, were painted with no less
grace in four rounds the four beasts mystically imagined by Ezekiel and
by John the Divine for the four writers of the holy Evangel. But to
return to the first of those four loggie or vestibules, as we have
called them; the vaults there were seen distributed with very graceful
and lovely divisions, and all adorned and painted with various little
scenes and with the arms and devices of those religious Orders which
were above or beside them, and in whose service, principally, they were
there. Thus on the facade of that first one on the right hand, which was
joined to the Duke's niche, there was seen painted in a spacious picture
the same Duke giving the habit to his knights, with those observances
and ceremonies that are customary with them; in the most distant part,
which represented Pisa, could be perceived the noble building of their
palace, church, and hospital, and on the base, in an inscription for the
explanation of the scene, could be read these words:

COSMUS MED. FLOR. ET SENAR. DUX II, EQUITIBUS SUIS DIVINO
CONSILIO CREATIS MAGNIFICE PIEQUE INSIGNIA ET SEDEM PRAEBET
LARGEQUE REBUS OMNIBUS INSTRUIT.

Even as in the other on the opposite side, attached to the niche of S.
Giovanni Gualberto, was seen how that same Saint founded his first and
principal monastery in the midst of the wildest forests; with an
inscription likewise on the base, which said:

S. JO. GUALBERTUS IN VALLOMBROSIANO MONTE, AB INTERVENTORIBUS ET
ILLECEBRIS OMNIBUS REMOTO LOCO, DOMICILIUM PONIT SACRIS SUIS
SODALIBUS.

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