The scene was the Chamber of Audience of the Vatican. His Holiness, Pope Julius II was listening, not too graciously, to the explanations of the Venetian Ambassador. For the Republic had challenged once again the temporal sovereignty of the 'Vatican, and the explanations of its ambassador were exercises in the arrogant rhetoric of the Renaissance. To a pope who reckoned his reign by the cities he had conquered, every pharse was a gauntlet thrown down: "If Venice does not bow to my wishes," he exclaimed, "I will grind it lower than a fishing village." The reply was a challenge to battle. 'If Your Holiness does not yield to Venice, we will grind you lower than a village priest."

The glamor and majesty of the state which could make such a boast was not lost on a Europe which had already awakened to the vision of empire, and the ascendant star of the city "where the merchants are the kings, where St. Mark's is, where the doges used to wed the sea with rings," was seen and worshipped west as well as east. A young Londoner, knowing no more of Venice than its rumored fame, caught some of the majesty, and more of the glamor, in a play called "The Merchant of Venice." Today Venetians themselves turn to its bright staccato drama for the noblest recollection of things past.

Shakespeare was the first of the poets to turn his footsteps in imagination to the stones of Venice. After him a long procession follows, Wordsworth, Shelley, Byron, Browning. One may almost say that the best of the English poets are those who loved Venice best. The delight of Shelley in it was that of Ariel for his island, and Byron's love was not one but several. For those who can go and see, the record of their attachment is alive in Venice today. For those who cannot, Mr. Hersey will lecture on "Venice and the English Poets," illustrated by colored slides. In Emerson 211, at two o'clock this afternoon.

TODAY

9 o'clock

"Heaviside Calculus," Professor Chaffee, Cruft Lecture Room 3.

"Aristotle on Moral Responsibility," Professor Gulick, Sever 26.

10 o'clock

"The Economic Policies of the Soviet Government," Mr. Vernadsky, Boylston 21.

"Sherwood Anderson," Professor Matthiesen, Harvard 6.

11 o'clock

"The Irish Theatre: Lady Gregory and Lord Dunsany," Professor J. T. Murray, Harvard 3.

"Contemporary German Literature," Professor Burkhard, Germanic Museum.

12 o'clock

"Contemporary Criticism; A. Francis; J. LeMaitre," Professor Babbitt, Harvard 5.