the lake. The walls of his cell were damp, and water stood in pools about the floor. He was enabled to read a short period each day, by a ray of light that struggled through a crack in the roof of his prison. The most of his time was passed in total darkness.

When condemned to die he fell upon his knees, and prayed:

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0, Lord God, I beseech Thee, for thy mercy's sake, to pardon all my enemies. Thou knowest I have been unjustly accused and condemned, but do Thou forgive them this sin."

His ashes were cast into the Rhine. A mass of rock near the place of his martyrdom is his monument.

XXIX.

LAST PRAYER OF SAVONAROLA. — 1498.

IIE last night of the existence of Savonarola

THE

came to an end. One day more the sun dawned, and the first beams shone on him in prayer, preparing to receive the blessed Eucharist, before he was led out to death.

Savonarola was permitted to administer the sacrament to himself with his own hands. While he held the consecrated host, his features were lit up with the brightness of spiritual joy, and in an exalted enthusiasm of devotion he prayed:

"My Lord, I know Thou art the Trinity, perfect, invisible, distinct in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

"I know Thou art that eternal Word that

descended from heaven to this earth in the womb of the Virgin Mary, and ascended the wood of the cross to shed thy blood for us miserable sinners.

"I beseech Thee, my Lord, I beseech Thee! Save me, I beseech Thee, my Comforter, that so much precious blood may not be shed for me in vain.

"But let it be shed for the remission of my sins from the day I received the water of baptism until this hour, which I lay before you, and for which I crave your pardon.

"I implore pardon for aught in which I have offended against this city and its people, whether in things spiritual or temporal, and for all things in which I have erred unknowingly."

He received the sacrament, and then this first great preacher of the reformation in Florence, went gloriously to his death.

His last prayer was as lofty as his life had been stainless. His history is, in some respects, the most impressive of all the early reformers. He was the first great leader that dared arraign Rome for her sins-the Martin Luther of Florence.-See Madden's "Life of Savonarola."