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Dovadola； and plundered the surrounding country。 But having expelled
the enemies of Piero； renewed their league with Galeazzo； duke of
Milan； and Ferrando； king of Naples； they appointed to the command of
their forces Federigo； count of Urbino； and being thus on good terms
with their friends； their enemies occasioned them less anxiety。
Ferrando sent Alfonso； his eldest son； to their aid； and Galeazzo came
in person； each at the head of a suitable force； and all assembled at
Castrocaro； a fortress belonging to the Florentines； and situated
among the roots of the Appennines which descend from Tuscany to
Romagna。 In the meantime； the enemy withdrew toward Imola。 A few
slight skirmishes took place between the armies； yet； in accordance
with the custom of the times； neither of them acted on the offensive；
besieged any town； or gave the other an opportunity of coming to a
general engagement； but each kept within their tents； and conducted
themselves with most remarkable cowardice。 This occasioned general
dissatisfaction among the Florentines； for they found themselves
involved in an expensive war； from which no advantage could be
derived。 The magistrates complained of these spiritless proceedings to
those who had been appointed commissaries to the expedition； but they
replied； that the entire evil was chargeable upon the Duke Galeazzo；
who possessing great authority and little experience； was unable to
suggest useful measures； and unwilling to take the advice of those who
were more capable； and therefore any demonstration of courage or
energy would be impracticable so long as he remained with the army。
Hereupon the Florentines intimated to the duke； that his presence with
the force was in many ways advantageous and beneficial； and of itself
sufficient to alarm the enemy； but they considered his own safety and
that of his dominions； much more important than their own immediate
convenience； because so long as the former were safe； the Florentines
had nothing to fear； and all would go well； but if his dominions were
to suffer； they might then apprehend all kinds of misfortune。 They
assured him they did not think it prudent for him to be absent so long
from Milan； having recently succeeded to the government； and being
surrounded by many powerful enemies and suspected neighbors； while any
who were desirous of plotting against him； had an opportunity of doing
so with impunity。 They would； therefore； advise him to return to his
territories； leaving part of his troops with them for the use of the
expedition。 This advice pleased Galeazzo； who； in consequence；
immediately withdrew to Milan。 The Florentine generals being now left
without any hindrance； to show that the cause assigned for their
inaction was the true one； pressed the enemy more closely； so that
they came to a regular engagement； which continued half a day； without
either party yielding。 Some horses were wounded and prisoners taken；
but no death occurred。 Winter having arrived； and with it the usual
time for armies to retire into quarters； Bartolommeo Coglione withdrew
to Ravenna； the Florentine forces into Tuscany； and those of the king
and duke； each to the territories of their sovereign。 As this attempt
had not occasioned any tumult in Florence； contrary to the rebels'
expectation； and the troops they had hired were in want of pay； terms
of peace were proposed； and easily arranged。 The revolted Florentines；
thus deprived of hope； dispersed themselves in various places。
Diotisalvi Neroni withdrew to Ferrara； where he was received and
entertained by the Marquis Borso。 Niccolo Soderini went to Ravenna；
where； upon a small pension allowed by the Venetians； he grew old and
died。 He was considered a just and brave man； but over…cautious and
slow to determine； a circumstance which occasioned him； when
Gonfalonier of Justice； to lose the opportunity of victory which he
would have gladly recovered when too late。
Upon the restoration of peace； those who remained victorious in
Florence； as if unable to convince themselves they had conquered；
unless they oppressed not merely their enemies； but all whom they
suspected； prevailed upon Bardo Altoviti； then Gonfalonier of Justice；
to deprive many of the honors of government； and to banish several
more。 They exercised their power so inconsiderately； and conducted
themselves in such an arbitrary manner； that it seemed as if fortune
and the Almighty had given the city up to them for a prey。 Piero knew
little of these things； and was unable to remedy even the little he
knew； on account of his infirmities； his body being so contracted that
he could use no faculty but that of speech。 All he could do was to
admonish the leading men； and beg they would conduct themselves with
greater moderation； and not by their violence effect their country's
ruin。 In order to divert the city； he resolved to celebrate the
marriage of his son Lorenzo with Clarice degli Orsini with great
splendor； and it was accordingly solemnized with all the display
suitable to the exalted rank of the parties。 Feasts； dancing； and
antique representations occupied many days； at the conclusion of
which； to exhibit the grandeur of the house of Medici and of the
government； two military spectacles were presented； one performed by
men on horseback； who went through the evolutions of a field
engagement； and the other representing the storming of a town；
everything being conducted with admirable order and the greatest
imaginable brilliancy。
During these transactions in Florence； the rest of Italy； though at
peace； was filled with apprehension of the power of the Turks； who
continued to attack the Christians； and had taken Negropont； to the
great disgrace and injury of the Christian name。 About this time died
Borso； marquis of Ferrara； who was succeeded by his brother Ercole。
Gismondo da Rimini； the inveterate enemy of the church also expired；
and his natural brother Roberto； who was afterward one of the best
generals of Italy； succeeded him。 Pope Paul died； and was succeeded by
Sixtus IV。 previously called Francesco da Savona； a man of the very
lowest origin； who by his talents had become general of the order of
St。 Francis； and afterward cardinal。 He was the first who began to
show how far a pope might go； and how much that which was previously
regarded as sinful lost its iniquity when committed by a pontiff。
Among others of his family were Piero and Girolamo； who； according to
universal belief； were his sons； though he designated them by terms
reflecting less scandal on his character。 Piero being a priest； was
advanced to the dignity of a cardinal； with the title of St。 Sixtus。
To Girolamo he gave the city of Furli； taken from Antonio Ordelaffi；
whose ancestors had held that territory for many generations。 This
ambitious method of procedure made him more regarded by the princes of
Italy； and all sought to obtain his friendship。 The duke of Milan gave
his natural daughter Caterina to Girolamo； with the city of Imola；
which he had taken from Taddeo degli Alidossi； as her portion。 New
matrimonial alliances were formed between the duke and king Ferrando；
Elisabetta； daughter of Alfonso； the king's eldest son； being united
to Giovan Galeazzo； the eldest son of the duke。
Italy being at peace； the principal employment of her princes was to
watch each other； and strengthen their own influence by new alliances；
leagues； or friendships。 But in the midst of this repose； Florence
endured great oppression from her principal citizens； and the
infirmities of Piero incapacitated him from restraining their
ambition。 However； to relieve his conscience； and； if possible； to
make them ashamed of their conduct； he sent for them to his house； and
addressed them in the following words： 〃I never thought a time would
come when the behavior of my friends would compel me to esteem and
desire the society of my enemies； and wish that I had been defeated
rather than victorious； for I believed myself to be associated with
those who would set some bounds to their avarice； and who； after
having avenged themselves on their enemies； and lived in their country
with security and honor； would be satisfied。 But now I find myself
greatly deceived； unacquainted with the ambition of mankind； and least
of all with yours； for； not satisfied with being masters of so great a
city； and possessing among yourselves those honors； dignities； and
emoluments which used to be divided among many citizens； not contented
with having shared among a few the property of your enemies； or with
being able to oppress all others with public burdens； while you
yourselves are exempt from them； and enjoy all the public offices of
profit you must still further load everyone with ill usage。 You
plunder your neighbors of their wealth； you sell justice； you evade
the law； you oppress the timid and exalt the insolent。 Nor is there；
throughout all Italy； so many and such