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without any definite motive or knowledge of what had occurred。 Those；
however； who were nearest the duke and had seen him slain； recognizing
the murderers； pursued them。 Giovanandrea； endeavoring to make his way
out of the church； proceeded among the women； who being numerous； and
according to their custom； seated upon the ground； was prevented in
his progress by their apparel； and being overtaken； he was killed by a
Moor； one of the duke's footmen。 Carlo was slain by those immediately
around him。 Girolamo Olgiato passed through the crowd； and got out of
the church； but seeing his companions dead； and not knowing where else
to go； he proceeded home； where his father and brothers refused to
receive him； his mother only； having compassion on her son recommended
him to a priest； an old friend of the family； who； disguising him in
his own apparel； led him to his house。 Here he remained two days； not
without hope that some disturbance might arise in Milan which would
contribute to his safety。 This not occurring； and apprehensive that
his hiding place would be discovered； he endeavored to escape in
disguise； but being observed； he was given over to justice； and
disclosed all the particulars of the conspiracy。 Girolamo was twenty…
three years of age； and exhibited no less composure at his death than
resolution in his previous conduct； for being stripped of his apparel；
and in the hands of the executioner； who stood by with the sword
unsheathed； ready to deprive him of life； he repeated the following
words； in the Latin tongue； in which he was well versed： 〃Mors acerba；
fama perpetua； stabit vetus memoria facti。〃
The enterprise of these unfortunate young men was conducted with
secrecy and executed with resolution； and they failed for want of the
support of those whom they expected would rise in their defense。 Let
princes therefore learn to live； so as to render themselves beloved
and respected by their subjects； that none may have hope of safety
after having destroyed them； and let others see how vain is the
expectation which induces them to trust so much to the multitude； as
to believe； that even when discontented； they will either embrace or
ward off their dangers。 This event spread consternation all over
Italy； but those which shortly afterward occurred in Florence caused
much more alarm； and terminated a peace of twelve years' continuance；
as will be shown in the following book； which； having commenced with
blood and horror； will have a melancholy and tearful conclusion。
BOOK VIII
CHAPTER I
State of the family of the Medici at FlorenceEnmity of Sixtus
IV。 toward FlorenceDifferences between the family of the Pazzi
and that of the MediciBeginning of the conspiracy of the Pazzi
Arrangements to effect the design of the conspiracyGiovanni
Batista da Montesecco is sent to FlorenceThe pope joins the
conspiracyThe king of Naples becomes a party to itNames of the
conspiratorsThe conspirators make many ineffectual attempts to
kill Lorenzo and Giuliano de' MediciThe final arrangementOrder
of the conspiracy。
This book； commencing between two conspiracies； the one at Milan
already narrated； the other yet to be recorded； it would seem
appropriate； and in accordance with our usual custom； were we to treat
of the nature and importance of these terrible demonstrations。 This we
should willingly do had we not discussed the matter elsewhere； or
could it be comprised in few words。 But requiring much consideration；
and being already noticed in another place； it will be omitted； and we
shall proceed with our narrative。 The government of the Medici having
subdued all its avowed enemies in order to obtain for that family
undivided authority； and distinguish them from other citizens in their
relation to the rest； found it necessary to subdue those who secretly
plotted against them。 While Medici contended with other families；
their equals in authority and reputation； those who envied their power
were able to oppose them openly without danger of being suppressed at
the first demonstration of hostility； for the magistrates being free；
neither party had occasion to fear； till one or other of them was
overcome。 But after the victory of 1466； the government became so
entirely centred in the Medici； and they acquired so much authority；
that discontented spirits were obliged either to suffer in silence；
or； if desirous to destroy them； to attempt it in secrecy； and by
clandestine means； which plots rarely succeed and most commonly
involve the ruin of those concerned in them； while they frequently
contribute to the aggrandizement of those against whom they are
directed。 Thus the prince of a city attacked by a conspiracy； if not
slain like the duke of Milan （which seldom happens）； almost always
attains to a greater degree of power； and very often has his good
disposition perverted to evil。 The proceedings of his enemies give him
cause for fear； fear suggests the necessity of providing for his own
safety； which involves the injury of others； and hence arise
animosities； and not unfrequently his ruin。 Thus these conspiracies
quickly occasion the destruction of their contrivers； and； in time；
inevitably injure their primary object。
Italy； as we have seen above； was divided into two factions； the pope
and the king on one side； on the other； the Venetians； the duke； and
the Florentines。 Although the flames of war had not yet broken out；
every day gave rise to some new occasion for rekindling them； and the
pope； in particular； in all his plans endeavored to annoy the
Florentine government。 Thus Filippo de' Medici； archbishop of Pisa；
being dead； Francesco Salviati； a declared enemy of the Medici； was
appointed his successor； contrary to the wish of the Signory of
Florence； who being unwilling to give him possession； there arose
between them and the pope many fresh grounds of offense； before the
matter was settled。 Besides this； he conferred； at Rome； many favors
upon the family of the Pazzi； and opposed that of the Medici； whenever
an opportunity offered。 The Pazzi were at this time； both on account
of nobility of birth and their great wealth； the most brilliant in
France。 The head of this family was Jacopo； whom the people； on
account of his distinguished pre…eminence； had made a knight。 He had
no children； except one natural daughter； but many nephews； sons of
his brothers Piero and Antonio； the first of whom were Guglielmo；
Francesco； Rinato； Giovanni； and then； Andrea； Niccolo； and Galeotto。
Cosmo de' Medici； noticing the riches and rank of this family； had
given his granddaughter； Bianca； to Guglielmo； hoping by this marriage
to unite the houses； and obviate those enmities and dissensions so
frequently occasioned by jealousy。 However （so uncertain and
fallacious are our expectations）； very different feelings were thus
originated； for Lorenzo's advisers pointed out to him how dangerous it
was； and how injurious to his authority； to unite in the same
individuals so much wealth and power。 In consequence； neither Jacopo
nor his nephews obtained those degrees of honor； which in the opinion
of other citizens were their due。 This gave rise to anger in the
Pazzi； and fear on the part of the Medici； as the former of these
increased； so did the latter； and upon all occasions； when the Pazzi
came in competition with other citizens； their claims to distinction；
however strong； were set aside by the magistracy。 Francesco de' Pazzi；
being at Rome； the Council of Eight； upon some trivial occasion；
compelled him to return； without treating him with the respect usually
observed toward great citizens； so that the Pazzi everywhere bitterly
complained of the ill usage they experienced； and thus excited
suspicion in others； and brought down greater evils upon themselves。
Giovanni de' Pazzi had married the daughter of Giovanni Buonromei； a
very wealthy man； whose riches on his decease； without other children；
came to his daughter。 His nephew； Carlo； however； took possession of
part； and the question being litigated； a law was passed； by virtue of
which the wife of Giovanni de' Pazzi was robbed of her inheritance；
and it was given to Carlo。 In this piece of injustice the Pazzi at
once recognized the influence of the Medici。 Giuliano de' Medici often
complained to his brother Lorenzo of the affair； saying he was afraid
that by grasping at too much they would lose all。
Lorenzo； flushed with youth and power； would assume the direction of
everything； and resolved that all transactions should bear an impress
of his influence。 The Pazzi； with their nobility and wealth unable to
endure so many affronts； began to devise some means of vengeance。 The
first who spoke of any attempt against the Medici； was Francesco； who；
being more sensitive and resolute than the others； determined either
to obtain what was withheld from him； or lose what he still posses