DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61902#0315
THE MAKERS OF FLORENCE.
295
town was rich, splendid, tempting in every way to the
northern invader. The fighting men who had so often
defended it were out of fashion ; the Magnifico was no
longer a firm and wise Lorenzo, but wavering and foolish ;
and the town itself watched its ruler like the unwilling
captive it was, on the strain to catch the moment when it
might twitch the chain by which he held it out of his un-
wary hand. This moment came very soon. Piero, in his
fright, went out to meet his fate. When he heard of
Charles’ approach, he hurried to meet him, and, with
signal folly, by way of propitiating the invader, put the
only defenses the intermediate country possessed into his
hands, thus opening to Charles the way to the city without
securing any conditions of compensation or guarantees of
peace.
When the news of this base surrender reached Florence
the whole city was in an uproar. Terror and indignation
and passionate patriotism all united to make the populace
half frantic with excitement. That fear which even the
bravest may be permitted to feel for the fate of a great city
full of helpless and unwarlike persons in the hands of a
conqueror mingling with the exasperation of a proud peo-
ple betrayed, brought on one of those paroxysms of popular
frenzy in which the mob is capable of almost anything-
of heroic and sublime self-defense, or of mad license, car-
nage, and anarchy, according to the touch which sways
it. Mutterings against the rich citizens who had made
their wealth by oppression—against the partisans of the
Medici party, the betrayers of the state—and against all
rulers and authority—along with a feverish anxiety for the
the safety of Florence, rose among the crowds like the
gathering of a tempest. But, leaderless, counselless, as
they were, one impulse swayed the people. They knew of
one man at least, whose voice was to be trusted, who would
speak to them boldly and freely, without fear or favor—a
295
town was rich, splendid, tempting in every way to the
northern invader. The fighting men who had so often
defended it were out of fashion ; the Magnifico was no
longer a firm and wise Lorenzo, but wavering and foolish ;
and the town itself watched its ruler like the unwilling
captive it was, on the strain to catch the moment when it
might twitch the chain by which he held it out of his un-
wary hand. This moment came very soon. Piero, in his
fright, went out to meet his fate. When he heard of
Charles’ approach, he hurried to meet him, and, with
signal folly, by way of propitiating the invader, put the
only defenses the intermediate country possessed into his
hands, thus opening to Charles the way to the city without
securing any conditions of compensation or guarantees of
peace.
When the news of this base surrender reached Florence
the whole city was in an uproar. Terror and indignation
and passionate patriotism all united to make the populace
half frantic with excitement. That fear which even the
bravest may be permitted to feel for the fate of a great city
full of helpless and unwarlike persons in the hands of a
conqueror mingling with the exasperation of a proud peo-
ple betrayed, brought on one of those paroxysms of popular
frenzy in which the mob is capable of almost anything-
of heroic and sublime self-defense, or of mad license, car-
nage, and anarchy, according to the touch which sways
it. Mutterings against the rich citizens who had made
their wealth by oppression—against the partisans of the
Medici party, the betrayers of the state—and against all
rulers and authority—along with a feverish anxiety for the
the safety of Florence, rose among the crowds like the
gathering of a tempest. But, leaderless, counselless, as
they were, one impulse swayed the people. They knew of
one man at least, whose voice was to be trusted, who would
speak to them boldly and freely, without fear or favor—a