DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61902#0370
350
THE MAKERS OF FLORENCE.
Two years before, on that same day, Fra Girolamo, in all
the glory and joy of an apparent public reformation, had
trodden the stony streets following the long procession
of white-robed children who marched from quarter to
quarter of the old city, “ like beautiful angels just come
out of paradise,” establishing the Monti in each district
of Florence. The streets which had resounded then with
the hymns chanted by all those fresh, sweet, childish
voices, were alive now with dark groups full of menace
and wrath. Florence, preternaturally tranquilized for
a moment by one great influence, had returned to her
old use and wont, and felt herself at ease in it, breathing
flames and slaughter more easily than blessings, and
longing for a victim. Savonarola preached sadly in the
morning, bidding a kind of farewell to the people. In
the evening a brother of San Marco, Fra Mariano, who
was one of those who had offered himself for the fire, was
to preach in the cathedral. This the authorities of the
Duomo, moved by the Compagnacci, determined to pre-
vent. The enemies of San Marco gathered in crowds
about the doors and corners of the streets on the way to
the cathedral, and assailed with gibes and insults, some-
times with showers of stones, sometimes with blows, the
faithful followers who, in spite of everything, took their
way to the evening sermon. Fra Mariano was finally
assailed and driven away as he was in the act of ascending
the pulpit; and this first open breaking out of the incipient
riot set the population on fire. Shouting “u San Marco I
a San Marco!” (“Assamarcho! assamarcho colfuocho!”
writes one literal chronicler), they precipitated themselves
upon the convent. The monks were singing vespers in
the calm of the April evening. All the chief members of
the party were in and about the church, full of fears and
foreboding. Outside, while the mad multitude hurried on
with shouts and clamor, little bands of the Compagnacci
THE MAKERS OF FLORENCE.
Two years before, on that same day, Fra Girolamo, in all
the glory and joy of an apparent public reformation, had
trodden the stony streets following the long procession
of white-robed children who marched from quarter to
quarter of the old city, “ like beautiful angels just come
out of paradise,” establishing the Monti in each district
of Florence. The streets which had resounded then with
the hymns chanted by all those fresh, sweet, childish
voices, were alive now with dark groups full of menace
and wrath. Florence, preternaturally tranquilized for
a moment by one great influence, had returned to her
old use and wont, and felt herself at ease in it, breathing
flames and slaughter more easily than blessings, and
longing for a victim. Savonarola preached sadly in the
morning, bidding a kind of farewell to the people. In
the evening a brother of San Marco, Fra Mariano, who
was one of those who had offered himself for the fire, was
to preach in the cathedral. This the authorities of the
Duomo, moved by the Compagnacci, determined to pre-
vent. The enemies of San Marco gathered in crowds
about the doors and corners of the streets on the way to
the cathedral, and assailed with gibes and insults, some-
times with showers of stones, sometimes with blows, the
faithful followers who, in spite of everything, took their
way to the evening sermon. Fra Mariano was finally
assailed and driven away as he was in the act of ascending
the pulpit; and this first open breaking out of the incipient
riot set the population on fire. Shouting “u San Marco I
a San Marco!” (“Assamarcho! assamarcho colfuocho!”
writes one literal chronicler), they precipitated themselves
upon the convent. The monks were singing vespers in
the calm of the April evening. All the chief members of
the party were in and about the church, full of fears and
foreboding. Outside, while the mad multitude hurried on
with shouts and clamor, little bands of the Compagnacci