The ceremony took place on Ascension Day. The Doge, the senators, foreign ambassadors and great numbers of the nobility, in their black robes, walked to the sea-side, where the magnificent vessel, the Bucentoro, was waiting to receive them. They then proceeded about two miles up the Laguna, and when arrived at a certain place, they all stopped. The Doge then rose from his chair of state, went to the side of the vessel and threw a gold ring into the sea, repeating the following words: “We espouse thee, O sea! as a token of our perpetual dominion over thee.” At the close of this part of the ceremony, all the galleys fired their guns; and the music continued to play. On their voyage back, they stopped at a small island, where they went to church, and high mass was there celebrated. They then returned in the same order they at first set out.[128]
This cry of perpetual dominion over the sea, puts us in mind of the story of Canute; and knowing the present prostrate and decaying condition of Venice, truly may we say: “How are the mighty fallen.” One of our frigates would make the whole maritime power of Venice tremble like the ring as it went through the waters. This ceremony was intermitted in the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-seven.[129]
§ 5. The Doge of Venice had a ring of office. We find it figuring in the acts through which the Doge Foscari had to move. A noble creature was this Foscari. No Brutus ever behaved with the awful dignity which was apparent in Foscari at the period of his son’s torture in his presence.[130]
When the Council of Ten demanded of him
“The resignation of the Ducal ring,
Which he had worn so long and venerably,”
he laid aside the Ducal bonnet and robes; surrendered his ring of office, and cried out:
“There’s the Ducal ring,
And there the Ducal diadem. And so,