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There was now no resistance made except by the Bardi； who remained
undaunted； notwithstanding the failure of their friends； the union of
the people against them； and the little chance of success which they
seemed to have。 They resolved to die fighting； and rather see their
houses burned and plundered； than submit to the power of their
enemies。 They defended themselves with such obstinacy； that many
fruitless attempts were made to overcome them； both at the Old Bridge
and the Rubaconte； but their foes were always repulsed with loss。
There had in former times been a street which led between the houses
of the Pitti； from the Roman road to the walls upon Mount St。 George。
By this way the people sent six Gonfalons； with orders to assail their
houses from behind。 This attack overcame the resolution of the Bardi；
and decided the day in favor of the people； for when those who
defended the barricades in the street learned that their houses were
being plundered； they left the principal fight and hastened to their
defense。 This caused the Old Bridge to be lost； the Bardi fled in all
directions and were received into the houses of the Quaratesi；
Panzanesi； and Mozzi。 The people； especially the lower classes； greedy
for spoil； sacked and destroyed their houses； and pulled down and
burned their towers and palaces with such outrageous fury； that the
most cruel enemy of the Florentine name would have been ashamed of
taking part in such wanton destruction。
The nobility being thus overcome； the people reformed the government；
and as they were of three kinds； the higher； the middle； and the lower
class； it was ordered that the first should appoint two signors； the
two latter three each； and that the Gonfalonier should be chosen
alternately from either party。 Besides this； all the regulations for
the restraint of the nobility were renewed； and in order to weaken
them still more； many were reduced to the grade of the people。 The
ruin of the nobility was so complete； and depressed them so much； that
they never afterward ventured to take arms for the recovery of their
power； but soon became humbled and abject in the extreme。 And thus
Florence lost the generosity of her character and her distinction in
arms。
After these events the city remained in peace till the year 1353。 In
the course of this period occurred the memorable plague； described
with so much eloquence by Giovanni Boccaccio； and by which Florence
lost 96；000 souls。 In 1348； began the first war with the Visconti；
occasioned by the archbishop； then prince of Milan； and when this was
concluded； dissensions again arose in the city； for although the
nobility were destroyed； fortune did not fail to cause new divisions
and new troubles。
BOOK III
CHAPTER I
Reflections upon the domestic discords of republicsA parallel
between the discords of Rome and those of FlorenceEnmities
between the families of the Ricci and the AlbizziUguccione de'
Ricci causes the laws against the Ghibellines to be renewed in
order to injure the AlbizziPiero degli Albizzi derives advantage
from itOrigin of admonitions and the troubles which result from
themUguccione de' Ricci moderates their injusticeDifficulties
increaseA meeting of the citizensThey address the SignoryThe
Signory attempt to remedy the evils。
Those serious； though natural enmities； which occur between the
popular classes and the nobility； arising from the desire of the
latter to command； and the disinclination of the former to obey； are
the causes of most of the troubles which take place in cities； and
from this diversity of purpose； all the other evils which disturb
republics derive their origin。 This kept Rome disunited； and this； if
it be allowable to compare small things with great； held Florence in
disunion； although in each city it produced a different result； for
animosities were only beginning with the people and nobility of Rome
contended； while ours were brought to a conclusion by the contentions
of our citizens。 A new law settled the disputes of Rome； those of
Florence were only terminated by the death and banishment of many of
her best people。 Those of Rome increased her military virtue； while
that of Florence was quite extinguished by her divisions。 The quarrels
of Rome established different ranks of society； those of Florence
abolished the distinctions which had previously existed。 This
diversity of effects must have been occasioned by the different
purposes which the two people had in view。 While the people of Rome
endeavored to associate with the nobility in the supreme honors； those
of Florence strove to exclude the nobility from all participation in
them： as the desire of the Roman people was more reasonable； no
particular offense was given to the nobility； they therefore consented
to it without having recourse to arms； so that； after some disputes
concerning particular points； both parties agreed to the enactment of
a law which； while it satisfied the people； preserved the nobility in
the enjoyment of their dignity。
On the other hand； the demands of the people of Florence being
insolent and unjust； the nobility； became desperate； prepared for
their defense with their utmost energy； and thus bloodshed and the
exile of citizens followed。 The laws which were afterward made； did
not provide for the common good； but were framed wholly in favor of
the conquerors。 This too； must be observed； that from the acquisition
of power； made by the people of Rome； their minds were very much
improved； for all the offices of state being attainable as well by the
people as the nobility； the peculiar excellencies of the latter
exercised a most beneficial influence upon the former； and as the city
increased in virtue she attained a more exalted greatness。
But in Florence； the people being conquerors； the nobility were
deprived of all participation in the government； and in order to
regain a portion of it； it became necessary for them not only to seem
like the people； but to be like them in behavior； mind； and mode of
living。 Hence arose those changes in armorial bearings； and in the
titles of families； which the nobility adopted； in order that they
might seem to be of the people； military virtue and generosity of
feeling became extinguished in them； the people not possessing these
qualities； they could not appreciate them； and Florence became by
degrees more and more depressed and humiliated。 The virtue of the
Roman nobility degenerating into pride； the citizens soon found that
the business of the state could not be carried on without a prince。
Florence had now come to such a point； that with a comprehensive mind
at the head of affairs she would easily have been made to take any
form that he might have been disposed to give her； as may be partly
observed by a perusal of the preceding book。
Having given an account of the origin of Florence； the commencement of
her liberty； with the causes of her divisions； and shown how the
factions of the nobility and the people ceased with the tyranny of the
duke of Athens； and the ruin of the former； we have now to speak of
the animosities between the citizens and the plebeians and the various
circumstances which they produced。
The nobility being overcome； and the war with the archbishop of Milan
concluded； there did not appear any cause of dissension in Florence。
But the evil fortune of the city； and the defective nature of her
laws； gave rise to enmities between the family of the Albizzi and that
of the Ricci； which divided her citizens as completely as those of the
Buondelmonti and the Uberti； or the Donati and the Cerchi had formerly
done。 The pontiffs； who at this time resided in France； and the
emperors； who abode in Germany； in order to maintain their influence
in Italy； sent among us multitudes of soldiers of many countries； as
English； Dutch； and Bretons。 As these； upon the conclusion of a war；
were thrown out of pay； though still in the country； they； under the
standard of some soldier of fortune； plundered such people as were
least prepared to defend themselves。 In the year 1353 one of these
companies came into Tuscany under the command of Monsignor Reale； of
Provence； and his approach terrified all the cities of Italy。 The
Florentines not only provided themselves forces； but many citizens；
among whom were the Albizzi and the Ricci； armed themselves in their
own defense。 These families were at the time full of hatred against
each other； and each thought to obtain the sovereignty of the republic
by overcoming his enemy。 They had not yet proceeded to open violence；
but only contended in the magistracies and councils。 The city being
all in arms； a quarrel arose in the Old Market place； and； as it
frequently happens in similar cases； a great number of people were
drawn together。 The disturbance spreading； it was told the Ricci that
the Albizzi had