²

VI. Abstinence.

VII. Mercy.

VIII. Long-suffering.

IX. Chastity.

X. Modesty.

XI. Constancy.

XII. Charity.

XIII. Hope.

XIV. Faith.

XV. Justice.

XVI. Fortitude.

¹ [Matthew x. 22.]

² [“Compulsio”; on her scroll is the text, “Beati qui lugent, quoniam ipsi consolabuntur” (Matthew v. 4), from which it would appear that the virtue is not so much “compassion,” as compunction, repentance, sorrow.]

XXIV. U

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