Page:The Harveian oration for 1874.djvu/34

 claiming bodies from Venice, or elsewhere within the Venetian States. Not seven years before Harvey came to Padua, the Venetian government had built there at its own cost a new anatomical theatre, and had placed over its entrance an inscription commemorating the liberality, as well as the genius of Professor Fabricius, who had built the former theatre at his own expense. Between Fabricius, honoured by and adding honour to the dignity of a Knight of St. Mark, and Harvey, a fast friendship seems to have sprung up, or rather that loving relationship which is so beautiful between the youth scarce twenty and the old man of well-nigh seventy years.

Something of his open-handed liberality and of his indifference to wealth Harvey may have learned from the example of Fabricius, who contented himself with his stipend, and refused the large sums which his great reputation as a