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assemble the Balia； he was greatly apprehensive for his safety； but
still more less his private enemies should cause him to be put to
death in some unusual manner。 He scarcely took any food； so that in
four days he ate only a small quantity of bread； Federigo； observing
his anxiety； said to him； 〃Cosmo； you are afraid of being poisoned；
and are evidently hastening your end with hunger。 You wrong me if you
think I would be a party to such an atrocious act。 I do not imagine
your life to be in much danger； since you have so many friends both
within the palace and without； but if you should eventually lose it；
be assured they will use some other medium than myself for that
purpose； for I will never imbue my hands in the blood of any； still
less in yours； who never injured me； therefore cheer up； take some
food； and preserve your life for your friends and your country。 And
that you may do so with greater assurance； I will partake of your
meals with you。〃 These words were of great relief to Cosmo； who； with
tears in his eyes； embraced and kissed Federigo； earnestly thanking
him for so kind and affectionate conduct； and promising； if ever the
opportunity were given him； he would not be ungrateful。
CHAPTER VII
Cosmo is banished to PaduaRinaldo degli Albizzi attempts to
restore the nobilityNew disturbances occasioned by Rinaldo degli
AlbizziRinaldo takes arms against the SignoryHis designs are
disconcertedPope Eugenius in FlorenceHe endeavors to reconcile
the partiesCosmo is recalledRinaldo and his party banished
Glorious return of Cosmo。
Cosmo in some degree recovered his spirits； and while the citizens
were disputing about him； Federigo； by way of recreation； brought an
acquaintance of the Gonfalonier to take supper with him； an amusing
and facetious person； whose name was Il Farnagaccio。 The repast being
nearly over； Cosmo； who thought he might turn this visit to advantage；
for he knew the man very intimately； gave a sign to Federigo to leave
the apartment； and he； guessing the cause； under pretense of going for
something that was wanted on the table； left them together。 Cosmo；
after a few friendly expressions addressed to Il Farnagaccio； gave him
a small slip of paper； and desired him to go to the director of the
hospital of Santa Maria Nuova； for one thousand one hundred ducats； he
was to take the hundred for himself； and carry the thousand to the
Gonfalonier； and beg that he would take some suitable occasion of
coming to see him。 Farnagaccio undertook the commission； the money was
paid； Bernardo became more humane； and Cosmo was banished to Padua；
contrary to the wish of Rinaldo； who earnestly desired his death。
Averardo and many others of the house of Medici were also banished；
and with them Puccio and Giovanni Pucci。 To silence those who were
dissatisfied with the banishment of Cosmo； they endowed with the power
of a Balia； the Eight of War and the Capitano of the People。 After his
sentence； Cosmo on the third of October； 1433； came before the
Signory； by whom the boundary to which he was restricted was
specified； and they advised him to avoid passing it； unless he wished
them to proceed with greater severity both against himself and his
property。 Cosmo received his sentence with a cheerful look； assuring
the Signory that wherever they determined to send him； he would
willingly remain。 He earnestly begged； that as they had preserved his
life they would protect it； for he knew there were many in the piazza
who were desirous to take it； and assured them； that wherever he might
be； himself and his means were entirely at the service of the city；
the people； and the Signory。 He was respectfully attended by the
Gonfalonier； who retained him in the palace till night； then conducted
him to his own house to supper； and caused him to be escorted by a
strong armed force to his place of banishment。 Wherever the cavalcade
passed； Cosmo was honorably received； and was publicly visited by the
Venetians； not as an exile； but with all the respect due to one in the
highest station。
Florence； widowed of so great a citizen； one so generally beloved；
seemed to be universally sunk in despondency； victors and the
vanquished were alike in fear。 Rinaldo； as if inspired with a presage
of his future calamities； in order not to appear deficient to himself
or his party； assembled many citizens； his friends； and informed them
that he foresaw their approaching ruin for having allowed themselves
to be overcome by the prayers； the tears； and the money of their
enemies； and that they did not seem aware they would soon themselves
have to entreat and weep； when their prayers would not be listened to；
or their tears excite compassion； and that of the money received； they
would have to restore the principal； and pay the interest in tortures；
exile； and death； that it would have been much better for them to have
done nothing than to have left Cosmo alive； and his friends in
Florence； for great offenders ought either to remain untouched； or be
destroyed； that there was now no remedy but to strengthen themselves
in the city； so that upon the renewed attempts of their enemies； which
would soon take place； they might drive them out with arms； since they
had not sufficient civil authority to expel them。 The remedy to be
adopted； he said； was one that he had long before advocated； which was
to regain the friendship of the grandees； restoring and conceding to
them all the honors of the city； and thus make themselves strong with
that party； since their adversaries had joined the plebeians。 That by
this means they would become the more powerful side； for they would
possess greater energy； more comprehensive talent and an augmented
share of influence； and that if this last and only remedy were not
adopted； he knew not what other means could be made use of to preserve
the government among so many enemies； or prevent their own ruin and
that of the city。
Mariotto Baldovinetti； one of the assembly； was opposed to this plan；
on account of the pride and insupportable nature of the nobility； and
said； that it would be folly to place themselves again under such
inevitable tyranny for the sake of avoiding imaginary dangers from the
plebeians。 Rinaldo； finding his advice unfavorably received； vexed at
his own misfortune and that of his party； imputed the whole to heaven
itself； which had resolved upon it； rather than to human ignorance and
blunders。 In this juncture of affairs； no remedial measure being
attempted； a letter was found written by Agnolo Acciajuoli to Cosmo；
acquainting him with the disposition of the city in his favor； and
advising him； if possible； to excite a war； and gain the friendship of
Neri di Gino； for he imagined the city to be in want of money； and as
she would not find anyone to serve her； the remembrance of him would
be revived in the minds of the citizens； and they would desire his
return； and that if Neri were detached from Rinaldo； the party of the
latter would be so weakened； as to be unable to defend themselves。
This letter coming to the hands of the magistrates； Agnolo was taken；
put to the torture； and sent into exile。 This example； however； did
not at all deter Cosmo's party。
It was now almost a year since Cosmo had been banished； and the end of
August； 1434； being come； Niccolo di Cocco was drawn Gonfalonier for
the two succeeding months； and with him eight signors； all partisans
of Cosmo。 This struck terror into Rinaldo and his party； and as it is
usual for three days to elapse before the new Signory assume the
magistracy and the old resign their authority； Rinaldo again called
together the heads of his party。 He endeavored to show them their
certain and immediate danger； and that their only remedy was to take
arms； and cause Donato Velluti； who was yet Gonfalonier； to assemble
the people in the piazza and create a Balia。 He would then deprive the
new Signory of the magistracy； appoint another； burn the present
balloting purses； and by means of a new Squittini； provide themselves
with friends。 Many thought this course safe and requisite； others；
that it was too violent； and likely to be attended with great evil。
Among those who disliked it was Palla Strozzi； a peaceable； gentle；
and humane person； better adapted for literary pursuits than for
restraining a party； or opposing civil strife。 He said that bold and
crafty resolutions seem promising at their commencement； but are
afterward found difficult to execute； and generally pernicious at
their conclusion； that he thought the fear of external wars （the
duke's forces being upon the confines of Romagna）； would occupy the
minds of the Signory more than internal dissensions； but； still； if
any attempt should be made； and it could not take place unnoticed；
they would have sufficient time to take arms； and adopt whatever
measures might be found necessary for the common good； which