glory and splendour the benefits human and divine displayed before her
in the ornaments that she had passed; which was explained very aptly
both by the inscription that came with most beautiful grace over the
door, saying:
INGREDERE OPTIMIS AUSPICIIS FORTUNATAS AEDES TUAS AUGUSTA VIRGO,
ET PRAESTANTISSIMI SPONSI AMORE, CLARISS. DUCIS SAPIENTIA, CUM
BONIS OMNIBUS DELICIISQUE SUMMA ANIMI SECURITATE DIU FELIX ET
LAETA PERFRUERE, ET DIVINAE TUAE VIRTUTIS, SUAVITATIS, FECUNDITATIS
FRUCTIBUS PUBLICAM HILARITATEM CONFIRMA.
And also by the principal device, which was seen painted in a great oval
in the highest part, over the statue of Security already described; and
this was the military Eagle of the Roman Legions upon a laureate staff,
which was shown to have been planted firmly in the earth by the hand of
the standard-bearer; with the motto of such happy augury from Livy, from
whom the whole device is taken, saying: HIC MANEBIMUS OPTUME. The
ornament of the door, which was attached to the wall, was contrived in
such a manner, and conceived so well, that it would serve excellently
well if at any time, in order to adorn the simple but magnificent
roughness of past ages, it were determined to build it in marble or some
other finer stone as more stable and enduring, and more in keeping with
our more cultured age. Beginning with the lowest part, I say, upon two
great pedestals that rested on the level of the ground and stood one on
either side of the true door of the Palace, were seen two immense
captives, one male, representing Fury, and one female, with vipers and
horned snakes for hair, representing Discord, his companion; which, as
it were vanquished, subjugated, and bound with chains, and held down by
the Ionic capital and by the architrave, frieze, and cornice that
pressed upon them from above, seemed in a certain sort to be unable to
breathe by reason of the great weight, revealing only too well in their
faces, which were most beautiful in their ugliness, Anger, Rage, Venom,
Violence, and Fraud, their peculiar and natural passions. Above that
cornice was seen formed a frontispiece, in which was placed a very rich
and very large escutcheon of the Duke, bordered by the usual Fleece,
with the Ducal Mazzocchio supported by two very beautiful boys. And lest
this single ornament, which exactly covered the jambs of the true door,
might have a poor effect in so great a palace, it was thought right to
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