按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
horses could not eat stones；〃 and went to the Borgo San Sepolcro；
where he was amicably received； but found that the people of Citta di
Castello； who were friendly to the Florentines； could not be induced
to yield to his overtures。 Wishing to have Perugia at his disposal； he
proceeded thither with forty horse； and being one of her citizens； met
with a kind reception。 But in a few days he became suspected； and
having attempted unsuccessfully to tamper with the legate and people
of Perugia； he took eight thousand ducats from them； and returned to
his army。 He then set on foot secret measures； to seduce Cortona from
the Florentines； but the affair being discovered； his attempts were
fruitless。 Among the principal citizens was Bartolomeo di Senso； who
being appointed to the evening watch of one of the gates； a
countryman； his friend； told him； that if he went he would be slain。
Bartolomeo； requesting to know what was meant； he became acquainted
with the whole affair； and revealed it to the governor of the place；
who； having secured the leaders of the conspiracy； and doubled the
guards at the gates； waited till the time appointed for the coming of
Niccolo； who finding his purpose discovered； returned to his
encampment。
CHAPTER VII
Brescia relieved by SforzaHis other victoriesPiccinino is
recalled into LombardyHe endeavors to bring the Florentines to
an engagementHe is routed before AnghiariSerious disorders in
the camp of the Florentines after the victoryDeath of Rinaldo
degli AlbizziHis characterNeri Capponi goes to recover the
CasentinoThe Count di Poppi surrendersHis discourse upon
quitting his possessions。
While these events were taking place in Tuscany； so little to the
advantage of the duke； his affairs in Lombardy were in a still worse
condition。 The Count Francesco； as soon as the season would permit；
took the field with his army； and the Venetians having again covered
the lake with their galleys； he determined first of all to drive the
duke from the water； judging； that this once effected； his remaining
task would be easy。 He therefore； with the Venetian fleet； attacked
that of the duke； and destroyed it。 His land forces took the castles
held for Filippo； and the ducal troops who were besieging Brescia；
being informed of these transactions； withdrew； and thus； the city；
after standing a three years' siege； was at length relieved。 The count
then went in quest of the enemy； whose forces were encamped before
Soncino； a fortress situated upon the River Oglio； these he dislodged
and compelled to retreat to Cremona； where the duke again collected
his forces； and prepared for his defense。 But the count constantly
pressing him more closely； he became apprehensive of losing either the
whole； or the greater part； of his territories； and perceiving the
unfortunate step he had taken； in sending Niccolo into Tuscany； in
order to correct his error； he wrote to acquaint him with what had
transpired； desiring him； with all possible dispatch； to leave Tuscany
and return to Lombardy。
In the meantime； the Florentines； under their commissaries； had drawn
together their forces； and being joined by those of the pope； halted
at Anghiari； a castle placed at the foot of the mountains that divide
the Val di Tavere from the Val di Chiane； distant four miles from the
Borgo San Sepolcro； on a level road； and in a country suitable for the
evolutions of cavalry or a battlefield。 As the Signory had heard of
the count's victory and the recall of Niccolo； they imagined that
without again drawing a sword or disturbing the dust under their
horses' feet； the victory was their own； and the war at an end； they
wrote to the commissaries； desiring them to avoid an engagement； as
Niccolo could not remain much longer in Tuscany。 These instructions
coming to the knowledge of Piccinino； and perceiving the necessity of
his speedy return； to leave nothing unattempted； he determined to
engage the enemy； expecting to find them unprepared； and not disposed
for battle。 In this determination he was confirmed by Rinaldo； the
Count di Poppi； and other Florentine exiles； who saw their inevitable
ruin in the departure of Niccolo； and hoped； that if he engaged the
enemy； they would either be victorious； or vanquished without
dishonor。 This resolution being adopted； Niccolo led his army；
unperceived by the enemy； from Citta di Castello to the Borgo； where
he enlisted two thousand men； who； trusting the general's talents and
promises； followed him in hope of plunder。 Niccolo then led his forces
in battle array toward Anghiari； and had arrived within two miles of
the place； when Micheletto Attendulo observed great clouds of dust；
and conjecturing at once； that it must be occasioned by the enemy's
approach； immediately called the troops to arms。 Great confusion
prevailed in the Florentine camp； for the ordinary negligence and want
of discipline were now increased by their presuming the enemy to be at
a distance； and they were more disposed to fight than to battle； so
that everyone was unarmed； and some wandering from the camp； either
led by their desire to avoid the excessive heat； or in pursuit of
amusement。 So great was the diligence of the commissaries and of the
captain； that before the enemy's arrival； the men were mounted and
prepared to resist their attack； and as Micheletto was the first to
observe their approach； he was also first armed and ready to meet
them； and with his troops hastened to the bridge which crosses the
river at a short distance from Anghiari。 Pietro Giampagolo having
previous to the surprise； filled up the ditches on either side of the
road； and leveled the ground between the bridge and Anghiari； and
Micheletto having taken his position in front of the former； the
legate and Simoncino； who led the troops of the church； took post on
the right； and the commissaries of the Florentines； with Pietro
Giampagolo； their captain； on the left； the infantry being drawn up
along the banks of the river。 Thus； the only course the enemy could
take； was the direct one over the bridge； nor had the Florentines any
other field for their exertions； excepting that their infantry were
ordered； in case their cavalry were attacked in flank by the hostile
infantry； to assail them with their cross bows； and prevent them from
wounding the flanks of the horses crossing the bridge。 Micheletto
bravely withstood the enemy's charge upon the bridge； but Astorre and
Francesco Piccinino coming up； with a picked body of men； attacked him
so vigorously； that he was compelled to give way； and was pushed as
far as the foot of the hill which rises toward the Borgo d'Anghiari；
but they were in turn repulsed and driven over the bridge； by the
troops that took them in flank。 The battle continued two hours； during
which each side had frequent possession of the bridge； and their
attempts upon it were attended with equal success； but on both sides
of the river； the disadvantage of Niccolo was manifest； for when his
people crossed the bridge； they found the enemy unbroken； and the
ground being leveled； they could man渦vre without difficulty； and the
weary be relieved by such as were fresh。 But when the Florentines
crossed； Niccolo could not relieve those that were harassed； on
account of the hindrance interposed by the ditches and embankments on
each side of the road； thus whenever his troops got possession of the
bridge； they were soon repulsed by the fresh forces of the
Florentines； but when the bridge was taken by the Florentines； and
they passed over and proceeded upon the road； Niccolo having no
opportunity to reinforce his troops； being prevented by the
impetuosity of the enemy and the inconvenience of the ground； the rear
guard became mingled with the van； and occasioned the utmost confusion
and disorder； they were forced to flee； and hastened at full speed
toward the Borgo。 The Florentine troops fell upon the plunder； which
was very valuable in horses； prisoners； and military stores； for not
more than a thousand of the enemy's cavalry reached the town。 The
people of the Borgo； who had followed Niccolo in the hope of plunder；
became booty themselves； all of them being taken； and obliged to pay a
ransom。 The colors and carriages were also captured。 This victory was
much more advantageous to the Florentines than injurious to the duke；
for； had they been conquered； Tuscany would have been his own； but he；
by his defeat； only lost the horses and accoutrements of his army；
which could be replaced without any very serious expense。 Nor was
there ever an instance of wars being carried on in an enemy's country
with less injury to the assailants than at this； for in so great a
defeat； and in a battle which continued four hours； only one man died；
and he； not from wounds inflicted by hostile weapons； or any honorable
means； but； having fallen from his horse； was trampled to death。
Com