Thus, infancy is governed by the moon, childhood by Mercury, youth by the sun, and so forth.
The sixteenth depicts various craftsmen: the smith, the mason, the goldsmith, the carpenter, the notary, the cobbler, the man-servant, the husbandman.

Over this are traces of a medallion, probably of porphyry, now removed.
The seventeenth has the heads of animals: lion, bear, wolf, and so forth, including the griffin each with its prey.
[Illustration: THE ADAM AND EVE CORNER OF THE DOGES' PALACE] The eighteenth has eight stone-carving saints, some with a piece of coloured marble, all named, and all at work: S.Simplicius, S.
Symphorian, who sculps a figure, S.Claudius, and others.
And now we are at the brave corner column which unconcernedly assumes a responsibility that can hardly be surpassed in the world.

For if it were to falter all would go.

Down would topple two of the loveliest facades that man ever constructed or the centuries ever caressed into greater beauty.

This corner of the palace has an ever-increasing fascination for me, and at all hours of the day and night this strong column below and the slenderer one above it hold the light--whether of sun or moon or artifice--with a peculiar grace.
The design of this capital is, fittingly enough, cosmic.