Note 149 — ESSAYS. (continued 2)
Reading edition
About the year 1345. I shall have occasion hereafter to notice these pictures again. But I here subjoin a literal translation of the description of the first of them. “In the second place the aforesaid [150]Cola admonished the governors and people to do well by an allegory, which he caused to be painted on the Palace of the Capitol opposite the market, on the outer wall above the chamber; the painted allegory was in this form. There was painted a vast sea, the waves horrid and much troubled; in the midst thereof was a ship little less than foundered, without a rudder, without a sail; in this ship, so dangerously placed, there was a widow woman, clad in black, girded with the girdle of grief; loose her scarf from her bosom, and her hair dishevelled as if she wept; she was on her knees, her hands crossed and pressed to her breast as in prayer, as she were perishing, for such was her danger; above was written this is Rome. Around this ship, below the water, there were four sunken ships, their sails fallen, their masts broken, their rudders lost; in every one a drowned woman, dead. The first was called Babylon; the second, Carthage; the third, Troy; the fourth, Jerusalem. The superscription bore, that these cities had been brought by injustice, first to danger and then to destruction. A label from the mouths of these four women was inscribed—
Thou wast raised high above every sovereignty, Now we await thy final wreck.
On the left hand were two islands, on the one a woman sitting in a posture of shame, with the superscription, this is Italy; her label of speech bore—
Thou tookest the guardianship of all lands, And only me thou ownedst for a sister.
In the other island were four women, their cheeks on their hands, their elbows on their knees, in most sorrowful action, and saying,—
Thou wast accompanied by every virtue, Now thou art abandoned on the wide sea.
These were the four cardinal virtues, Temperance, Prudence, Justice, and Fortitude.
On the right was a little island in which was a kneeling woman; her hand stretched to heaven, as in prayer; she was dressed in white, her name was Christian Faith, and her verse was—
Oh! highest father, my lord and conductor, If Rome perish what becomes of me?
Above all this, on the right hand, were four orders of animals, with horns at their mouths, blowing like winds and causing tempests on the sea, and helping to increase the danger of the ship. The first order was of lions, wolves, and bears. The inscription bore, these are the potent Barons and unjust Governors.
The second order were dogs, pigs, and he-goats; their inscription was, These are evil councillors, the parasites of the nobles. The third order were rams, dragons, and foxes; their inscription was, These are the false officers, judges, and notaries. The fourth order consisted of hares, cats, goats, and apes; their superscription bore, that they were the populace, thieves, murderers, adulterers, and spoilers.
Above all was painted heaven; in the midst of which was the divine Majesty coming to judgment; out of his mouth proceeded two swords, one pointing one way, the other, the other: on one hand was St. Peter, on the other St Paul, in prayer.
And when the people saw this allegory every one marvelled.”