DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61902#0278
258 the makers of Florence.
Mundi (in the verses which we have already quoted) his
horror of the sins of the world, so in “ DeBuina Ecclesia.”
which now followed, he laments the sins of the church.
He sees the true church herself in a vision, and hears from
her that her place has been invaded by a shameless creature
—una fallace superba meretrice. “ With eyes that are
never dry, with head bowed down, and sad soul,” the
“ ancient mother ” complains to him :
“ She took my hand, and thus with weeping, led
To her poor cave, and said-
‘ When into Rome I saw that proud one pass
Who mid soft flowers and grass
Securely moves, I shut me up and here
Lead my sad life with many a tear.’ ”
The wondering spectator listens, and sees her bosom torn
with a thousand wounds, and hears enough “to make
stones weep ” of the usurpation of the harlot. Then his
whole soul breaks forth in a cry, “ Oh God, lady ! that I
could break these great wings!’ What utterance was ever
more characteristic of the future purpose of a beginning
life? Though the antica madre bids him rather be silent
than weep, the thought of breaking those grandi all, and
striking a blow at the thousand corruptions which disgraced
Christendom, never abandoned the thoughts of the young
Dominican. He had to be silent perforce for years, and to
teach the novices, and lecture upon philosophy, as if there
was no greater evil in the world than a defective syllogism ;
but the great discontent in his mind never ceased to smolder
until the hour of conflagration came.
Even, however, out of these undesired studies, Savona-
rola’s active intelligence—which seems to have been
restored to the steadiness of common life, and to that
necessity of making the best of a lot, now unalterable,
which so often follows a decisive step—appears to have
made something useful and honorable. He wrote a
Mundi (in the verses which we have already quoted) his
horror of the sins of the world, so in “ DeBuina Ecclesia.”
which now followed, he laments the sins of the church.
He sees the true church herself in a vision, and hears from
her that her place has been invaded by a shameless creature
—una fallace superba meretrice. “ With eyes that are
never dry, with head bowed down, and sad soul,” the
“ ancient mother ” complains to him :
“ She took my hand, and thus with weeping, led
To her poor cave, and said-
‘ When into Rome I saw that proud one pass
Who mid soft flowers and grass
Securely moves, I shut me up and here
Lead my sad life with many a tear.’ ”
The wondering spectator listens, and sees her bosom torn
with a thousand wounds, and hears enough “to make
stones weep ” of the usurpation of the harlot. Then his
whole soul breaks forth in a cry, “ Oh God, lady ! that I
could break these great wings!’ What utterance was ever
more characteristic of the future purpose of a beginning
life? Though the antica madre bids him rather be silent
than weep, the thought of breaking those grandi all, and
striking a blow at the thousand corruptions which disgraced
Christendom, never abandoned the thoughts of the young
Dominican. He had to be silent perforce for years, and to
teach the novices, and lecture upon philosophy, as if there
was no greater evil in the world than a defective syllogism ;
but the great discontent in his mind never ceased to smolder
until the hour of conflagration came.
Even, however, out of these undesired studies, Savona-
rola’s active intelligence—which seems to have been
restored to the steadiness of common life, and to that
necessity of making the best of a lot, now unalterable,
which so often follows a decisive step—appears to have
made something useful and honorable. He wrote a