Fascinating excerpt from " Florentine Diary from 1450-1518 " , L. Landucci [" Well may we consider what a transitory thing is human life .. despite of all this , he could not live one hour longer when the end came "]

54 A FLORENTINE DIARY [1492 it had fallen, and on which side ; and when he was told, he said: "Alas! I shall die, because it fell towards my house." This may not have been so, but it was commonly reported. And they brought him to Florence the same night, at 5 in the morning (1 a.m.), and put him in the monastery at San Marco; and he remained there the whole of the next day, which was a Monday. And on the 10th April, Tuesday, he was buried at San Lorenzo at about 20 in the evening (4 p.m.). Well may we consider what a transitory thing is human life! This man, in the eyes of the world, was the most illustrious, the richest, the most stately, and the most renowned among men. Everyone declared that he ruled Italy ; and in very truth he was possessed of great wisdom, and all his undertakings prospered. He had succeeded in doing what no citizen had been able to do for a long time : namely, in getting his son appointed cardinal; which was not only an honour for his house, but for the whole city. In spite of all this, however, he could not live one hour longer when the end came. Then, man, man, what hast thou to be proud of? True humility is the fit human attribute, and each time that we grow proud, and esteem ourselves above others, failing to recognise that every spiritual, corporal and temporal good comes from God, we exceed the proper limits of humanity. Everything that exceeds its limits is evil, and those things which should be good, turn to ill. The desirable quality for man is true gentleness and humility, and always to esteem God. Man is naught, if not what God has made him; to whom be praise from all creatures, as is His due. May He pardon me my sins! And may He pardon the sins of the dead man, as I trust He may pardon me and all human beings ! 20th May. A Sunday; the Cardinal de' Medici returned to Florence. 26th July. A Thursday; Pope Innocent VIII. 'died; and on Sunday, the 29th, the bells were tolled for his death.]