Now, having despatched the front facade, and passing to that at the
back, and describing it in the same manner, the less to hinder a clear
understanding, we shall say, as has also been said before, that in
height, in size, in the compartments, in the columns, and, finally, in
every other ornament, it corresponded completely to that already
described, save that whereas the first had on the highest summit in the
centre the three great statues described above, Religion, Charity, and
Hope, the other had in place of these only a most beautiful altar all
composed and adorned after the ancient use, upon which, even as one
reads of Vesta, was seen burning a very bright flame. On the right hand,
towards S. Giovanni, there was seen standing a great statue in becoming
vestments and gazing intently on Heaven, representing the Contemplative
Life, which came exactly in a perpendicular line over the great niche
between the two columns, as has been described in the other facade; and
on the other side another great statue like it, but very active, with
the arms bare and with the head crowned with flowers, representing the
Active Life; in which statues were comprised very fittingly all the
qualities that appertain to the Christian Religion. In the frieze
between the one cornice and the other, which corresponded to that of the
other part, and which was likewise divided into three compartments,
there were seen in the largest, which was in the centre, three men in
Roman dress presenting twelve little children to some old and venerable
Tuscans, to the end that these, being instructed by them in their
religion, might demonstrate in what repute the Tuscan religion was held
in ancient times among the Romans and all other nations: with a motto to
explain this, taken from that perfect law of Cicero, which said: ETRURIA
PRINCIPES DISCIPLINAM DOCETO. Beneath which was the inscription, similar
and corresponding to that already given from the other facade, which
said:
FRUGIBUS INVENTIS DOCTAE CELEBRANTUR ATHENAE,
ROMA FEROX ARMIS IMPERIOQUE POTENS.
AT NOSTRA HAEC MITIS PROVINCIA ETRURIA RITU
DIVINO ET CULTU NOBILIORE DEI,
UNAM QUAM PERHIBENT ARTES TENUISSE PIANDI
NUMINIS, ET RITUS EDOCUISSE SACROS;
NUNC EADEM SEDES VERAE EST PIETATIS, ET ILLI
HOS NUMQUAM TITULOS AUFERET ULLA DIES.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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