eams.Atnightshecametome,andIdreamedthatshewasbymyside,withherarmsroundmyneck,sweetlycaressing,tryingtomakemeforgetwhatIhadsuffered.Andthewakingwasbitter....Buteventhatwouldleavemesoon,Ihoped,andthenIshouldbefreeindeed.
Irodeon,fullofcourageandgoodspirits,alongendlessroads,puttingupatwaysideinns,throughthemountains,pastvillagesandhamlets,pastthrivingtowns,tillIfoundmyselfintheheartofTuscany,andfinallyIsawtheroofsofFlorencespreadoutbeforeme.
AfterIhadcleanedmyselfattheinnandhadeaten,Isaunteredthroughthetown,renewingmyrecollections.IwalkedroundMadonnadelFiore,andleaningagainstoneofthehousesatthebackofthepiazzalookedatthebeautifulapse,themarbleallglisteninginthemoonlight.Itwasveryquietandpeacefultheexquisitechurchfilledmewithasenseofrestandpurity,sothatIcastfarfrommeallvice....ThenIwenttothebaptisteryandtriedtomakeoutinthedimlightthedetailsofGhiberti'swonderfuldoors.ItwaslateandthestreetsweresilentasIstrolledtothePiazzadellaSignoria,andsawbeforemethegrimstonepalacewithitstower,andIcamedowntotheArnoandlookedattheglisteningofthewater,withthebridgecoveredwithhousesandasIconsideredthebeautyofitallIthoughtitstrangethattheworksofmanshouldbesogoodandpureandmanhimselfsovile.
NextdayIsetaboutmybusiness.IhadaspecialletterofintroductiontoLorenzo,andwasusheredintohimbyaclerk.Ifoundtwopeopleintheroomone,ayoungmanwithalong,ovalface,andthebonesofthefaceandchinverystronglymarkedhehadaverywonderfulskin,likebrownivory,blackhairthatfelloverhisforeheadandears,and,moststrikingofall,largebrowneyes,verysoftandmelancholy.IthoughtIhadneverbeforeseenamanquitesobeautiful.Seatedbyhim,talkingwithanimation,wasaninsignificantman,bentandwrinkledandmean,lookinglikeaclerkinaclothmerchant'sshop,exceptforthemassivegoldenchainabouth