“The people who are seldom moderate in their affection any more than in their hatred, immediately cried out, ‘Boccanegra, Lord of Genoa.’ This artful ambitious man said he was ready to submit to the will of the people, to be Abbé or Lord according as they should ordain. This feigned humility pleased the people, as he expected; they repeated Lord Boccanegra! and he was proclaimed perpetual Doge. So that the speech of a drunken shoemaker occasioned the government of Genoa to be transmitted from nobles to the people, and a single man to become sole master in the state.”
With the headings of a few other examples I shall conclude.
“The severity of an Empress to her daughter was the occasion of Attila's ravaging Gaul and Italy, and of the foundation of the city of Venice.”
“The inability of a person who had lost a considerable sum at dice to pay the same immediately, was the cause that the Vandals settled in Africa, went to ravage Italy and sack Rome.”
“The assassination of Chilperic, king of France, was occasioned by his giving Fredegonde his wife, a blow with a switch in play.”
“A repartee of the Empress Sophia, consort of Justinian II, is the cause of the Lombards invading Italy and establishing themselves there.”
“The kingdoms of Naples and Sicily were established in consequence of a duel fought by two Norman barons.”
“The beauty of a young Turk who lived at Antioch is the occasion of cruel wars between England and France.”
“A yellow goat occasions the death of three Khans of the Tartars, and the destruction of several cities.”
“Francis I, king of France, having promised a lady, of whom he was enamored, to meet her at Lyons in the month of March, occasions him to lose the battle of Pavia, himself to be made prisoner and reduces France to the brink of ruin.”