Then the casket was arrested and lodged in a dark niche above the high altar, surrounded by five ever-flaming lamps.
The Archbishop intoned:—
'O Crux benedicta quae sola fuisti digna portare Regem cælorum et Dominum, Alleluia!'
The whole assembled multitude fell on their knees repeating Alleluia!
And the usurper of the throne of Milan, Ludovico the assassin, prostrated himself with the rest, and weeping, raised his hands to the Holy Nail.
After which the populace was glutted with wine, with the flesh of beasts, with five thousand measures of pease, and six hundredweight of salt. Forgetting their murdered lord, they feasted and drank, and cried—'Viva Il Moro! Viva il Chiodo!'
Bellincioni has composed some hexameters, in which we learn that by virtue of the ancient nail of iron the age of gold shall be renewed.
After leaving the cathedral the duke came to Leonardo and embraced him; kissing his lips, calling him his Archimedes, and, thanking him for the beautiful machine, he promised to present him with a pure-blooded Barbary mare and two thousand imperial ducats. Then condescendingly tapping him on the shoulder, he said, 'Now you'll have time to finish the head of your Christ.'
'A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.'