. The builders of Florence . rein place of the ancient Market, once its living heart. Which thingsare a sad parable, and we gladly turn to the days when that heartstill beat true in Florence, when the pulse of her life was rising,and the sign that marked her seat by the Arno spoke not in vain,but with power to predict the coming centuries of her commercialpower and prosperity. Not that this progress held its way without a check even in earlytimes. Languor set in at Florence under the reign of Diocletian,and in sympathy with the general decay then felt throughout thewhole Western Empire. The co
. The builders of Florence . rein place of the ancient Market, once its living heart. Which thingsare a sad parable, and we gladly turn to the days when that heartstill beat true in Florence, when the pulse of her life was rising,and the sign that marked her seat by the Arno spoke not in vain,but with power to predict the coming centuries of her commercialpower and prosperity. Not that this progress held its way without a check even in earlytimes. Languor set in at Florence under the reign of Diocletian,and in sympathy with the general decay then felt throughout thewhole Western Empire. The corrupt fiscal system destroyed themiddle class with the fall of its chief representatives, the Decurionesof the provincial towns, and now the trade of Florence must havebeen in decline. This then is the moment to lay ones finger on thepulse of the citys life. Dark days are coming, and the Northroad, hitherto a principal artery of her commerce, is about to beatwith the fever of war and bring the enemy to the gates of THE SUBSTANCE 9 In 406 the stream of northern traffic falters, stays, and but slowlyresumes its march ; like the fluttering- play of a pulse which intermitswhen the heart is struck with sudden fear and needs time to recoverstrength and find its rhythm. Radagaisus and his Goths are onthe way, moving* southward with the long summer days. On the23rd of August Stilicho surrounds them with a wall of steel wherethey lie behind Fiesole, and starves them to surrender. Florencebreathes again, for the danger is past, and the first act of herrestored self-possession is characteristic enough ; she sells theseGothic captives into slavery at twelve shillings a head. The old world in great measure died when, four years later,Rome fell before the forces of Alaric. But the Gothic rule in Italybrought a change which was in many respects preferable to hercondition under the dying Empire, and in the new security andprosperity Florence had her share. So the fifth century passe
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