Page:Life in the Old World - Vol. II.djvu/45

Rh covered with tasteful arabesques of flowers and birds, which seem surrounding the instruments of science as if to pay them homage. The marble pavement presents a large mosaic picture of two figures, the one holding a torch, the other deeply occupied in the solution of a mathematical problem. Below are the words “provando e riprovando”

The beautiful little memorial temple produces a satisfactory impression, not alone of the life of the scientific man, but of the honor and gratitude which, after all, is commonly, though it may be late, shown towards him by posterity.

One cannot, at the present time, reproach Florence for not honoring the great man who contributed to her honor. It is the inhabitants of the city who raised, by voluntary contributions, the beautiful marble statues in the Loggia dei Uffizi; it is they also who united with the government of Tuscany in endeavoring to preserve and collect every thing which belonged to the memory of these great men, the friends of the fatherland. In the same spirit they lately requested from Ferrara every thing which belonged to Dante, every letter or piece of writing from his hand. But Ferrara has replied, not without a bitter significance, that she possessed nothing which the great exile had left behind him, excepting—his grave.

During the stranger's rambles through the streets of Florence, he observes many houses bearing inscriptions in gilded letters. On one he reads, “Here lived and died the prince of tragedy, Vittorio Alfieri.” On another, “Here dwell Machiavelli.” On a third, “Here lived Dante,” and so on. Nearly all these