he
had best relate in his own words, for the tale is not devoid of romance,
and he alone can do it justice:

"A young lady of great personal charm happened to die at Florence; and
as she had been very generally admired and beloved, so her death was as
generally lamented. Nor was this to be marvelled at, for she possessed
such beauty and such engaging manners that almost every person who had
any acquaintance with her flattered himself that he had obtained the
chief place in her affections. Her sad death excited the extreme regret
of her admirers; and as she was carried to the place of burial, with her
face uncovered, those who had known her in life pressed about her for a
last look at the object of their adoration, and then accompanied her
funeral with their tears. On this occasion, all the eloquence and all
the wit of Florence were exerted in paying due honors to her memory,
both in verse and prose. Among the rest, I, also, composed a few
sonnets, and, in order to give them greater effect, I tried to convince
myself that I too had been deprived of the object of my love, and to
excite in my own mind all those passions which might enable me to move
the affections of others."

In this attempt to put himself in the place of another, Lorenzo de'
Medici began to wonder how it would seem to have such grief to bear on
his own account; and then his thoughts went still further afield, and he
found himself speculating as to whether or not another lady could be
found of the same merit and beauty as the lamented Simonetta. In the
midst of the great number of those who were writing eulogistic poetry in
this lady's honor, Lorenzo began to feel that the situation lacked
distinction, and he was not slow to realize what great reputation might
be acquired by the lucky mortal who could unearth another divinity of
equal charm. For some time he tried in vain, and then suddenly success
crowned his efforts, and he has told us in what manner. "A public
festival was held in Florence, to which all that was noble and beautiful
in the city resorted. To this I was brought by some of my companions (I
suppose as my destiny led) against my will, for I had for some time past
avoided such exhibitions; or if at times I had attended them, it
proceeded rather from a compliance with custom than from any pleasure I
experienced in them. Among the ladies there assembled, I saw one of
such sweet and charming manners that I could not help saying, as I
looked at