Idleness was unknown in Venice.

Instead of excogitating new constitutions or planning vengeance against hereditary foes the Venetian attended to his commerce on the sea, swayed distant provinces, watched the interests of the state in foreign cities, and fought the naval battles of the republic.

It was the custom of Venice to employ her patricians only on the sea as admirals, and never to intrust her armies to the generalship of burghers.

This policy had undoubtedly its wisdom; for by these means the nobles had no opportunity of intriguing on a large scale in Italian affairs, and never found the chance of growing dangerously powerful abroad.

But it pledged the State to that system of paid condottieri and mercenary troops, jealously watched and scarcely ever trustworthy, which proved nearly as ruinous to Venice as it did to Florence.
It is difficult to imagine a greater contrast than that which is presented by Florence to Venice.