[72] Montaigne refers to this matter, Essais, iii. 13, where he lets fall a remark which throws some fresh light upon it. “Je disnerois sans nape, mais à l’Alemande, sans serviette blanche, très-incommodément; je les soüille plus qu’eulx et les Italiens ne font; et m’ayde peu de cullier et de fourchette. Je plains qu’on n’aye suivy un train, que j’ay veu commencer à l’exemple des Roys: Qu’on nous changeast de serviette, selon les services, comme d’assiette.” He seems to have favoured the saying, “Fingers were made before forks.”
[73] Le antiche iscrizioni del Duomo di Pisa.—C. Lupi (Pisa, 1877).
[74] These are still to be seen at the back of the apse.
[75] The Baptistery.
[76] It is probable that Montaigne had heard the story (told in Varchi’s Storia Fiorentina) how Lorenzino had broken off the heads of some of the statues on the Arch of Constantine at Rome, and had shifted the scene of the outrage to Pisa. For this offence Lorenzino was impeached by Molza before the Roman Academy. The Pisan version is alluded to by the local historians, Roncioni and Morrona; the last-named refuses to accept it.
[77] The Pantheon.
[78] Giulio, natural son of Alessandro. There was an attempt to put him in his father’s place, but by Guicciardini’s influence Cosimo became duke. Giulio enjoyed Cosimo’s favour, and died in 1600.
[79] Smollett repeats the same story in almost the same words: “Travels,” Letter xxvii.
[80] Montaigne often confuses the Florentine lilies with the arms of France, but in this case he seems to be right.
[81] This palace is now the Opera del Duomo. The sculpture has disappeared and only the French device remains. The inscription referred to by Montaigne was renewed in 1695 by Giulio Gaetani: