The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-05-30
THE LAST OF PROPHETS.
81 VONAROLA-SON or TIE COUNT
PHYSICIAN or FLRRARA.
The Austere Dominican Invited In laoo'
by Lorenzo hi Medici, TO the IHory
OF San M1rco.

The CITY Of Florence, so picturesque
its situation. so illustiaous as the nome
Of art and the abode Of genius enjoys
IN an exalted degree the power OF I'M
nresslng its own past upon the beholder'
ma from out the golden days OF the
long ago two men are kept In such per
netual remembrance that although one
was banished and the other burnt the
statue OF Dante stands in front or the
Westminster Abbey OF Italy. ana chill
dren scatter flowers on the 23d of May IN
the Fountain Of Neptune, tribute TO
Savonarola, who on that spot witnessed
the good confession and entered Iie
eternal. More than a century separated
these sons of light
H. the dawning of the renaissance, be-
fore il was yet day. the poet had sung
like a aeraph the first epic of a language
and a religion. The Dvina Commodla
was written as the exile wandered in
poverty and distress wherever the It's
can tongue was spoken, seeking an asy-
ium In the palaces of mobiles Ike the
Della Scala and the Malaspina, or In
monasterios. and al last finding refuge
and a tomb with Guido da POlonta. a
kinsman Of the fair Francesca da Rimini,
whose story he has made immortal
Ravenna still guards his ashes, and
the stately monument in Santa Croce,
with the inscription, "Onorate laltsslmo
poeta." reads like a warning thrilled
with regret. He whose homeless pilgrim
age aroused compassion in his enemies
has a marble image now in many great
piazzas OF Italia Unita, and the exile
receives "A welcome wherever the heart
IS uplifted by the vision OF Beatrice and
Paradise. The poets voice, heralding
l.ts
lived on ringing like the lark's at
Heavens own gate. and over the Apen-
mines broke the daylight of the renais-
sance.
IL was the spring time OF the world.
the new birth OF beauty science and
literature the revival OF learning and
the liberal arts. During the magic spell
Columbus made a path through the
waters 10 a land greater than the lost
Atlantis. Caxton invented printing. which
gave 10 the race manuscripts hitherto
the monopoly of a few libraries, and
the rise of the humanists proclaimed the
emancipation OF the mind from the super
stitions of the dark ages. In the Auson-
ian land the new life reached its earl
Test and most complete development
There only did It simultaneously unfold
the perfect flower IN all the arts There
alone was the souls dark cottage ilu-
mined with celestial light by the last
of the prophets. Burdened with a mes
cage as awful as was ever entrusted 10
mortal lips: charged with the three
fold mission 20 purify the hierarchy. 10
kindle the love OF God in hearts grown
cold. and to restore to the church her
pristine holiness, ne gave his life in a
cause whose triumphs begin I'm apparent
failure. and inscribed his name upon the
crimson battle roll Of that noble army
OF martyrs whose ranks include the
sublmest souls OF the centuries. The
man called TO this high destiny was
Girolamo Savonarola. whose unique per-
sonality Is as distinc, In the splendor
OF that age as is the morning star in
the aurora. The son Of the court physi-
clan OF Ferrara. SaVonarola. crew I'D
In the shadow OF the Castillo where
Parisina Nalatesta's ghost already haunt
ed the Hons tower. but the young
disciple OF ST. Thomas AQuinas found no
pleasure In the gay loggias of the Este
princess, and he resolved 10 enter the
Church. At Bologna he Joined the order
OF ST. Dominic, and wrote 10 his father
as his reason for leaving the worldly
life: Il could not endure the enormous
wickedness OF the blinded people OF
Italy, ana the mere so because every
where | saw virtue despised and vice
honored."
Inc hrst years OF his ministry were
unfruitiul but he was studying until he
knew the Bible verse by verse, PRAYING
until his life became a conservation,
watching until In his vigils he beheld the
wrath OF God suspended above the
worldly city OF Flowers. 1t was IN 1880
that Lorenzo di Medici invited the aus
fere dominican TO the priOry OF San
Marco. or which he was patron.
ccnnoisseur In all things. the Magni-
fico wished the most eloquent friar OF
the day 10 add to the iustre OF his reign.
and gifted with supreme insight into
Character he perceived In Savonarola
the seeds OF greatness. and desired him
Tor a friend. But the Prophet had a
message. and neither fear nor favor
could Induce him 10 withhold II.
In the midst OF the resplendent luxury