Usury was abolished.

Whatever Savonarola ordained, Florence executed.

By the magic of his influence the city for a moment assumed a new aspect.

It seemed as though the old austerity which Dante and Villani praised were about to return without the factious hate and pride that ruined medaeival Tuscany.

In everything done by Savonarola at this epoch there was a strange combination of political sagacity with monastic zeal.