Wonderful was the effect of Savonarola’s preaching on the corrupt and pagan society of Florence.  His natural, spontaneous, heart-stirring eloquence, with its exalted imagery and outbursts of righteous indignation, was entirely unprecedented in that era of pedantry and simulation of the classic and heathen oratory.  The scholastic jargon indulged in by the preachers of the time was utterly unintelligible to the common people.  Savonarola’s voice was the only one that addressed the multitude in familiar and fascinating tones and in an accent that evinced true affection for the people.  They knew that he alone fought for truth and was fervently devoted to goodness.  Thus he was the one truly eloquent preacher of the time, who restored pulpit preaching to its pristine honour, and he well deserves to be styled the first orator of modern times.

V.—­1492-1494

A wasting disease from which Lorenzo suffered had by the beginning of April, 1492, made such inroads as to end all hopes of his recovery.  The Magnificent turned his thoughts to religion and suddenly asked to confess to Savonarola.  Though astonished at the request, the Prior acceded to it and found Lorenzo in great agitation, which he sought to calm by reminding the sick man of the goodness and mercy of God.

A painful scene ensued.  Savonarola added that three things were needful.  First, a living faith in God’s mercy.  Secondly, Lorenzo must restore all his ill-gotten wealth, or at least command his sons to do it in his name.  Lastly, he must restore liberty to the people of Florence.  The sick man, collecting all his remaining strength, angrily turned his back on his Confessor, who at once left his presence.  On April 8, 1492, the Magnificent, in an agony of remorse, breathed his last.  On July 25 of the same year Pope Innocent VIII. expired.

The next Pope, Alexander VI., was notorious for his avarice and his profligacy.  The announcement of his elevation to the papal chair was received throughout Italy with dismay.  The worst apprehensions were soon fulfilled, for the Pope proved to be guilty of shocking extortion, the object of which was to provide more lavishly for his dissolute children.

This deplorable state of things caused men to look wistfully to Savonarola.  The times he had foretold seemed to be at hand, and the excitement was intensified by two visions which he declared had been manifested to him as celestial revelations.  He had seen a sword in the sky and had heard voices proclaiming mercy to the righteous and retribution to the wicked.

In the other vision a black cross hung over the city of Rome, stretching its arms over the whole earth.  On it was written, “The Cross of God’s wrath.”  But from Jerusalem rose a golden cross, inscribed, “The Cross of God’s compassion.”  Discontent was growing in Florence.  The insolence and the rapacity of Pietro de’ Medici increased.  In the autumn of that year Savonarola delivered a famous course of sermons on Noah’s Ark, warning all to take refuge from the coming flood in the mystical Ark of mercy.  The flood came indeed, for suddenly all Florence was startled as if by a thunderclap by the news that a foreign army was pouring over the Alps for the conquest of Italy.  The terror was overwhelming.  Italy was unprepared, for the princes had no efficient armies for resistance.