Savonarola, the greatest of his class, founded not only a transient commonwealth in Florence, but also a political party of importance, and left his lasting impress on the greatest soul of the sixteenth century in Italy--Michael Angelo Buonarroti.

There was a real religious vigor in the people corresponding to the preacher's zeal.

But the action of this earnest mood was intermittent and spasmodic.

It coexisted with too much superstition and with passions too vehemently restless to form a settled tone of character.

In this respect the Italian nation stands not extravagantly pictured in the life of Cellini, whose violence, self-indulgence, keen sense of pleasure, and pagan delight in physical beauty were interrupted at intervals by inexplicable interludes of repentance, Bible-reading, psalm-singing, and visions.