The Canzone which was sung in that masquerade was composed by the above-mentioned Jacopo Nardi, and the first stanza ran thus:—
Colui che da le leggi alia Natura,
E i varj stati, e secoli dispone,
D^ogni bene e cagione:
E il mal, quanto permette, al Mondo dura:
Onde, questo figura
Contemplando si vede.
Come con certo piede
L'un secol dopo l'altro al Mondo viene,
E muta il bene in male, e ’l male in bene.[1]
For the work performed by him on occasion of this festival Jacopo Puntormo obtained so much commendation in Florence, to say nothing of the profit, that perhaps few young men of his age ever acquired so much; wherefore, when Pope Leo afterwards visited Florence, Jacopo was much employed in the festive preparations then made. He associated himself with Baccio da Montelupo, a sculptor somewhat advanced in years, and the latter constructed an Arch in wood at the head of the Via del Palagio, which descends from the steps of the abbey; this arch Puntormo painted all over with beautiful stories, but the negligence of those who had charge of the place caused that work to come to an evil end, one of the stories only remaining, that namely in which Pallas is seen to be bringing with much grace a musical instrument, which she holds, into accord with the lyre of Apollo: but from the perfection of this story the observer may judge of the excellence of the rest.
On the same occasion, the care of arranging and adorning the Sala del Papa, which is attached to the convent of Santa Maria Novella, and was the ancient residence of the Pontiffs in Florence,—the care of embellishing this hall, I say, was given to Ridolfo Grhirlandajo; but he, being pressed for time, was compelled to avail himself in some parts of the assistance of others; when the greater portion of the rooms were all
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He who gives laws to nature, and disposes
Of time and state, of every good is source,
Nor comes aught ill, but as His word commands.
Contemplate then this image, and behold
How, with firm foot, one age pursues another.
Now changing good to ill, now ill to good.
