history of florence-µÚ83½Ú
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¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
consent¡¡of¡¡the¡¡people£»¡¡and¡¡not¡¡by¡¡force£»¡¡of¡¡which¡¡he¡¡would¡¡not¡¡hear¡¡on
any¡¡account¡£¡¡They¡¡then¡¡endeavored¡¡in¡¡the¡¡councils¡¡to¡¡establish¡¡a¡¡new
balia£»¡¡but¡¡did¡¡not¡¡succeed¡£¡¡On¡¡this¡¡the¡¡grandees¡¡again¡¡came¡¡to¡¡Cosmo£»
and¡¡most¡¡humbly¡¡begged¡¡he¡¡would¡¡assemble¡¡the¡¡people¡¡in¡¡a¡¡general
council¡¡or¡¡parliament£»¡¡but¡¡this¡¡he¡¡refused£»¡¡for¡¡he¡¡wished¡¡to¡¡make¡¡them
sensible¡¡of¡¡their¡¡great¡¡mistake£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡Donato¡¡Cocchi£»¡¡being
Gonfalonier¡¡of¡¡Justice£»¡¡proposed¡¡to¡¡assemble¡¡them¡¡without¡¡his¡¡consent£»
the¡¡Signors¡¡who¡¡were¡¡of¡¡Cosmo's¡¡party¡¡ridiculed¡¡the¡¡idea¡¡so
unmercifully£»¡¡that¡¡the¡¡man's¡¡mind¡¡actually¡¡became¡¡deranged£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡had
to¡¡retire¡¡from¡¡office¡¡in¡¡consequence¡£¡¡However£»¡¡since¡¡it¡¡is¡¡undesirable
to¡¡allow¡¡matters¡¡to¡¡proceed¡¡beyond¡¡recovery£»¡¡the¡¡Gonfalon¡¡of¡¡Justice
being¡¡in¡¡the¡¡hands¡¡of¡¡Luca¡¡Pitti£»¡¡a¡¡bold¡spirited¡¡man£»¡¡Cosmo
determined¡¡to¡¡let¡¡him¡¡adopt¡¡what¡¡course¡¡he¡¡thought¡¡proper£»¡¡that¡¡if¡¡any
trouble¡¡should¡¡arise¡¡it¡¡might¡¡be¡¡imputed¡¡to¡¡Luca¡¡and¡¡not¡¡to¡¡himself¡£
Luca£»¡¡therefore£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡beginning¡¡of¡¡his¡¡magistracy£»¡¡several¡¡times
proposed¡¡to¡¡the¡¡people¡¡the¡¡appointment¡¡of¡¡a¡¡new¡¡balia£»¡¡and£»¡¡not
succeeding£»¡¡he¡¡threatened¡¡the¡¡members¡¡of¡¡the¡¡councils¡¡with¡¡injurious
and¡¡arrogant¡¡expressions£»¡¡which¡¡were¡¡shortly¡¡followed¡¡by¡¡corresponding
conduct£»¡¡for¡¡in¡¡the¡¡month¡¡of¡¡August£»¡¡1458£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡eve¡¡of¡¡Saint
Lorenzo£»¡¡having¡¡filled¡¡the¡¡piazza£»¡¡and¡¡compelled¡¡them¡¡to¡¡assent¡¡to¡¡a
measure¡¡to¡¡which¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡them¡¡to¡¡be¡¡averse¡£¡¡Having¡¡recovered¡¡power£»
created¡¡a¡¡new¡¡balia£»¡¡and¡¡filled¡¡the¡¡principal¡¡offices¡¡according¡¡to¡¡the
pleasure¡¡of¡¡a¡¡few¡¡individuals£»¡¡in¡¡order¡¡to¡¡commence¡¡that¡¡government
with¡¡terror¡¡which¡¡they¡¡had¡¡obtained¡¡by¡¡force£»¡¡they¡¡banished¡¡Girolamo
Machiavelli£»¡¡with¡¡some¡¡others£»¡¡and¡¡deprived¡¡many¡¡of¡¡the¡¡honors¡¡of
government¡£¡¡Girolamo£»¡¡having¡¡transgressed¡¡the¡¡confines¡¡to¡¡which¡¡he¡¡was
limited£»¡¡was¡¡declared¡¡a¡¡rebel¡£¡¡Traveling¡¡about¡¡Italy£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡design
of¡¡exciting¡¡the¡¡princes¡¡against¡¡his¡¡country£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡betrayed¡¡while¡¡at
Lunigiana£»¡¡and£»¡¡being¡¡brought¡¡to¡¡Florence£»¡¡was¡¡put¡¡to¡¡death¡¡in¡¡prison¡£
This¡¡government£»¡¡during¡¡the¡¡eight¡¡years¡¡it¡¡continued£»¡¡was¡¡violent¡¡and
insupportable£»¡¡for¡¡Cosmo£»¡¡being¡¡now¡¡old£»¡¡and¡¡through¡¡ill¡¡health¡¡unable
to¡¡attend¡¡to¡¡public¡¡affairs¡¡as¡¡formerly£»¡¡Florence¡¡became¡¡a¡¡prey¡¡to¡¡a
small¡¡number¡¡of¡¡her¡¡own¡¡citizens¡£¡¡Luca¡¡Pitti£»¡¡in¡¡return¡¡for¡¡the
services¡¡he¡¡had¡¡performed¡¡for¡¡the¡¡republic£»¡¡as¡¡made¡¡a¡¡knight£»¡¡and¡¡to
be¡¡no¡¡less¡¡grateful¡¡than¡¡those¡¡who¡¡had¡¡conferred¡¡the¡¡dignity¡¡upon¡¡him£»
he¡¡ordered¡¡that¡¡the¡¡priors£»¡¡who¡¡had¡¡hitherto¡¡been¡¡called¡¡priors¡¡of¡¡the
trades£»¡¡should¡¡also¡¡have¡¡a¡¡name¡¡to¡¡which¡¡they¡¡had¡¡no¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡claim£»
and¡¡therefore¡¡called¡¡them¡¡priors¡¡of¡¡liberty¡£¡¡He¡¡also¡¡ordered£»¡¡that¡¡as
it¡¡had¡¡been¡¡customary¡¡for¡¡the¡¡gonfalonier¡¡to¡¡sit¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡right¡¡hand
of¡¡the¡¡rectors£»¡¡he¡¡should¡¡in¡¡future¡¡take¡¡his¡¡seat¡¡in¡¡the¡¡midst¡¡of
them¡£¡¡And¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Deity¡¡might¡¡appear¡¡to¡¡participate¡¡in¡¡what¡¡had¡¡been
done£»¡¡public¡¡processions¡¡were¡¡made¡¡and¡¡solemn¡¡services¡¡performed£»¡¡to
thank¡¡him¡¡for¡¡the¡¡recovery¡¡of¡¡the¡¡government¡£¡¡The¡¡Signory¡¡and¡¡Cosmo
made¡¡Luca¡¡Pitti¡¡rich¡¡presents£»¡¡and¡¡all¡¡the¡¡citizens¡¡were¡¡emulous¡¡in
imitation¡¡of¡¡them£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡the¡¡money¡¡given¡¡amounted¡¡to¡¡no¡¡less¡¡a¡¡sum
than¡¡twenty¡¡thousand¡¡ducats¡£¡¡He¡¡thus¡¡attained¡¡such¡¡influence£»¡¡that¡¡not
Cosmo¡¡but¡¡himself¡¡now¡¡governed¡¡the¡¡city£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡pride¡¡so¡¡increased£»
that¡¡he¡¡commenced¡¡two¡¡superb¡¡buildings£»¡¡one¡¡in¡¡Florence£»¡¡the¡¡other¡¡at
Ruciano£»¡¡about¡¡a¡¡mile¡¡distant£»¡¡both¡¡in¡¡a¡¡style¡¡of¡¡royal¡¡magnificence£»
that¡¡in¡¡the¡¡city£»¡¡being¡¡larger¡¡than¡¡any¡¡hitherto¡¡built¡¡by¡¡a¡¡private
person¡£¡¡To¡¡complete¡¡them£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡recourse¡¡to¡¡the¡¡most¡¡extraordinary
means£»¡¡for¡¡not¡¡only¡¡citizens¡¡and¡¡private¡¡individuals¡¡made¡¡him¡¡presents
and¡¡supplied¡¡materials£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡mass¡¡of¡¡people£»¡¡of¡¡every¡¡grade£»¡¡also
contributed¡£¡¡Besides¡¡this£»¡¡any¡¡exiles¡¡who¡¡had¡¡committed¡¡murders£»
thefts£»¡¡or¡¡other¡¡crimes¡¡which¡¡made¡¡them¡¡amenable¡¡to¡¡the¡¡laws£»¡¡found¡¡a
safe¡¡refuge¡¡within¡¡their¡¡walls£»¡¡if¡¡they¡¡were¡¡able¡¡to¡¡contribute¡¡toward
their¡¡decoration¡¡or¡¡completion¡£¡¡The¡¡other¡¡citizens£»¡¡though¡¡they¡¡did
not¡¡build¡¡like¡¡him£»¡¡were¡¡no¡¡less¡¡violent¡¡or¡¡rapacious£»¡¡so¡¡that¡¡if
Florence¡¡were¡¡not¡¡harassed¡¡by¡¡external¡¡wars£»¡¡she¡¡was¡¡ruined¡¡by¡¡the
wickedness¡¡of¡¡her¡¡own¡¡children¡£¡¡During¡¡this¡¡period¡¡the¡¡wars¡¡of¡¡Naples
took¡¡place¡£¡¡The¡¡pope¡¡also¡¡commenced¡¡hostilities¡¡in¡¡Romagna¡¡against¡¡the
Malatesti£»¡¡from¡¡whom¡¡he¡¡wished¡¡to¡¡take¡¡Rimino¡¡and¡¡Cesena£»¡¡held¡¡by
them¡£¡¡In¡¡these¡¡designs£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡intentions¡¡of¡¡a¡¡crusade¡¡against¡¡the
Turks£»¡¡was¡¡passed¡¡the¡¡pontificate¡¡of¡¡Pius¡¡II¡£
Florence¡¡continued¡¡in¡¡disunion¡¡and¡¡disturbance¡£¡¡The¡¡dissensions
continued¡¡among¡¡the¡¡party¡¡of¡¡Cosmo£»¡¡in¡¡1455£»¡¡from¡¡the¡¡causes¡¡already
related£»¡¡which¡¡by¡¡his¡¡prudence£»¡¡as¡¡we¡¡have¡¡also¡¡before¡¡remarked£»¡¡he
was¡¡enabled¡¡to¡¡tranquilize£»¡¡but¡¡in¡¡the¡¡year¡¡1464£»¡¡his¡¡illness
increased£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡died¡£¡¡Friends¡¡and¡¡enemies¡¡alike¡¡grieved¡¡for¡¡his
loss£»¡¡for¡¡his¡¡political¡¡opponents£»¡¡perceiving¡¡the¡¡rapacity¡¡of¡¡the
citizens£»¡¡even¡¡during¡¡the¡¡life¡¡of¡¡him¡¡who¡¡alone¡¡restrained¡¡them¡¡and
made¡¡their¡¡tyranny¡¡supportable£»¡¡were¡¡afraid£»¡¡lest¡¡after¡¡his¡¡decease£»
nothing¡¡but¡¡ruin¡¡would¡¡ensue¡£¡¡Nor¡¡had¡¡they¡¡much¡¡hope¡¡of¡¡his¡¡son¡¡Piero£»
who¡¡though¡¡a¡¡very¡¡good¡¡man£»¡¡was¡¡of¡¡infirm¡¡health£»¡¡and¡¡new¡¡in¡¡the
government£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡thought¡¡he¡¡would¡¡be¡¡compelled¡¡to¡¡give¡¡way£»¡¡so
that£»¡¡being¡¡unrestrained£»¡¡their¡¡rapacity¡¡would¡¡pass¡¡all¡¡bounds¡£¡¡On
these¡¡accounts£»¡¡the¡¡regret¡¡was¡¡universal¡£¡¡Of¡¡all¡¡who¡¡have¡¡left
memorials¡¡behind¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡who¡¡were¡¡not¡¡of¡¡the¡¡military¡¡profession£»
Cosmo¡¡was¡¡the¡¡most¡¡illustrious¡¡and¡¡the¡¡most¡¡renowned¡£¡¡He¡¡not¡¡only
surpassed¡¡all¡¡his¡¡contemporaries¡¡in¡¡wealth¡¡and¡¡authority£»¡¡but¡¡also¡¡in
generosity¡¡and¡¡prudence£»¡¡and¡¡among¡¡the¡¡qualities¡¡which¡¡contributed¡¡to
make¡¡him¡¡prince¡¡in¡¡his¡¡own¡¡country£»¡¡was¡¡his¡¡surpassing¡¡all¡¡others¡¡in
magnificence¡¡and¡¡generosity¡£¡¡His¡¡liberality¡¡became¡¡more¡¡obvious¡¡after
his¡¡death£»¡¡when¡¡Piero£»¡¡his¡¡son£»¡¡wishing¡¡to¡¡know¡¡what¡¡he¡¡possessed£»¡¡it
appeared¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡citizen¡¡of¡¡any¡¡consequence¡¡to¡¡whom¡¡Cosmo¡¡had¡¡not
lent¡¡a¡¡large¡¡sum¡¡of¡¡money£»¡¡and¡¡often£»¡¡when¡¡informed¡¡of¡¡some¡¡nobleman
being¡¡in¡¡distress£»¡¡he¡¡relieved¡¡him¡¡unasked¡£¡¡His¡¡magnificence¡¡is
evident¡¡from¡¡the¡¡number¡¡of¡¡public¡¡edifices¡¡he¡¡erected£»¡¡for¡¡in¡¡Florence
are¡¡the¡¡convents¡¡and¡¡churches¡¡of¡¡St¡£¡¡Marco¡¡and¡¡St¡£¡¡Lorenzo£»¡¡and¡¡the
monastery¡¡of¡¡Santa¡¡Verdiana£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡mountains¡¡of¡¡Fiesole£»¡¡the¡¡church
and¡¡abbey¡¡of¡¡St¡£¡¡Girolamo£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Mugello£»¡¡he¡¡not¡¡only¡¡restored£»
but¡¡rebuilt¡¡from¡¡its¡¡foundation£»¡¡a¡¡monastery¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Frati¡¡Minori£»¡¡or
Minims¡£¡¡Besides¡¡these£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡church¡¡of¡¡Santa¡¡Croce£»¡¡the¡¡Servi£»¡¡the
Agnoli£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡San¡¡Miniato£»¡¡he¡¡erected¡¡splendid¡¡chapels¡¡and¡¡altars£»
and¡¡besides¡¡building¡¡the¡¡churches¡¡and¡¡chapels¡¡we¡¡have¡¡mentioned£»¡¡he
provided¡¡them¡¡with¡¡all¡¡the¡¡ornaments£»¡¡furniture£»¡¡and¡¡utensils¡¡suitable
for¡¡the¡¡performance¡¡of¡¡divine¡¡service¡£¡¡To¡¡these¡¡sacred¡¡edifices¡¡are¡¡to
be¡¡added¡¡his¡¡private¡¡dwellings£»¡¡one¡¡in¡¡Florence£»¡¡of¡¡extent¡¡and
elegance¡¡adapted¡¡to¡¡so¡¡great¡¡a¡¡citizen£»¡¡and¡¡four¡¡others£»¡¡situated¡¡at
Careggi£»¡¡Fiesole£»¡¡Craggiulo£»¡¡and¡¡Trebbio£»¡¡each£»¡¡for¡¡size¡¡and¡¡grandeur£»
equal¡¡to¡¡royal¡¡palaces¡£¡¡And£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡it¡¡were¡¡not¡¡sufficient¡¡to¡¡be
distinguished¡¡for¡¡magnificence¡¡of¡¡buildings¡¡in¡¡Italy¡¡alone£»¡¡he¡¡erected
an¡¡hospital¡¡at¡¡Jerusalem£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡reception¡¡of¡¡poor¡¡and¡¡infirm
pilgrims¡£¡¡Although¡¡his¡¡habitations£»¡¡like¡¡all¡¡his¡¡other¡¡works¡¡and
actions£»¡¡were¡¡quite¡¡of¡¡a¡¡regal¡¡character£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡alone¡¡was¡¡prince¡¡in
Florence£»¡¡still¡¡everything¡¡was¡¡so¡¡tempered¡¡with¡¡his¡¡prudence£»¡¡that¡¡he
never¡¡transgressed¡¡the¡¡decent¡¡moderation¡¡of¡¡civil¡¡life£»¡¡in¡¡his
conversation£»¡¡his¡¡servants£»¡¡his¡¡traveling£»¡¡his¡¡mode¡¡of¡¡living£»¡¡and¡¡the
relationships¡¡he¡¡formed£»¡¡the¡¡modest¡¡demeanor¡¡of¡¡the¡¡citizen¡¡was¡¡always
evident£»¡¡for¡¡he¡¡was¡¡aware¡¡that¡¡a¡¡constant¡¡exhibition¡¡of¡¡pomp¡¡brings
more¡¡envy¡¡upon¡¡its¡¡possessor¡¡than¡¡greater¡¡realities¡¡borne¡¡without
ostentation¡£¡¡Thus¡¡in¡¡selecting¡¡consorts¡¡for¡¡his¡¡sons£»¡¡he¡¡did¡¡not¡¡seek
the¡¡alliance¡¡of¡¡princes£»¡¡but¡¡for¡¡Giovanni¡¡chose¡¡Corneglia¡¡degli
Allesandri£»¡¡and¡¡for¡¡Piero£»¡¡Lucrezia¡¡de'¡¡Tornabuoni¡£¡¡He¡¡gave¡¡his
granddaughters£»¡¡the¡¡children¡¡of¡¡Piero£»¡¡Bianca¡¡to¡¡Guglielmo¡¡de'¡¡Pazzi£»
and¡¡Nannina¡¡to¡¡Bernardo¡¡Ruccellai¡£¡¡No¡¡one¡¡of¡¡his¡¡time¡¡possessed¡¡such
an¡¡intimate¡¡knowledge¡¡of¡¡government¡¡and¡¡state¡¡affairs¡¡as¡¡himself£»¡¡and
hence¡¡amid¡¡such¡¡a¡¡variety¡¡of¡¡fortune£»¡¡in¡¡a¡¡city¡¡so¡¡given¡¡to¡¡change£»
and¡¡among¡¡a¡¡people¡¡of¡¡such¡¡extreme¡¡inconstancy£»¡¡he¡¡retained¡¡possession
of¡¡the¡¡government¡¡thirty¡one¡¡years£»¡¡for¡¡being¡¡endowed¡¡with¡¡the¡¡utmost
prudence£»¡¡he¡¡foresaw¡¡evils¡¡at¡¡a¡¡distance£»¡¡and¡¡therefore¡¡had¡¡an
opportunity¡¡either¡¡of¡¡averting¡¡them£»¡¡or¡¡preventing¡¡their¡¡injurious
results¡£¡¡He¡¡thus¡¡not¡¡only¡¡vanquished¡¡domestic¡¡and¡¡civil¡¡ambition£»¡¡but
humbled¡¡the¡¡pride¡¡of¡¡many¡¡princes¡¡with¡¡so¡¡much¡¡fidelity¡¡and¡¡address£»
that¡¡whatever¡¡powers¡¡were¡¡in¡¡league¡¡with¡¡himself¡¡and¡¡his¡¡country£»
either¡¡overcame¡¡their¡¡adversaries£»¡¡or¡¡remained¡¡uninjured¡¡by¡¡his
alliance£»¡¡and¡¡whoever¡¡were¡¡opposed¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¡lost¡¡either¡¡their¡¡time£»
money£»¡¡or¡¡territory¡£¡¡Of¡¡this¡¡the¡¡Venetians¡¡afford¡¡a¡¡sufficient¡¡proof£»
who£»¡¡while¡¡in¡¡league¡¡with¡¡him¡¡against¡¡Duke¡¡Filippo¡¡were¡¡always
victorious£»¡¡but¡¡apart¡¡from¡¡him¡¡were¡¡always¡¡conquered£»¡¡first¡¡by¡¡Filippo
and¡¡then¡¡by¡¡Francesco¡£¡¡When¡¡they¡¡joined¡¡Alfonso¡¡against¡¡the¡¡Florentine
rep