OF THE ARCH OF THE DOGANA.
It appeared, among the many prerogatives, excellences, and graces with
which fair Florence adorned herself, distributing them over various
places, as has been shown, to receive and accompany her illustrious
Princess, it appeared, I say, that the sole sovereign and head of them
all, Civil Virtue or Prudence, queen and mistress of the art of ruling
and governing well peoples and states, had been passed over up to this
point without receiving any attention; as to which Prudence, although to
the great praise and glory of Florence it could be demonstrated amply in
many of her children in past times, nevertheless, having at the present
time in her most excellent Lords the most recent, the most true, and
without a doubt the most splendid example that has ever been seen in her
up to our own day, it was thought that their magnanimous actions were
best fitted to express and demonstrate that virtue. And with what good
reason, and how clearly without any taint of adulation, but only by the
grateful minds of the best citizens, this honour was paid to them,
anyone who is not possessed by blind envy (by whose venomous bite
whoever has ruled at any time has always been molested), may judge with
ease, looking not only at the pure and upright government of their
happily adventuresome State and at its preservation among difficulties,
but also at its memorable, ample, and glorious increase, brought about
certainly not less by the infinite fortitude, constancy, patience, and
vigilance of its most prudent Duke, than by the benign favour of
prosperous Fortune. All which came to be expressed excellently well in
the inscription set with most beautiful grace in a fitting place,
embracing the whole conception of the whole ornament, and saying:
REBUS URBANIS CONSTITUTIS, FINIB. IMPERII PROPAGATIS, RE MILITARI
ORNATA, PACE UBIQUE PARTA, CIVITATIS IMPERIIQUE DIGNITATE AUCTA,
MEMOR TANTORUM BENEFICIORUM PATRIA PRUDENTIAE DUCIS OPT.
DEDICAVIT.
At the entrance of the public and ducal Piazza, then, and attached on
one side to the public and ducal Palace, and on the other to those
buildings in which salt is distributed to the people, there was
dedicated well and fittingly to that same Civil Virtue or Prudence an
arch marvellous and grand beyond all the others, similar and conforming
in every part, although more lofty and more magnificent, to that of
Religion already described, which was placed on the Canto alla Paglia.
In that arch, above four vast Corinthian columns, in the midst of which
space was left for the procession to pass, and above the usual
architrave, cornice, and frieze of projections--as was said of the
other--divided into three compartments, and upon a second great cornice
that crowned the whole work, there was seen in grave and heroic majesty,
seated in the semblance of a Queen with a sceptre in the right hand and
resting the left on a great globe, an immense woman adorned with a
royal crown, who could be recognized with ease as being that Civil
Virtue. There remained below, between one column and another, as much
space as accommodated without difficulty a deep and spacious niche, in
each of which was demonstrated very aptly of what other virtues that
Civil Virtue is composed; and, rightly giving the first place to the
military virtues, there was seen in the niche on the right hand, with
heroic and most beautiful composition, the statue of Fortitude, the
first principle of all magnanimous and generous actions, even as on the
left hand in like manner was seen placed that of Constancy, who best
guides and executes them. And since between the frontispieces of the two
niches and the cornice that went right round there was left some space,
to the end that the whole might be adorned, there were counterfeited
there two rounds in the colour of bronze, in one of which was depicted
with a fine fleet of galleys and other ships the diligence and
solicitude of our most shrewd Duke in maritime affairs, and in the
other, as is often found in ancient medals, was seen the same Duke going
around on horseback to visit his fortunate States and to provide for
their wants. Next, over the crowning cornice, where, as has been told,
the masterly statue of Civil Prudence was seated, continuing to show of
what parts she is composed, and exactly in a line with the Fortitude
already described, and separated from her by some magnificent vases, was
seen Vigilance, so necessary in every human action; even as above
Constancy was seen in like manner Patience, and I do not speak of that
patience to which meek minds, tolerating injuries, have given the name
of virtue, but of that which won so much honour for the ancient Fabius
Maximus, and which, awaiting opportune moments with prudence and mature
reflection, and void of all rash vehemence, executes every action with
reason and advantage. In the three pictures, then, into which, as was
said, the frieze was divided, and which were separated by medallions and
pilasters that sprang in a line with the columns and extended with
supreme beauty as far as the great cornice; in that in the centre, which
came above the portal of the arch and beneath the Sovereign Prudence,
was seen painted the generous Duke with prudent and loving counsel
handing over to the worthy Prince the whole government of his spacious
States, which was expressed by a sceptre upon a stork, which he was
shown offering to his son, and it was being accepted with great
reverence by the obedient Prince; with a motto that said: REGET PATRIIS
VIRTUTIBUS. Even as in that on the right hand was seen the same most
valiant Duke with courageous resolution sending forth his people, and
the first fort of Siena occupied by them--no slight cause, probably, of
their victory in that war. And in that on the left hand, in like manner,
was painted his joyful entry into that most noble city after the winning
of the victory. But behind the great statue of Sovereign Prudence--and
in this alone was that front part dissimilar to the Arch of
Religion--was seen raised on high a base beautifully twined with
cartouches and square, although at the foot, not without infinite grace,
it was something wider than at the top; upon which, reviving the ancient
use, was seen a most beautiful triumphal chariot drawn by four
marvellous coursers, not inferior, perchance, to any of the ancient in
beauty and grandeur. In that chariot was seen held suspended in the air
by two lovely little Angels the principal crown of the arch, composed of
civic oak, and, in the likeness of that of the first Augustus, attached
to two tails of Capricorns; with the same motto that was once used with
it by him, saying: OB CIVES SERVATOS. And in the spaces that remained
between the pictures, statues, columns, and niches, all was filled up
with richness and grace by an infinite wealth of Victories, Anchors,
Tortoises with the Sail, Diamonds, Capricorns, and other suchlike
devices of those magnanimous Lords.
Now, passing to the part at the back, facing towards the Piazza, which
we must describe as being in every way similar to the front, excepting
that in place of the statue of Sovereign Prudence, there was seen in a
large oval corresponding to the great pedestal that supported the great
chariot described above, which, with ingenious artifice, after the
passing of the procession, was turned in a moment towards the Piazza;
there was seen, I say, as the principal device of the arch, a celestial
Capricorn with its stars, which was shown holding with the paws a royal
sceptre with an eye at the top, such as it is said that the ancient and
most just Osiris used once to carry, with the ancient motto about it,
saying: NULLUM NUMEN ABEST; as if adding, as the first author said: SI
SIT PRUDENTIA. In the lower part, we have to relate as a
beginning--because that facade was made to represent the actions of
peace, which are perhaps no less necessary to the human race--that in
the niche on the right hand, as with those of the other facade already
described, there was seen placed a statue of a woman, representing
Reward or Remuneration, and called Grace, such as wise Princes are wont
to confer for meritorious works upon men of excellence and worth, even
as on the left hand, in a threatening aspect, with a sword in the hand,
in the figure of Nemesis, was seen Punishment, for the vicious and
criminal; with which figures were comprised the two principal pillars of
Justice, without both which no State ever had stability or firmness, or
was anything but imperfect and maimed. In the two ovals, then, always
corresponding to those of the other facade, and like them also
counterfeited in bronze, in one were seen the fortifications executed
with much forethought in many places by the prudent Duke, and in the
other his marvellous care and diligence in achieving the common peace of
Italy, as has been seen in many of his actions, but particularly at that
moment when by his agency was extinguished the terrible and so dangerous
conflagration fanned with little prudence by one who should rather have
assured the public welfare of the Christian people; which was
represented by various Fetiales, altars, and other suchlike instruments
of peace, and by the words customary in medals placed over them, saying:
PAX AUGUSTA. Over these, and over the two above-described statues of the
niches, similar to those of the other side, were seen on the right hand
Facility and on the left Temperance or Goodness, as we would rather call
her; signifying by the first an external courtesy and affability in
deigning to listen and hearken and answer graciously to everyone, which
keeps the people marvellously well contented, and by the other that
temperate and benign nature which renders the Prince amiable and loving
with his confidants and intimates, and with his subjects easy and
gracious. In the frieze, corresponding to that of the front part, and
like it divided into three pictures, was likewise seen in that of the
centre, as the thing of most importance, the conclusion of the happy
marriage contracted between the most illustrious Prince and the most
serene Queen Joanna of Austria, with so much satisfaction and benefit to
his fortunate people, and bringing peace and repose to everyone; with a
motto saying: FAUSTO CUM SIDERE. Even as in another, on the right hand,
was seen the loving Duke holding by the hand the excellent Duchess
Leonora, his consort, a woman of virile and admirable worth and wisdom,
with whom while she was alive he was joined by such a love, that they
could well be called the bright mirror of conjugal fidelity. On the left
hand was seen the same gracious Duke listening with marvellous courtesy,
as he has been wont always to do, to many who were shown seeking to
speak with him. And such was all that part which faced towards the
Piazza.
Beneath the spacious arch and within the wide passage through which the
procession passed, on one of the walls that supported the vaulting, was
seen painted the glorious Duke in the midst of many venerable old men,
with whom he was taking counsel, and he appeared to be giving to many
various laws and statutes written on divers sheets, signifying the
innumerable laws so wisely amended or newly decreed by him; with the
motto: LEGIBUS EMENDES. Even as in the other, demonstrating his most
useful resolve to set in order and increase his valorous militia, was
seen the same valiant Duke standing upon a military tribune and engaged
in addressing a great multitude of soldiers who stood around him, as we
see in many ancient medals; with a motto above him that said: ARMIS
TUTERIS. And so on the great vault, which was divided into six
compartments, there was seen in each of these, in place of the rosettes
that are generally put there, a device, or, to speak more correctly, the
reverse of a medal in keeping with the two above-described scenes of the
walls. In one of these were painted various curule chairs with various
consular fasces, and in another a woman with the balance, representing
Equity; these two being intended to signify that just laws must always
unite with the severity of the supreme power the equity of the
discerning judge. The next two were concerned with military life,
demonstrating the virtues of soldiers and the fidelity incumbent on
them; for the first of these things there was seen painted a woman armed
in the ancient fashion, and for the other many soldiers who, laying one
hand upon an altar, were shown presenting the other to their captain.
In the two that remained, representing the just and desired fruits of
all these fatigues, namely, Victory, the whole was seen fully expressed,
as is customary, by the figures of two women, one standing in one of the
pictures upon a great chariot, and the other in the other picture upon a
great ship's beak; and both were seen holding in one of the hands a
branch of glorious palm, and in the other a verdant crown of triumphal
laurel. And in the encircling frieze that ran right round the vaulting,
the front and the back, there followed the third part of the motto
already begun, saying: MORIBUS ORNES.
OF THE PIAZZA, AND OF THE NEPTUNE.
Next, all the most noble magistrates of the city, distributing
themselves one by one over the whole circuit of the great Piazza, each
with his customary devices and with very rich tapestries divided evenly
by most graceful pilasters, had rendered it all magnificently imposing
and ornate; and there in those days great care and diligence were
devoted to hastening the erecting in its place, at the beginning of the
Ringhiera, of that Giant in the finest white marble, so marvellous and
so stupendous in grandeur, in beauty, and in every part, which is still
to be seen there at the present day; although it had been ordained as a
permanent and enduring ornament. That Giant is known by the trident that
he has in the hand, by the crown of pine, and by the Tritons that are at
his feet, sounding their trumpets, to be Neptune, God of the sea; and,
riding in a graceful car adorned with various products of the sea and
two ascendant Signs, Capricorn for the Duke and Aries for the Prince,
and drawn by four Sea-horses, he appears in the guise of a benign
protector to be promising tranquillity, felicity, and victory in the
affairs of the sea. At the foot of this, in order to establish it more
securely and more richly, there was made at that time in a no less
beautiful manner an immense and most lovely octagonal fountain,
gracefully supported by some Satyrs, who, holding in their hands little
baskets of various wild fruits and prickly shells of chestnuts, and
divided by some little scenes in low-relief and by some festoons in
which were interspersed sea-shells, crabs, and other suchlike things,
seemed as they danced to be expressing great joy in their new Lady; even
as with no less joy and no less grace there were seen lying on the sides
of the four principal faces of the fountain, likewise with certain great
shells in their hands and with some children in their arms, two nude
women and two most beautiful youths, who in a certain gracious attitude,
as if they were on the sea-shore, appeared to be playing and sporting
gracefully with some dolphins that were there, likewise in low-relief.
OF THE DOOR OF THE PALACE.
Now, having caused the serene Princess to be received, as has been told
in the beginning of this description, by Florence, accompanied by the
followers of Mars, of the Muses, of Ceres, of Industry, and of Tuscan
Poetry and Design, and then triumphant Austria by Tuscany, and the Drava
by Arno, and Ocean by the Tyrrhenian Sea, with Hymen promising her happy
and prosperous nuptials, and the parental meeting of her august and
glorious Emperors with the illustrious Medici, and then all passing
through the Arch of Sacrosanct Religion and fulfilling and accomplishing
their vows at the Cathedral Church, and having seen Heroic Virtue in
triumph over Vice, and with what public rejoicing her entry was
celebrated by Civil Virtue, and how, finally, she was welcomed by the
magistrates of the city, with Neptune promising her a tranquil sea, it
was determined judiciously to bring her at the last into the port of
peaceful Security, who was seen figured over the door of the Ducal
Palace, in a place marvellously appropriate, in the form of a very tall,
most beautiful, and most joyous woman crowned with laurel and olive, who
was shown seated in an easy attitude upon a stable pedestal and leaning
against a great column; demonstrating by means of her the desired end of
all human affairs, deservedly acquired for Florence, and in consequence
for the happy bride, by the sciences, arts, and virtues of which we have
spoken above, but particularly by her most prudent and most fortunate
Lords, who had prepared to receive and accommodate her there as in a
place secure beyond all others, wherein she might enjoy unceasingly in
glory and splendour the benefits human and divine displayed before her
in the ornaments that she had passed; which was explained very aptly
both by the inscription that came with most beautiful grace over the
door, saying:
INGREDERE OPTIMIS AUSPICIIS FORTUNATAS AEDES TUAS AUGUSTA VIRGO,
ET PRAESTANTISSIMI SPONSI AMORE, CLARISS. DUCIS SAPIENTIA, CUM
BONIS OMNIBUS DELICIISQUE SUMMA ANIMI SECURITATE DIU FELIX ET
LAETA PERFRUERE, ET DIVINAE TUAE VIRTUTIS, SUAVITATIS, FECUNDITATIS
FRUCTIBUS PUBLICAM HILARITATEM CONFIRMA.
And also by the principal device, which was seen painted in a great oval
in the highest part, over the statue of Security already described; and
this was the military Eagle of the Roman Legions upon a laureate staff,
which was shown to have been planted firmly in the earth by the hand of
the standard-bearer; with the motto of such happy augury from Livy, from
whom the whole device is taken, saying: HIC MANEBIMUS OPTUME. The
ornament of the door, which was attached to the wall, was contrived in
such a manner, and conceived so well, that it would serve excellently
well if at any time, in order to adorn the simple but magnificent
roughness of past ages, it were determined to build it in marble or some
other finer stone as more stable and enduring, and more in keeping with
our more cultured age. Beginning with the lowest part, I say, upon two
great pedestals that rested on the level of the ground and stood one on
either side of the true door of the Palace, were seen two immense
captives, one male, representing Fury, and one female, with vipers and
horned snakes for hair, representing Discord, his companion; which, as
it were vanquished, subjugated, and bound with chains, and held down by
the Ionic capital and by the architrave, frieze, and cornice that
pressed upon them from above, seemed in a certain sort to be unable to
breathe by reason of the great weight, revealing only too well in their
faces, which were most beautiful in their ugliness, Anger, Rage, Venom,
Violence, and Fraud, their peculiar and natural passions. Above that
cornice was seen formed a frontispiece, in which was placed a very rich
and very large escutcheon of the Duke, bordered by the usual Fleece,
with the Ducal Mazzocchio supported by two very beautiful boys. And lest
this single ornament, which exactly covered the jambs of the true door,
might have a poor effect in so great a palace, it was thought right to
place on either side of it four half-columns set two on one side and two
on the other, which, coming to the same height, and furnished with the
same cornice and architrave, should form a quarter-round which the other
frontispiece, pointed but rectilinear, might embrace, with its
projections and with all its appurtenances set in the proper places. And
above this was formed a very beautiful base, where there was seen the
above-described statue of Security, set in position, as has been told,
with most beautiful grace. But to return to the four half-columns below;
for the sake of greater magnificence, beauty, and proportion, I say,
there had been left so much space at either side, between column and
column, that there was ample room for a large and beautiful picture
painted there in place of a niche. In one of these, that which was
placed nearest to the divine statue of the gentle David, were seen in
the forms of three women, who were shown full of joy advancing to meet
their desired Lady, Nature, with her towers on her head, as is
customary, and with her many breasts, signifying the happy multitude of
her inhabitants, and Concord with the Caduceus in her hand, even as in
the third was seen figured Minerva, the inventress and mistress of the
liberal arts and of civil and refined customs. In the other, which faced
towards the proud statue of Hercules, was seen Amaltheia, with the usual
horn of plenty, overflowing with fruits and flowers, in her arms, and at
her feet the corn-measure brimming and adorned with ears of corn,
signifying the abundance and fertility of the earth; there, also, was
Peace crowned with flowered and fruitful olive, with a branch of the
same in the hand, and finally there was seen, with an aspect grave and
venerable, Majesty or Reputation; demonstrating ingeniously with all
these things how in well-ordered cities, abundant in men, copious in
riches, adorned by arts, filled with sciences, and illustrious in
majesty and reputation, one lives happily and in peace, quietness, and
contentment. Then in line with the four half-columns already described,
above the cornice and frieze of each, was seen fixed in a manner no less
beautiful a socle with a pedestal in proportion, upon which rested some
statues; and since the two in the centre embraced also the width of the
two terminals described, upon each of these were placed two statues
embracing one another--Virtue, namely, who was shown holding Fortune in
a strait and loving embrace, with a motto on the base saying, VIRTUTEM
FORTUNA SEQUETUR; as if to demonstrate that, whatever many may say,
where virtue is fortune is never wanting; and upon the other Fatigue or
Diligence, who in like manner was shown in the act of embracing Victory,
with a motto at her feet saying: AMAT VICTORIA CURAM. And above the
half-columns that were at the extremities, and upon which the pedestals
were narrower, adorning each of them with a single statue, on one there
was seen Eternity as she is figured by the ancients, with the heads of
Janus in her hands, and with the motto, NEC FINES NEC TEMPORA; and on
the other Fame figured in the usual manner, likewise with a motto
saying: TERMINAT ASTRIS. Between one and the other of these, there was
placed with ornate and beautiful composition, so as to have the
above-named escutcheon of the Duke exactly in the middle, on the right
hand that of the most excellent Prince and Princess, and on the other
that which the city has been accustomed to use from ancient times.
OF THE COURT OF THE PALACE.