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to make his own subservient to yours。 I come； therefore； to tender his
services； with seven thousand cavalry and two thousand infantry； ready
at once to march against the enemy； wherever he may be。 And I beg of
you； so do my lords at Florence and the count； that as his forces
exceed the number he has engaged to furnish you； out of your
liberality； would remunerate him； that he may not repent of having
come to your assistance； nor we； who have prevailed with him to do
so。〃 This discourse of Neri to the senate was listened to with that
profound attention which an oracle might be imagined to command； and
his audience were so moved by it； that they could not restrain
themselves； till the prince had replied； as strict decorum on such
occasions required； but rising from their seats； with uplifted hands；
and most of them with tears in their eyes； they thanked the
Florentines for their generous conduct； and the ambassador for his
unusual dispatch； and promised that time should never cancel the
remembrance of such goodness； either in their own hearts； or their
children's； and that their country； thenceforth； should be common to
the Florentines with themselves。
CHAPTER V
Francesco Sforza marches to assist the Venetians； and relieves
VeronaHe attempts to relieve Brescia but failsThe Venetians
routed by Piccinino upon the Lake of GardaPiccinino routed by
Sforza； the method of his escapePiccinino surprises Verona
Description of VeronaRecovered by SforzaThe duke of Milan
makes war against the FlorentinesApprehensions of the
FlorentinesCardinal Vitelleschi their enemy。
When their demonstrations of gratitude had subsided； the Venetian
senate； by the aid of Neri di Gino； began to consider the route the
count ought to take； and how to provide him with necessaries。 There
were four several roads； one by Ravenna； along the beach； which on
account of its being in many places interrupted by the sea and by
marshes； was not approved。 The next was the most direct； but rendered
inconvenient by a tower called the Uccellino； which being held for the
duke； it would be necessary to capture； and to do this； would occupy
more time than could be spared with safety to Verona and Brescia。 The
third was by the brink of the lake； but as the Po had overflowed its
banks； to pass in this direction was impossible。 The fourth was by the
way of Bologna to Ponte Puledrano； Cento； and Pieve； then between the
Bondeno and the Finale to Ferrara； and thence they might by land or
water enter the Paduan territory； and join the Venetian forces。 This
route； though attended with many difficulties； and in some parts
liable to be disputed by the enemy； was chosen as the least
objectionable。 The count having received his instructions； commenced
his march； and by exerting the utmost celerity； reached the Paduan
territory on the twentieth of June。 The arrival of this distinguished
commander in Lombardy filled Venice and all her dependencies with
hope； for the Venetians； who only an instant before had been in fear
for their very existence； began to contemplate new conquests。
The count； before he made any other attempt； hastened to the relief of
Verona； and to counteract his design； Niccolo led his forces to Soave；
a castle situated between the Vincentino and the Veronese； and
entrenched himself by a ditch that extended from Soave to the marshes
of the Adige。 The count； finding his passage by the plain cut off；
resolved to proceed by the mountains； and thus reach Verona； thinking
Niccolo would imagine this way to be so rugged and elevated as to be
impracticable； or if he thought otherwise； he would not be in time to
prevent him； so； with provisions for eight days； he took the mountain
path； and with his forces； arrived in the plain； below Soave。 Niccolo
had； even upon this route； erected some bastions for the purpose of
preventing him； but they were insufficient for the purpose； and
finding the enemy had； contrary to his expectations； effected a
passage； to avoid a disadvantageous engagement he crossed to the
opposite side of the Adige； and the count entered Verona without
opposition。
Having happily succeeded in his first project； that of relieving
Verona； the count now endeavored to render a similar service to
Brescia。 This city is situated so close to the Lake of Garda； that
although besieged by land； provisions may always be sent into it by
water。 On this account the duke had assembled a large force in the
immediate vicinity of the lake； and at the commencement of his
victories occupied all the places which by its means might relieve
Brescia。 The Venetians also had galleys upon the lake； but they were
unequal to a contest with those of the duke。 The count therefore
deemed it advisable to aid the Venetian fleet with his land forces； by
which means he hoped to obtain without much difficulty those places
which kept Brescia in blockade。 He therefore encamped before
Bardolino； a fortress situated upon the lake； trusting that after it
was taken the others would surrender。 But fortune opposed this design；
for a great part of his troops fell sick； so； giving up the
enterprise； he went to Zevio； a Veronese castle； in a healthy and
plentiful situation。 Niccolo； upon the count's retreat； not to let
slip an opportunity of making himself master of the lake； left his
camp at Vegasio； and with a body of picked men took the way thither；
attacked the Venetian fleet with the utmost impetuosity； and took
nearly the whole of it。 By this victory almost all the fortresses upon
the lake fell into his hands。
The Venetians； alarmed at this loss； and fearing that in consequence
of it Brescia would surrender； solicited the count； by letters and
messengers； to go to its relief； and he； perceiving that all hope of
rendering assistance from the lake was cut off； and that to attempt an
approach by land； on account of the ditches； bastions； and other
defenses erected by Niccolo； was marching to certain destruction；
determined that as the passage by the mountains had enabled him to
relieve Verona； it should also contribute to the preservation of
Brescia。 Having taken this resolution； the count left Zevio； and by
way of the Val d'Acri went to the Lake of St。 Andrea； and thence to
Torboli and Peneda； upon the Lake of Garda。 He then proceeded to
Tenna； and besieged the fortress； which it was necessary to occupy
before he could reach Brescia。
Niccolo； on being acquainted with the count's design； led his army to
Peschiera。 He then； with the marquis of Mantua and a chosen body of
men； went to meet him； and coming to an engagement； was routed； his
people dispersed； and many of them taken； while others fled to the
fleet； and some to the main body of his army。 It was now nightfall；
and Niccolo had escaped to Tenna； but he knew that if he were to
remain there till morning； he must inevitably fall into the enemy's
hands； therefore； to avoid a catastrophe which might be regarded as
almost fatal； he resolved to make a dangerous experiment。 Of all his
attendants he had only with him a single servant； a Dutchman； of great
personal strength； and who had always been devotedly attached to him。
Niccolo induced this man to take him upon his shoulders in a sack； as
if he had been carrying property of his master's； and to bear him to a
place of security。 The enemy's lines surrounded Tenna； but on account
of the previous day's victory； all was in disorder； and no guard was
kept； so that the Dutchman； disguised as a trooper； passed through
them without any opposition； and brought his master in safety to his
own troops。
Had this victory been as carefully improved as it was fortunately
obtained； Brescia would have derived from it greater relief and the
Venetians more permanent advantage； but they； having thoughtlessly let
it slip； the rejoicings were soon over； and Brescia remained in her
former difficulties。 Niccolo； having returned to his forces； resolved
by some extraordinary exertion to cancel the impression of his death；
and deprive the Venetians of the change of relieving Brescia。 He was
acquainted with the topography of the citadel of Verona； and had
learned from prisoners whom he had taken； that it was badly guarded；
and might be very easily recovered。 He perceived at once that fortune
presented him with an opportunity of regaining the laurels he had
lately lost； and of changing the joy of the enemy for their recent
victory into sorrow for a succeeding disaster。 The city of Verona is
situated in Lombardy； at the foot of the mountains which divide Italy
from Germany； so that it occupies part both of hill and plain。 The
river Adige rises in the valley of Trento； and entering Italy； does
not immediately traverse the country； but winding to the left； along
the base of the hills； enters Verona； and crosses the city； which it
divides unequally； giving much the larger portion to the plain。 On the
m