Benedetto Varchi, who shortly afterwards made his way to
a better life. In another part, again, were seen Franco Sacchetti, who
wrote the three hundred Novelle, and other men, who, although at the
present day they have no great renown, yet, because in their times they
made no small advance in romances, were judged to be not unworthy of
that place--Luigi Pulci, with his brothers Bernardo and Luca, and also
Ceo and Altissimo. Berni, also, the inventor and father (and excellent
father) of Tuscan burlesque poetry, with Burchiello, with Antonio
Alamanni, and with Unico Accolti (who were standing apart), appeared to
be showing no less joy than any of the others; while Arno, leaning in
his usual manner on his Lion, with two children that were crowning him
with laurel, and Mugnone, known by the Nymph that stood over him crowned
with stars, with the moon on her brow, in allusion to the daughters of
Atlas, and representing Fiesole, appeared likewise to be expressing the
same gladness and contentment. All which conception described above was
explained excellently well by the four verses that were placed in the
architrave, as with the others, which ran thus:

Musarum hic regnat chorus, atque Helicone virente
Posthabito, venere tibi Florentia vates
Eximii, quoniam celebrare haec regia digno
Non potuere suo et connubia carmine sacro.

Opposite to this, placed on the left hand, and perhaps not less peculiar
to the Florentine genius than the last-named, was seen the statue of
Design, the father of painting, sculpture, and architecture, who, if not
born in Florence, as may be seen in the past writings, may be said to
have been born again there, and nourished and grown as in his own nest.
He was figured by a statue wholly nude, with three similar heads for the
three arts that he embraces, each holding in the hand some instrument,
but without any distinction; and in the canvas that was beneath him was
seen painted a vast courtyard, for the adornment of which were placed in
various manners a great quantity of statues and of pictures in painting,
both ancient and modern, which could be seen in process of being
designed and copied by divers masters in divers ways. In one part was
being prepared an anatomical study, and many could be seen observing it,
and likewise drawing, very intently. Others, again, considering the
fabric and rules of architecture, appeared to be seeking to measure
certain things with great minutenes