THE CERTOSA OF FLORENCE 



One victim of persecution and outrage, the aged 

 pontiff, Pius VI, found a shelter within her hospitable 

 walls, and the rooms where he resided, until he was 

 dragged to die in France, are still shown. 



In 1814 the convent was restored to the monks ; 

 and when later, Acts were passed for the dissolu- 

 tion of monasteries, the Certosa was one of the few 

 foundations which were spared for the sake of their 

 great memories. We can pass under the gateway 

 now, through which of old no monk might issue and no 

 woman enter, without the Archbishop's permission ; 

 and, climbing up the steep hillside, cross the threshold 

 above which Niccolo's lion still lifts its fleur-de-lys. 

 A strange loneliness fills the spacious courts, and 

 the wind blows cold up the empty corridors. Here 

 and there we meet a white-robed brother, lighting 

 the lamps in the church, pacing up and down the 

 cloisters, or taking an evening walk among the dark 

 shadows of the cypress avenues. From all we receive 

 the same courteous welcome. They lead us through 

 their halls and cloisters, and show us the beauties of 

 their ancient home the great central church, with 

 its rich mosaic pavement and cluster of surrounding 

 chapels, the crypt where the ashes of their founder 

 rest, the Spezeria, fragrant with the scent of the 

 perfumes they manufacture. Their dress, their rule 

 are still the same ; they are almost the only things that 



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