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uietandpeacefultheexquisitechurchfilledmewithasenseofrestandpurity,sothatIcastfarfrommeallvice....ThenIwenttothebaptisteryandtriedtomakeoutinthedimlightthedetailsofGhiberti'swonderfuldoors.ItwaslateandthestreetsweresilentasIstrolledtothePiazzadellaSignoria,andsawbeforemethegrimstonepalacewithitstower,andIcamedowntotheArnoandlookedattheglisteningofthewater,withthebridgecoveredwithhousesandasIconsideredthebeautyofitallIthoughtitstrangethattheworksofmanshouldbesogoodandpureandmanhimselfsovile. NextdayIsetaboutmybusiness.IhadaspecialletterofintroductiontoLorenzo,andwasusheredintohimbyaclerk.Ifoundtwopeopleintheroomone,ayoungmanwithalong,ovalface,andthebonesofthefaceandchinverystronglymarkedhehadaverywonderfulskin,likebrownivory,blackhairthatfelloverhisforeheadandears,and,moststrikingofall,largebrowneyes,verysoftandmelancholy.IthoughtIhadneverbeforeseenamanquitesobeautiful.Seatedbyhim,talkingwithanimation,wasaninsignificantman,bentandwrinkledandmean,lookinglikeaclerkinaclothmerchant'sshop,exceptforthemassivegoldenchainabouthisneckandthedressofdarkredvelvetwithanembroideredcollar.Hisfeatureswereuglyalarge,coarsenose,aheavy,sensualmouth,smalleyes,butverysharpandglitteringthehairthinandshort,theskinmuddy,yellow,wrinkled—Lorenzode'Medici! AsIenteredtheroom,heinterruptedhimselfandspoketomeinaharsh,disagreeablevoice. 'MesserFilippoBrandolini,Ithink.Youareverywelcome.' 'IamafraidIinterruptyou,'Isaid,lookingattheyouthwiththemelancholyeyes. 'Ohno,'answeredLorenzo,gaily.'WeweretalkingofPlato.Ireallyoughttohavebeenattendingtoverymuchmoreseriousmatters,butInevercanresistPico.' ThenthatwasthefamousPicodellaMirandola.Ilookedathimagainandfeltenviousthatonepersonshouldbepossessedofsuchgeniusandsuchbeauty.ItwashardlyfaironNature'spart. 'ItismorethesubjectthanIthatisirresistible.' 'Ah,thebanquet!'saidLorenzo,claspinghishands.'Whataninexhaustiblematter!Icouldgoontalkingaboutitalldayandallnightforayear,andthenfindIhadleftunsaidhalfwhatIhadinmymind.' 'Youhavesovastanexperienceinthesubjecttreatedof,'saidPico,laughing'youcouldgiveachapterofc