ess the first
founder of its extraordinary greatness, and as it were the root of that
plant which has since grown so happily to such magnificence. In his
picture was seen painted the supreme honour conferred upon him by his
native Florence, when he was acclaimed by the public Senate as Pater
Patriae; which was declared excellently well in the inscription that was
seen below, saying:

COSMUS MEDICES, VETERE HONESTISSIMO OMNIUM SENATUS CONSULTO
RENOVATO, PARENS PATRIAE APPELLATUR.

In the upper part of the same pilaster in which was placed the niche,
there was a little picture in due proportion wherein was portrayed his
son, the magnificent Piero, father of the glorious Lorenzo, likewise
called the Elder, the one and true Maecenas of his times, and the
magnanimous preserver of the peace of Italy, whose statue was seen in
the other above-mentioned niche, corresponding to that of the Elder
Cosimo. In the little picture, which he in like manner had over his
head, was painted the portrait of his brother, the magnificent Giuliano,
the father of Pope Clement; and in the large picture, corresponding to
that of Cosimo, was the public council held by all the Italian Princes,
wherein was seen formed, by the advice of Lorenzo, that so stable and so
prudent union by which, as long as he was alive and it endured, Italy
was seen brought to the height of felicity, whereas afterwards, Lorenzo
dying and that union perishing, she was seen precipitated into such
conflagrations, calamities, and ruin; which was demonstrated no less
clearly by the inscription that was beneath, saying:

LAURENTIUS MEDICES, BELLI ET PACIS ARTIBUS EXCELLENS, DIVINO SUO
CONSILIO CONJUNCTIS ANIMIS ET OPIBUS PRINCIPUM ITALORUM ET
INGENTI ITALIAE TRANQUILLITATE PARTA, PARENS OPTIMI SAECULI
APPELLATUR.

Now, coming to the little piazza in which, as has been told, was placed
the octagonal theatre, as I shall call it, and beginning from that first
entrance to go round on the right hand, let me say that the first part
was occupied by that arch of the entrance, above which, in a frieze
corresponding in height to the third and last range of the theatre, were
seen in four ovals the portrait of Giovanni di Bicci, father of Cosimo
the Elder, and that of his son Lorenzo, brother of the same Cosimo, from
whom this fortunate branch of the Medici now reigning had its origin;
with that of Pier Francesco, son of the above-named Lorenzo, and
likewi