登陆注册
19483200000076

第76章

Caesar was at Imola, awaiting the French troops, but with scarcely any men; so that Bentivoglio, who held part of the country, and the Duke of Urbino, who had just reconquered the rest of it, could probably have either taken him or forced him to fly and quit the Romagna, had they marched against him; all the more since the two men on whom he counted, viz., Don Ugo di Cardona, who had entered his service after Capua was taken, and Michelotto had mistaken his intention, and were all at once separated from him.He had really ordered them to fall back upon Rimini, and bring 200 light horse and 500 infantry of which they had the command; but, unaware of the urgency of his situation, at the very moment when they were attempting to surprise La Pergola and Fossombrone, they were surrounded by Orsino of Gravina and Vitellozzo.Ugo di Cardona and Michelotto defended themselves like lions; but in spite of their utmost efforts their little band was cut to pieces, and Ugo di Cardona taken prisoner, while Michelotto only escaped the same fate by lying down among the dead; when night came on, he escaped to Fano.

But even alone as he was, almost without troops at Imola, the confederates dared attempt nothing against Caesar, whether because of the personal fear he inspired, or because in him they respected the ally of the King of France; they contented themselves with taking the towns and fortresses in the neighbourhood.Vitellozzo had retaken the fortresses of Fossombrone, Urbino, Cagli, and Aggobbio; Orsino of Gravina had reconquered Fano and the whole province; while Gian Maria de Varano, the same who by his absence had escaped being massacred with the rest of his family, had re-entered Camerino, borne in triumph by his people.Not even all this could destroy Caesar's confidence in his own good fortune, and while he was on the one hand urging on the arrival of the French troops and calling into his pay all those gentlemen known as "broken lances," because they went about the country in parties of five or six only, and attached themselves to anyone who wanted them, he had opened up negotiations with his enemies, certain that from that very day when he should persuade them to a conference they were undone.Indeed, Caesar had the power of persuasion as a gift from heaven; and though they perfectly well knew his duplicity, they had no power of resisting, not so much his actual eloquence as that air of frank good-nature which Macchiavelli so greatly admired, and which indeed more than once deceived even him, wily politician as he was.In order to get Paolo Orsino to treat with him at Imola, Caesar sent Cardinal Borgia to the confederates as a hostage; and on this Paolo Orsino hesitated no longer, and on the 25th of October, 1502, arrived at Imola.

Caesar received him as an old friend from whom one might have been estranged a few days because of some slight passing differences; he frankly avowed that all the fault was no doubt on his side, since he had contrived to alienate men who were such loyal lords and also such brave captains; but with men of their nature, he added, an honest, honourable explanation such as he would give must put everything once more in statu quo.To prove that it was goodwill, not fear, that brought him back to them, he showed Orsino the letters from Cardinal Amboise which announced the speedy arrival of French troops; he showed him those he had collected about him, in the wish, he declared, that they might be thoroughly convinced that what he chiefly regretted in the whole matter was not so much the loss of the distinguished captains who were the very soul of his vast enterprise, as that he had led the world to believe, in a way so fatal to his own interest, that he could for a single instant fail to recognise their merit; adding that he consequently relied upon him, Paolo Orsino, whom he had always cared for most, to bring back the confederates by a peace which would be as much for the profit of all as a war was hurtful to all, and that he was ready to sign a treaty in consonance with their wishes so long as it should not prejudice his own honour.

Orsino was the man Caesar wanted: full of pride and confidence in himself, he was convinced of the truth of the old proverb that says, "A pope cannot reign eight days, if he has hath the Colonnas and the Orsini against him." He believed, therefore, if not in Caesar's good faith, at any rate in the necessity he must feel for making peace;accordingly he signed with him the following conventions--which only needed ratification--on the 18th of October, 1502, which we reproduce here as Macchiavelli sent them to the magnificent republic of Florence.

"Agreement between the Duke of Valentinois and the Confederates.

"Let it be known to the parties mentioned below, and to all who shall see these presents, that His Excellency the Duke of Romagna of the one part and the Orsini of the other part, together with their confederates, desiring to put an end to differences, enmities, misunderstandings, and suspicions which have arisen between them, have resolved as follows:

同类推荐
  • 黄庭坚诗全集

    黄庭坚诗全集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Forty-Two Poems

    Forty-Two Poems

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 李文忠公事略

    李文忠公事略

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • The Tale of Balen

    The Tale of Balen

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 为霖道霈禅师还山录

    为霖道霈禅师还山录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 神外挂之纨绔大宗师

    神外挂之纨绔大宗师

    你医术很强?等等,我先继承一下华佗的医术再和你比试;你厨艺很好?等等,我先传承一下小当家的厨艺,做出会发光的食物再和你比过;你棋艺很厉害?等等,我先传承一下棋圣江流二的天地大同再来完虐你;你黑客很强?等等,我先学习几分钟再出来虐哭你;你武力很强?等等,我先学习一下东方教主的葵花宝典再,额,不对应该是白日飞升的轩辕黄帝的双修大法再打的你娘都不认识你。
  • 武霸长生

    武霸长生

    低级武者追寻的是那可翻山倒海的可怖力量,但是真正的武者所追求的只有一样,那就是划破虚空,逆天改命,以达到长生。
  • 冷酷总裁俏佳人

    冷酷总裁俏佳人

    十七岁时,宫羽魅遇到了南宫寞,以为可以和他长相厮守。而因一次误会,他固执的选择伤害。五年后,宫羽魅与南宫寞再次相遇,而他不再认识她。宫羽魅原本以为自己的心已死,可是,当再次遇到南宫寞时,她的心还是会痛,像万箭穿心般的痛。宫羽魅被陷害,而他却将她当成陌生人……
  • 逆天诀

    逆天诀

    本书讲述了整个江湖的恩怨情仇、家族的衰落,还有追求巅峰之路的努力。为了自己喜欢的人,最终杀向了世界巅峰的故事。
  • 一梦焐空

    一梦焐空

    有人说,桥归桥,路归路,百世轮回皆不复;还有人说,尘归尘,土归土,万缘之下皆净土;这是凌空的故事,是你没听过的故事。
  • 海盗玫瑰

    海盗玫瑰

    19世纪初,在西方,拿破仑帝国席卷欧洲;在东方,满清帝国由盛而衰。1782年,爱娜-斯拉特出生了,本书是一个凶暴萝莉的成长史,变身小说,不喜勿入!
  • 沧海月明刀

    沧海月明刀

    道门真人踏浪而行,身前一尺己身世界;佛家菩萨一苇渡江,一声佛号一人命;谁言百无一用是书生,一怒可令天子露戚容。青衫仗剑江湖行,十步杀人不留行;血染沙场拂衣去,从此深藏功与名。这个江湖,忘不掉的是情义,放不下的是恩仇。这个庙堂,得不尽的是功名,装不满的是利禄。犹记得京都落雨一僧一少就着火锅说的话。“老秃驴,我要游历江湖,可它有多大?”“一望如沧海。”“沧海是是什么海,需要多少天走完?”“一时或者一辈子。”“月明有多明?”“心有多明,月就有多明。”“那刀呢?”“刀在众生心里。”“直娘贼的老秃驴,你都把我说糊涂了!”“糊涂好…糊涂好…”
  • 假妻有约

    假妻有约

    开什么国际玩笑?还没恋爱的她,怎么可能生过孩子?买噶!这个自称孩子爹的男人化身索吻狂魔,还要她贴身伺候!她泪奔服软:“先生,今夜求放过!”某宝宝淡定关门:“妈咪,你就从了吧!我想要个妹妹玩。”
  • 这样做就会有钱

    这样做就会有钱

    本书阐释的是一种赚钱的心态,一种支配和驾驭财富的智慧,一个可行的致富秘经。但愿通过阅读《这样做就会有钱》,你能够成为创造财富的佼佼者,创造美好幸福生活!思路决定贫富,人的贫穷主要是在于思想的贫穷,所以,要想富起来,就要让你的头脑灵活起来,靠智慧和头脑赚钱,才能立于不败之地。成功和财富离你并不遥远,也许这样做你就会有钱——要保持致富心态。不同的心态会演绎不同的命运,导致不同的结果。积极向上的心态激发人生的活力,为创造财富带来巨大的动力源泉。要有良好的人品。良好的品德不仅是每个人立足社会、创造财富的基础,更是让他人与你合作、赢得财富的前提,财富必然会跟着美德来。
  • 足坛妖孽

    足坛妖孽

    他,拥有所有名帅为之嫉妒的冠军奖杯。他,让无数受伤病困扰的老将重获新生。他,造就了无数令各大豪门竞相追捧的新星。他,令那些正值当打之年的大牌们……呃……亲,他们不好调教,难伺候的我不要。2000年风云变幻的世界足坛,突然冒出来一个妖孽……