that.[5] She had not houses void of families;[6] Sardanapalus had not yet arrived[7] there to show what can be done in a chamber. Not yet by your Uccellatoio was Montemalo surpassed, which, as it has been surpassed in its rise, shall be so in its fall.[8] I saw Bellineoin Berti[9] go girt with leather and bone,[10] and his dame come from her mirror without a painted face. And I saw them of the Nerli, and them of the Vecchio,[11] contented with the uncovered skin,[12] and their dames with the spindle and the distaff. O fortunate women! Every one was sure of her burial place;[13] and as yet no one was deserted in her bed for France.[14] One over the cradle kept her careful watch, and, comforting, she used the idiom which first amuses fathers and mothers. Another, drawing the tresses from her distaff, told tales to her household of the Trojans, and of Fiesole, and of Rome.[15] A Cianghella,[16] a Lapo Salterello would then have been held as great a marvel as Cincinnatus or Cornelia would be now. [1] But will and the discourse of reason, corresponding to affection and intelligence, are unequal in mortals, owing to their imperfection. [2] Which makes it impossible for me to give full expression to my gratitude and affection. [3] Alighiero, from whom, it would appear from his station in Purgatory, Dante inherited the sin of pride, as well as his name. [4] The bell of the church called the Badia, or Abbey, which stood within the old walls of Florence, rang daily the hours for worship, and measured the time for the Florentines. Tierce is the first division of the canonical hours of the day, from six to nine; nones, the third, from twelve to three. [5] They were not married so young as now, nor were such great dowries required for them. [6] Palaces too large for their occupants, built for ostentation. [7] The luxury and effeminacy of Sardanapalus were proverbial. [8] Not yet was the view from Montemalo, or Monte Mario, of Rome in its splendor surpassed by that of Florence from the height of Uccellatoio; and the fall of Florence shall be greater even than that of Rome. [9] Bellincion Berti was “an honorable citizen of Florence,” says Giovanni Villani; “a noble soldier,” adds Benvenuto da Imola. He was father of the “good Gualdrada.” See Hell, XVI. [10] With a plain leathern belt fastened with a clasp of bone. [11] Two ancient and honored families. [12] Clothed in garments of plain dressed skin not covered with cloth. [13] Not fearing to die in exile. [14] Left by her husband seeking fortune in France, or other for. eign lands. [15] These old tales may be read in the first book of Villani's Chronicle. [16] “Mulier arrogantissima et intolerabilis . . . multum lubrice vixit,” says Benvenuto da Imola, who describes Lapo Salterello as temerarius et pravus civis, vir litigiosus et linguosus.”