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！
Nera faction banished by the advice of Dante AlighieriCharles of
Valois sent by the pope to FlorenceThe Florentines suspect him
Corso Donati and the rest of the Nera party return to Florence
Veri Cerchi fliesThe pope's legate again in FlorenceThe city
again interdictedNew disturbancesThe Bianchi banishedDante
banishedCorso Donati excites fresh troublesThe pope's legate
endeavors to restore the emigrants but does not succeedGreat
fire in Florence。
The Cerchi and the Donati were； for riches； nobility； and the number
and influence of their followers； perhaps the two most distinguished
families in Florence。 Being neighbors； both in the city and the
country； there had arisen between them some slight displeasure； which；
however； had not occasioned an open quarrel； and perhaps never would
have produced any serious effect if the malignant humors had not been
increased by new causes。 Among the first families of Pistoia was the
Cancellieri。 It happened that Lore； son of Gulielmo； and Geri； son of
Bertacca； both of this family； playing together； and coming to words；
Geri was slightly wounded by Lore。 This displeased Gulielmo； and；
designing by a suitable apology to remove all cause of further
animosity； he ordered his son to go to the house of the father of the
youth whom he had wounded and ask pardon。 Lore obeyed his father； but
this act of virtue failed to soften the cruel mind of Bertacca； and
having caused Lore to be seized； in order to add the greatest
indignity to his brutal act； he ordered his servants to chop off the
youth's hand upon a block used for cutting meat upon； and then said to
him； 〃Go to thy father； and tell him that sword wounds are cured with
iron and not with words。〃
The unfeeling barbarity of this act so greatly exasperated Gulielmo
that he ordered his people to take arms for his revenge。 Bertacca
prepared for his defense； and not only that family； but the whole city
of Pistoia； became divided。 And as the Cancellieri were descended from
a Cancelliere who had had two wives； of whom one was called Bianca
（white）； one party was named by those who were descended from her
BIANCA； and the other； by way of greater distinction； was called NERA
（black）。 Much and long…continued strife took place between the two；
attended with the death of many men and the destruction of much
property； and not being able to effect a union among themselves； but
weary of the evil； and anxious either to bring it to an end； or； by
engaging others in their quarrel； increase it； they came to Florence；
where the Neri； on account of their familiarity with the Donati； were
favored by Corso； the head of that family； and on this account the
Bianchi； that they might have a powerful head to defend them against
the Donati； had recourse to Veri de Cerchi； a man in no respect
inferior to Corso。
This quarrel； and the parties in it； brought from Pistoia； increased
the old animosity between the Cerchi and the Donati； and it was
already so manifest； that the Priors and all well…disposed men were in
hourly apprehension of its breaking out； and causing a division of the
whole city。 They therefore applied to the pontiff； praying that he
would interpose his authority between these turbulent parties； and
provide the remedy which they found themselves unable to furnish。 The
pope sent for Veri； and charged him to make peace with the Donati； at
which Veri exhibited great astonishment； saying that he had no enmity
against them； and that as pacification presupposes war； he did not
know； there being no war between them； how peacemaking could be
necessary。 Veri having returned from Rome without anything being
effected； the rage of the parties increased to such a degree； that any
trivial accident seemed sufficient to make it burst forth； as indeed
presently happened。
It was in the month of May； during which； and upon holidays； it is the
custom of Florence to hold festivals and public rejoicings throughout
the city。 Some youths of the Donati family； with their friends； upon
horseback； were standing near the church of the Holy Trinity to look
at a party of ladies who were dancing； thither also came some of the
Cerchi； like the Donati； accompanied with many of the nobility； and；
not knowing that the Donati were before them； pushed their horses and
jostled them； thereupon the Donati； thinking themselves insulted； drew
their swords； nor were the Cerchi at all backward to do the same； and
not till after the interchange of many wounds； they separated。 This
disturbance was the beginning of great evils； for the whole city
became divided； the people as well as the nobility； and the parties
took the names of the Bianchi and the Neri。 The Cerchi were at the
head of the Bianchi faction； to which adhered the Adimari； the Abati；
a part of the Tosinghi； of the Bardi； of the Rossi； of the
Frescobaldi； of the Nerli； and of the Manelli； all the Mozzi； the
Scali； Gherardini； Cavalcanti； Malespini； Bostichi； Giandonati；
Vecchietti； and Arrigucci。 To these were joined many families of the
people； and all the Ghibellines then in Florence； so that their great
numbers gave them almost the entire government of the city。
The Donati； at the head of whom was Corso； joined the Nera party； to
which also adhered those members of the above…named families who did
not take part with the Bianchi； and besides these； the whole of the
Pazzi； the Bisdomini； Manieri； Bagnesi； Tornaquinci； Spini；
Buondelmonti； Gianfigliazzi； and the Brunelleschi。 Nor did the evil
confine itself to the city alone； for the whole country was divided
upon it； so that the Captains of the Six Parts； and whoever were
attached to the Guelphic party or the well…being of the republic； were
very much afraid that this new division would occasion the destruction
of the city； and give new life to the Ghibelline faction。 They；
therefore； sent again to Pope Boniface； desiring that； unless he
wished that city which had always been the shield of the church should
either be ruined or become Ghibelline； he would consider some means
for her relief。 The pontiff thereupon sent to Florence； as his legate；
Cardinal Matteo d'Acquasparta； a Portuguese； who； finding the Bianchi；
as the most powerful； the least in fear； not quite submissive to him；
he interdicted the city； and left it in anger； so that greater
confusion now prevailed than had done previously to his coming。
The minds of men being in great excitement； it happened that at a
funeral which many of the Donati and the Cerchi attended； they first
came to words and then to arms； from which； however； nothing but
merely tumult resulted at the moment。 However； having each retired to
their houses； the Cerchi determined to attack the Donati； but； by the
valor of Corso； they were repulsed and great numbers of them wounded。
The city was in arms。 The laws and the Signory were set at nought by
the rage of the nobility； and the best and wisest citizens were full
of apprehension。 The Donati and their followers； being the least
powerful； were in the greatest fear； and to provide for their safety
they called together Corso； the Captains of the Parts； and the other
leaders of the Neri； and resolved to apply to the pope to appoint some
personage of royal blood； that he might reform Florence； thinking by
this means to overcome the Bianchi。 Their meeting and determination
became known to the Priors； and the adverse party represented it as a
conspiracy against the liberties of the republic。 Both parties being
in arms； the Signory； one of whom at that time was the poet Dante；
took courage； and from his advice and prudence； caused the people to
rise for the preservation of order； and being joined by many from the
country； they compelled the leaders of both parties to lay aside their
arms； and banished Corso； with many of the Neri。 And as an evidence of
the impartiality of their motives； they also banished many of the
Bianchi； who； however； soon afterward； under pretense of some
justifiable cause； returned。
Corso and his friends； thinking the pope favorable to their party；
went to Rome and laid their grievances before him； having previously
forwarded a statement of them in writing。 Charles of Valois； brother
of the king of France； was then at the papal court； having been called
into Italy by the king of Naples； to go over into Sicily。 The pope；
therefore； at the earnest prayers of the banished Florentines；
consented to send Charles to Florence； till the season suitable for
his going to Sicily should arrive。 He therefore came； and although the
Bianchi； who then governed； were very apprehensive； still； as the head
of the Guelphs； and appointed by the pope； they did not dare to oppose
him； and in order to secure his friendship； they gave him authority to
dispose of the city as he thought proper。
Thus authorized； Charles armed all his friends and followers； which
step gave the people so strong