that fancy is interpreted by
various persons in various ways. Besides the horse, he has in that
beautiful and most commodious habitation, as has been told in another
place, as many casts in gesso as he has been able to obtain of famous
works in sculpture and casting, both ancient and modern.

A son of Leone, called Pompeo, who is now in the service of King
Philip of Spain, is in no way inferior to his father in executing dies
of steel for medals and in casting figures that are marvellous.
Wherefore at that Court he has been a competitor of Giovan Paolo
Poggini, a Florentine, who also works in the service of that King and
has made most beautiful medals. But Pompeo, having served that King
many years, intends to return to Milan in order to enjoy his Aurelian
house and the other labours of his excellent father, the loving friend
of every man of talent.

And now to say something of medals, and of the steel dies with which
they are made. I believe that it may be affirmed with truth that our
modern intellects have achieved as much as the ancient Romans once did
in the excellence of the figures, and that in the lettering and in
other parts they have surpassed them. Which may be seen clearly in
twelve reverses--besides many others--that Pietro Paolo Galeotto has
executed recently in the medals of Duke Cosimo, and they are these;
Pisa restored almost to her pristine condition by means of the Duke,
he having drained the country round and dried the marshy places, and
having made many other improvements; the waters conducted to Florence
from various places, the ornate and magnificent building of the
Magistrates erected for the public convenience, the union of the
States of Florence and Siena, the building of a city and two
fortresses in Elba, the column conveyed from Rome and placed on the
Piazza di S. Trinita in Florence, the preservation, completion and
enlargement of the Library of S. Lorenzo for the public good, the
foundation of the Order of the Knights of S. Stephen, the resignation
of the government to the Prince, the fortifying of the State, the
militia or trained companies of his dominion, and the Pitti Palace
with its gardens, waters, and buildings, a work of such regal
magnificence; of which reverses I do not give here either the
lettering that they have around them, or their explanation, having to
treat of them in another place. All these twelve reverses are
beautiful to a marvel and executed with much diligence and