Trinita, behind the loggia of the Frescobaldi, he refused, in his great anguish and fear for his life, to go further, his own house being at the Ponte alla Carraja near S. Frediano.” _Virtù_, or strength of character, was the one quality admired in those days, and Piero being a simple, good-hearted and not very courageous man, has been branded for ever as a fool by the biting pen of the famous secretary: “La notte che morì Pier Soderini, L’alma n’ando nell’inferno alla bocca; E Pluto le grido: Anima sciocca, Che inferno? va’ nel limbo de’ bambini,” wrote Machiavelli with infinite scorn. The Soderini palace, after passing through several hands, is now the property of Signor Schneiderff, and on the garden door is inscribed _Jus: ut pal: flor:_, words which have often puzzled passers-by. Passerini suggests that they were abbreviations of the motto engraved on Piero Soderini’s private seal ring, _Justus ut palma florebit_. PALAZZO SPINI _Via Tornabuoni. No. 2._ According to a genealogy drawn up by one of the Spini in the XVth century the family descend from Spina Moscardi, who lived in the XIIth century; and whose ancestor, a Roman soldier, settled in Florence at the time of the foundation of the city. His sons were Manetti and Ugo, both knights of the Golden Spur and wealthy merchants. Verini names the Spini among the great families of Florence. “Qualis Spinorum fuerit fortuna secundos Vobis, quæ fuxta sunt alta palatia muros Testantur genus antiquum Romana propago.” The houses and towers of both the brothers were partially destroyed by the Ghibellines in 1260–1266, and the remainder by the terrible flood of 15th December, 1288, when the Gianfigliazzi palace opposite was also swept away.