The charm of the hills and gardens of Valdarno, the loveliness of Giotto's tower, the amplitude of Brunelleschi's dome--these may have sunk deep into his soul.

And the subtle temper of the Florentine intellect must have attracted his own keen spirit by a secret sympathy.

For Florence erelong became the city of his love, the first-born of his yearnings.
In the cloisters of San Marco, enriched with splendid libraries by the liberality of the Medicean princes, he was at peace.

The walls of that convent had recently been decorated with frescoes by Fra Angelico, even as a man might crowd the leaves of a missal with illuminations.

Among these Savonarola meditated and was happy.