552 THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY. Chap. XVII. divisions answering to those of the great and small guilds of Florence, with a third class adjoined and called “Ad herents”, of whom Del Sarto was one. Here it became fashionable to read burlesques and to get up masquerades, the arts as usual contributing to the entertainment by quaint decorations, or by scenic paintings. 1 As the meet ings were not held in one locality, the wealthier sub scribers were able to distinguish themselves by display according to their means; and some instances are men tioned where great expense must have been incurred, as when Bernardino di Giordano gave the “Mandragola” of Niccolo Macchiavelli in 1524 with the scenes and pro perties by Andrea del Sarto and Aristotile da S. Gallo. This comedy was played before Alessandro and Ippolito de’ Medici, adolescents at that time under the care of Silvio Passerini cardinal of Cortona; and it was not considered improper to let them listen to dialogues the indecency of which is said to exceed the utmost stretch of licence. 2 In the fifteenth century Lorenzo de’ Medici patronized, as we have seen, with a judicious measure and a, due regard to social positions. He res pected men of genius like Domenico Ghirlandaio. He made an associate of a scholar like Alberti. In the six teenth century, artists were drawn into the vortex of dis sipation and immorality which peculiarly characterized the upper classes in Italy; and there is reason to believe that their decline was the more rapid for that cause. The frescos of S. Philip Benizzi had scarcely been finished by Andrea del Sarto, than commissions poured in upon him from many quarters. To accept these whilst he was bound to finish the court of the Servi, was danger ous. The sacristan had a contract., and might have en forced it. But he probably had enough knowledge of the world to be aware that if he pressed his advantage too hard, del Sarto might escape from his obligation in directly. It was therefore arranged that two more frescos 1 Tantalus in the lower regions I dinners. Vas. XII. 16- was represented at one of the club | 2 See Vas. XI. 204. and annot. ibi.