It is no excuse for the Italians to say that they had spiritualized abominable vices.
What this really means is that their immorality was nearer that of devils than of beasts.

But in seeking to distinguish its true character, we must take notice of the highly wrought fantasy which seasoned both their luxury and their jealousy, their vengeance and their lust.
[1] Italian literature is loud-voiced on this topic.

The concluding stanzas of Poliziano's _Orfeo_, recited before the Cardinal of Mantua, the Capitoli of Berni, Bronzino, La Casa, and some of the _Canti Carnasialeschi_, might be cited.

We might add Varchi's express testimony as to the morals of Filippo Strozzi, Lorenzino de' Medici, Pier Luigi Farnese, and Clement VII.

What Segni (lib.x.p.