Brewer's: Foscari

(Francis). Doge of Venice. He occupied the office for thirty-five years, added Brescia, Bergamo, Crema, and Ravenna to the Republic, greatly improved the city, and raised Venice to the pinnacle of its glory. Of his four sons only one, named Jacopo, survived: he was thrice tortured. Before his final banishment, the old doge, then eighty-four years of age, hobbled on crutches to the gaol where his son was confined, but would not mitigate the sentence of “The Ten.” His son, being banished to Candia, died, and Francis was deposed. As he descended the Giant Staircase he heard the bell toll for the election of his successor, and dropped down dead. (Byron; The Two Foscari. )

Nothing can sympathise with Foscari - Not e'en a Foscari.

Byron: The Two Foscari.

Related Content Allusions Foreign Words and Phrases Latin and Greek Word Elements Names: Their Origins and Meanings Old Testament Names Mythology Ancient Greek Literature & Mythology The Bible (King James version) The Koran (translation by J. M. Rodwell) Shakespeare's Plays Tales from Shakespeare (Charles and Mary Lamb) Frequently Misspelled Words Frequently Mispronounced Words Easily Confused Words Writing & Language