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victorious； but apart from him were always conquered； first by Filippo
and then by Francesco。 When they joined Alfonso against the Florentine
republic； Cosmo； by his commercial credit； so drained Naples and
Venice of money； that they were glad to obtain peace upon any terms it
was thought proper to grant。 Whatever difficulties he had to contend
with； whether within the city or without； he brought to a happy issue；
at once glorious to himself and destructive to his enemies； so that
civil discord strengthened his government in Florence； and war
increased his power and reputation abroad。 He added to the Florentine
dominions； the Borgo of St。 Sepolcro； Montedoglio； the Casentino and
Val di Bagno。 His virtue and good fortune overcame all his enemies and
exalted his friends。 He was born in the year 1389； on the day of the
saints Cosmo and Damiano。 His earlier years were full of trouble； as
his exile； captivity； and personal danger fully testify； and having
gone to the council of Constance； with Pope John； in order to save his
life； after the ruin of the latter； he was obliged to escape in
disguise。 But after the age of forty； he enjoyed the greatest
felicity； and not only those who assisted him in public business； but
his agents who conducted his commercial speculations throughout
Europe； participated in his prosperity。 Hence many enormous fortunes
took their origin in different families of Florence； as in that of the
Tornabuoni； the Benci； the Portinari； and the Sassetti。 Besides these；
all who depended upon his advice and patronage became rich； and；
though he was constantly expending money in building churches； and in
charitable purposes； he sometimes complained to his friends that he
had never been able to lay out so much in the service of God as to
find the balance in his own favor； intimating that all he had done or
could do； was still unequal to what the Almighty had done for him。 He
was of middle stature； olive complexion； and venerable aspect； not
learned but exceedingly eloquent； endowed with great natural capacity；
generous to his friends； kind to the poor； comprehensive in discourse；
cautious in advising； and in his speeches and replies； grave and
witty。 When Rinaldo degli Albizzi； at the beginning of his exile； sent
to him to say； 〃the hen had laid；〃 he replied； 〃she did ill to lay so
far from the nest。〃 Some other of the rebels gave him to understand
they were 〃not dreaming。〃 He said； 〃he believed it； for he had robbed
them of their sleep。〃 When Pope Pius was endeavoring to induce the
different governments to join in an expedition against the Turks； he
said； 〃he was an old man； and had undertaken the enterprise of a young
one。〃 To the Venetians ambassadors； who came to Florence with those of
King Alfonso to complain of the republic； he uncovered his head； and
asked them what color it was； they said； 〃white〃： he replied； 〃it is
so； and it will not be long before your senators have heads as white
as mine。〃 A few hours before his death； his wife asked him why he kept
his eyes shut； and he said； 〃to get them in the way of it。〃 Some
citizens saying to him； after his return from exile； that he injured
the city； and that it was offensive to God to drive so many religious
persons out of it； he replied that； 〃it was better to injure the city；
than to ruin it； that two yards of rose…colored cloth would make a
gentleman； and that it required something more to direct a government
than to play with a string of beads。〃 These words gave occasion to his
enemies to slander him； as a man who loved himself more than his
country； and was more attached to this world than to the next。 Many
others of his sayings might be adduced； but we shall omit them as
unnecessary。 Cosmo was a friend and patron of learned men。 He brought
Argiripolo； a Greek by birth； and one of the most erudite of his time；
to Florence； to instruct the youth in Hellenic literature。 He
entertained Marsilio Ficino； the reviver of the Platonic philosophy；
in his own house； and being much attached to him； have him a residence
near his palace at Careggi； that he might pursue the study of letters
with greater convenience； and himself have an opportunity of enjoying
his company。 His prudence； his great wealth； the uses to which he
applied it； and his splendid style of living； caused him to be beloved
and respected in Florence； and obtained for him the highest
consideration； not only among the princes and governments of Italy；
but throughout all Europe。 He thus laid a foundation for his
descendants； which enabled them to equal him in virtue； and greatly
surpass him in fortune； while the authority they possessed in Florence
and throughout Christendom was not obtained without being merited。
Toward the close of his life he suffered great affliction； for； of his
two sons； Piero and Giovanni； the latter； of whom he entertained the
greatest hopes； died； and the former was so sickly as to be unable to
attend either to public or private business。 On being carried from one
apartment to another； after Giovanni's death； he remarked to his
attendants； with a sigh； 〃This is too large a house for so small a
family。〃 His great mind also felt distressed at the idea that he had
not extended the Florentine dominions by any valuable acquisition； and
he regretted it the more； from imagining he had been deceived by
Francesco Sforza； who； while count； had promised； that if he became
lord of Milan； he would undertake the conquest of Lucca for the
Florentines； a design； however； that was never realized； for the
count's ideas changed upon his becoming duke； he resolved to enjoy in
peace； the power he had acquired by war； and would not again encounter
its fatigues and dangers； unless the welfare of his own dominions
required it。 This was a source of much annoyance to Cosmo； who felt he
had incurred great expense and trouble for an ungrateful and
perfidious friend。 His bodily infirmities prevented him from attending
either to public or private affairs； as he had been accustomed； and he
consequently witnessed both going to decay； for Florence was ruined by
her own citizens； and his fortune by his agents and children。 He died；
however； at the zenith of his glory and in the enjoyment of the
highest renown。 The city； and all the Christian princes； condoled with
his son Piero for his loss。 His funeral was conducted with the utmost
pomp and solemnity； the whole city following his corpse to the tomb in
the church of St。 Lorenzo； on which； by public decree； he was
inscribed； 〃FATHER OF HIS COUNTRY。〃 If； in speaking of Cosmo's
actions； I have rather imitated the biographies of princes than
general history； it need not occasion wonder； for of so extraordinary
an individual I was compelled to speak with unusual praise。
CHAPTER II
The duke of Milan becomes lord of GenoaThe king of Naples and
the duke of Milan endeavor to secure their dominions to their
heirsJacopo Piccinino honorably received at Milan； and shortly
afterward murdered at NaplesFruitless endeavors of Pius II。 to
excite Christendom against the TurksDeath of Francesco Sforza；
duke of MilanPerfidious counsel given to Piero de' Medici by
Diotisalvi NeroniConspiracy of Diotisalvi and others against
PieroFutile attempts to appease the disordersPublic spectacles
Projects of the conspirators against Piero de' MediciNiccolo
Fedini discloses to Piero the plots of his enemies。
While Florence and Italy were in this condition； Louis XI。 of France
was involved in very serious troubles with his barons； who； with the
assistance of Francis； duke of Brittany； and Charles； duke of
Burgundy； were in arms against him。 This attack was so serious； that
he was unable to render further assistance to John of Anjou in his
enterprise against Genoa and Naples； and； standing in need of all the
forces he could raise； he gave over Savona （which still remained in
the power of the French） to the duke of Milan； and also intimated；
that if he wished； he had his permission to undertake the conquest of
Genoa。 Francesco accepted the proposal； and with the influence
afforded by the king's friendship； and the assistance of the Adorni；
he became lord of Genoa。 In acknowledgment of this benefit； he sent
fifteen hundred horse into France for the king's service； under the
command of Galeazzo； his eldest son。 Thus Ferrando of Aragon and
Francesco Sforza became； the latter； duke of Lombardy and prince of
Genoa； and the former； sovereign of the whole kingdom of Naples。 Their
families being allied by marriage； they thought they might so confirm
their power as to secure to themselves its enjoyment during life； and
at their deaths； its unencumbered reversion to their heirs。 To attain
this end； they considered it necessary that the king should remove all
ground of apprehension from those barons who had offended him in the
war of John of Anjou； and that the duke should extirpate the adherents