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country； forsook it； entrenched and fortified the city； which they
doubted not； being well garrisoned； they would be able to defend for a
time； and that； in the interim； some event would occur for their
relief； as had been the case during the former wars which the
Florentines had carried on against them。 Their only apprehension arose
from the fickle minds of the plebeians； who； becoming weary of the
siege； would have more consideration of their own danger than of
other's liberty； and would thus compel them to submit to some
disgraceful and ruinous capitulation。 In order to animate them to
defense； they were assembled in the public piazza； and some of the
eldest and most esteemed of the citizens addressed them in the
following terms： 〃You are doubtless aware that what is done from
necessity involves neither censure nor applause； therefore； if you
should accuse us of having caused the present war； by receiving the
ducal forces into the city； and allowing them to commit hostilities
against the Florentines； you are greatly mistaken。 You are well
acquainted with the ancient enmity of the Florentines against you；
which is not occasioned by any injuries you have done them； or by fear
on their part； but by our weakness and their own ambition； for the one
gives them hope of being able to oppress us； and the other incites
them to attempt it。 It is then vain to imagine that any merit of yours
can extinguish that desire in them； or that any offense you can
commit； can provoke them to greater animosity。 They endeavor to
deprive you of your liberty； you must resolve to defend it； and
whatever they may undertake against us for that purpose； although we
may lament； we need not wonder。 We may well grieve； therefore； that
they attack us； take possession of our towns； burn our houses； and
waste our country。 But who is so simple as to be surprised at it？ for
were it in our power； we should do just the same to them； or even
worse。 They declare war against us now； they say； for having received
Niccolo； but if we had not received him； they would have done the same
and assigned some other ground for it； and if the evil had been
delayed； it would most probably have been greater。 Therefore； you must
not imagine it to be occasioned by his arrival； but rather by your own
ill fortune and their ambition； for we could not have refused
admission to the duke's forces； and； being come； we could not prevent
their aggressions。 You know； that without the aid of some powerful
ally we are incapable of self…defense； and that none can render us
this service more powerfully or faithfully than the duke。 He restored
our liberty； it is reasonable to expect he will defend it。 He has
always been the greatest foe of our inveterate enemies； if； therefore；
to avoid incensing the Florentines we had excited his anger； we should
have lost our best friend； and rendered our enemy more powerful and
more disposed to oppress us； so that it is far preferable to have this
war upon our hands； and enjoy the favor of the duke； than to be in
peace without it。 Besides； we are justified in expecting that he will
rescue us from the dangers into which we are brought on his account；
if we only do not abandon our own cause。 You all know how fiercely the
Florentines have frequently assailed us； and with what glory we have
maintained our defense。 We have often been deprived of every hope；
except in God and the casualties which time might produce； and both
have proved our friends。 And as they have delivered us formerly； why
should they not continue to do so。 Then we were forsaken by the whole
of Italy； now we have the duke in our favor； besides we have a right
to suppose that the Venetians will not hastily attack us； for they
will not willingly see the power of Florence increased。 On a former
occasion the Florentines were more at liberty； they had greater hope
of assistance； and were more powerful in themselves； while we were in
every respect weaker； for then a tyrant governed us； now we defend
ourselves； then the glory of our defense was another's； now it is our
own； then they were in harmony； now they are disunited； all Italy
being filled with their banished citizens。 But were we without the
hope which these favorable circumstances present； our extreme
necessity should make us firmly resolved on our defense。 It is
reasonable to fear every enemy； for all seek their own glory and your
ruin； above all others； you have to dread the Florentines； for they
would not be satisfied by submission and tribute； or the dominion of
our city； but they would possess our entire substance and persons；
that they might satiate their cruelty with our blood； and their
avarice with our property； so that all ranks ought to dread them。
Therefore do not be troubled at seeing our crops destroyed； our towns
burned； our fortresses occupied； for if we preserve the city； the rest
will be saved as a matter of course； if we lose her； all else would be
of no advantage to us； for while retaining our liberty； the enemy can
hold them only with the greatest difficulty； while losing it they
would be preserved in vain。 Arm； therefore； and when in the fight；
remember that the reward of victory will be safety； not only to your
country； but to your homes； your wives； and your children。〃 The
speaker's last words were received with the utmost enthusiasm by the
people； who promised one and all to die rather than abandon their
cause； or submit to any terms that could violate their liberty。 They
then made arrangements for the defense of the city。
In the meantime； the Florentine forces were not idle； and after
innumerable mischiefs done to the country took Monte Carlo by
capitulation。 They then besieged Uzzano； in order that the Lucchese；
being pressed on all sides； might despair of assistance； and be
compelled to submission by famine。 The fortress was very strong； and
defended by a numerous garrison； so that its capture would be by no
means an easy undertaking。 The Lucchese； as might be expected； seeing
the imminent peril of their situation； had recourse to the duke； and
employed prayers and remonstrances to induce him to render them aid。
They enlarged upon their own merits and the offenses of the
Florentines； and showed how greatly it would attach the duke's friends
to him to find they were defended； and how much disaffection it would
spread among them； if they were left to be overwhelmed by the enemy；
that if they lost their liberties and their lives； he would lose his
honor and his friends； and forfeit the confidence of all who from
affection might be induced to incur dangers in his behalf； and added
tears to entreaties； so that if he were unmoved by gratitude to them；
he might be induced to their defense by motives of compassion。 The
duke； influenced by his inveterate hostility against the Florentines；
his new obligation to the Lucchese； and； above all； by his desire to
prevent so great an acquisition from falling into the hands of his
ancient enemies； determined either to send a strong force into
Tuscany； or vigorously to assail the Venetians； so as to compel the
Florentines to give up their enterprise and go to their relief。
It was soon known in Florence that the duke was preparing to send
forces into Tuscany。 This made the Florentines apprehensive for the
success of their enterprise； and in order to retain the duke in
Lombardy； they requested the Venetians to press him with their utmost
strength。 But they also were alarmed； the marquis of Mantua having
abandoned them and gone over to the duke； and thus； finding themselves
almost defenseless； they replied； 〃that instead of increasing their
responsibilities； they should be unable to perform their part in the
war； unless the Count Francesco were sent to them to take the command
of the army； and with the special understanding that he should engage
to cross the Po in person。 They declined to fulfil their former
engagements unless he were bound to do so； for they could not carry on
the war without a leader； or repose confidence in any except the
count； and he himself would be useless to them； unless he came under
an obligation to carry on the war whenever they might think needful。〃
The Florentines thought the war ought to be pushed vigorously in
Lombardy； but they saw that if they lost the count their enterprise
against Lucca was ruined； and they knew well that the demand of the
Venetians arose less from any need they had of the count； than from
their desire to frustrate this expedition。 The count； on the other
hand； was ready to pass into Lombardy whenever the league might
require him； but would not alter the tenor of his engagement； for he
was unwilling to sacrifice the hope of the alliance promised to him by
the duke。
The Florentines were thus embarrassed by two contrary impulses； the
wish to possess Lucca； and the dread of a war with Milan。 As commonly
happens； fear was the most powerful； and they c