MISFORTUNE AND EXILE

                  Ο Italy ! Ο Rome ! I am going to deliver you into the hands of a people that will wipe you out from amongst the nations. I behold them descending upon you like famished lions. Hand in hand with War stalks Pestilence. And the mortality will be so great that the grave-diggers will pass through your streets calling aloud for the dead bodies. And then will one bear a father to the charnel-house, and another his son. Ο Rome ! again I warn you to repent. Repent, Ο Venice! Repent, Ο Milan! . . . Florence, what have you done? Shall I tell you? The cup of your iniquities is full, therefore stand prepared for some great vengeance (Sermons of Savonarola).

                  ROMANCE and mystery have ever brooded over the death-bed of the Magnificent Lorenzo from contemporary times to the present day. Historians still disagree concerning the real facts of Savonarola’s undoubted visit to the dying prince at Careggi, whilst his end was accompanied by strange portents or coincidences in Florence itself, which at the moment excited the alarm alike of the learned and the vulgar. Not many hours before he expired, there fell from the cupola of the Cathedral a huge fragment of stone-work with a fearful crash in the dead of night, striking the pavement on the side towards the Medicean palace, whereat it was commonly reported that Lorenzo himself recognised his coming dissolution in this mysterious accident. Men told each other also how a fine lion kept at the public expense had sickened and died, and again certain of the more credulous spoke of comets trailing their light over Careggi and of a fire-breathing monster which had been seen in Santa Maria Novella. There was an universal feeling of restlessness and expectancy in the .air; a vague presentiment of coming peril, as men began dimly to realise that the loss of their beloved Lorenzo, “ the most glorious man that could be found,” must of necessity cause far-reaching changes not only in Florence, but throughout all Italy. Yet Piero—Piero the Second, as he is sometimes called—was straightway confirmed in the exalted position held by his late father, and in particular the French King’s envoy was instructed to recognise the transfer of the dignity from parent to heir, so that outwardly at least, the state of Florence pursued its normal course, as though it had been guided for generations under an hereditary monarchy.

                  As soon as the fatal news reached Rome, it was at once suggested that the young Cardinal should return to Florence, in reality for the purpose of strengthening his brother’s hands, but ostensibly on account of the coming heats, which the Florentine envoy in Rome affected to consider injurious to the health of young persons. During the short space of his residence in the Eternal City it is evident that Giovanni de Medici had gained golden opinions from the Pope, who had been favourably impressed both by the Cardinal’s modesty and by his application to business. How far the papal satisfaction was shared by the Sacred College at large, it is difficult to determine; yet everyone expressed pleasure when Innocent announced his intention of investing this fortunate youth with legatine authority in Tuscany, so that these additional powers might prove of service to his elder brother, thus suddenly called upon to fill the difficult post of an uncrowned and officially unrecognised monarch. The legatine authority was formally bestowed on Giovanni de Medici in the Sistine Chapel during the ceremony of the blessing of the palms on Palm Sunday, and the news of this honour, according to the young-Cardinal’s tutor, Stefano di Castrocaro, made a profound sensation at the Roman court, so that we cannot help reflecting on the gratification which this early mark of favour would have afforded to the ambitious Lorenzo, had he been still living. Yet Castrocaro’s report also contains a curious postscript addressed to the Florentine envoy, whom he exhorts to speak seriously to the young Cardinal concerning his present mode of life, which differs much from that pursued by his colleagues, so the writer avers. He will not rise betimes of a morning, and will sit up too late at night, whereat the tutor is much concerned, since such irregular habits are likely to injure his general health. On this vital point, therefore, upon which his father had laid such stress, Giovanni evidently did not intend to follow the excellent advice bequeathed him, and, as we know, his lazy habits in later life are severely commented on by those candid critics, the Venetian ambassadors in Rome.

                  The Cardinal, who did not return to his native city till 20th May, had early written to his brother, bewailing their irreparable loss and also expressing a subject’s deep devotion towards one who was now both an elder brother and a sovereign, although Giovanni’s profession of unquestioning loyalty is tempered by a delicate hint as to future conduct on Piero’s side:—

                  “Johannes Franciscus, Cardinal de’ Medici, to his Magnificence, Piero de’ Medici

                  “ Dearest Brother and sole Pillar of our House!

                  “What am I to write, brother mine, for there is nought save tears to tell of, and of a truth in dwelling upon the pious memory of our father, mourning seems better than language? And what a father he was to us! That no parent was ever more indulgent to his sons, there needs no witness save his own conduct. No wonder therefore that I lament with tears and find no repose; yet sometimes, dear brother, I obtain consolation in the thought that I have yourself to regard ever in the light of our lost parent. Yours it will now be to command, and mine to obey cheerfully, for it will give me the highest pleasure possible to perform your orders. Despatch me into dangers; command me; for there is nothing wherein I would not assist your ends. Nevertheless, I implore you, Piero mine, for my sake to contrive to show yourself generous, courteous, friendly and open towards all, but especially towards our own followers, for by such qualities there is nothing one cannot achieve or keep. But I do not remind you of this for lack of confidence in your powers, but because I feel it my duty to mention it. Many things go to strengthen and console me—the crowds of mourners at our gates, the grief-stricken aspect of the city, the public lamentations in Florence, and all those other details which help to alleviate sorrow like ours—but what solaces me more than aught else is my having yourself, since I trust in you to a degree I cannot easily express. . . . Fare you well ! As for myself, I am in such health as my grief permits.

                  “ From the City

                  “ 12th April, 1492 “

                  Of his three sons, Lorenzo had long ago predicted that Piero would grow up headstrong (un pazzo), Giovanni a scholar (un savio), and Giuliano good (un buono), and as usual the Magnificent’s shrewd judgment was proved by time to be correct. The new ruler of Florence, though not wholly destitute of virtues, for he was generous, cultured and accounted brave, was far too hotheaded and fond of pleasure to carry out adequately the exalted but delicate duties which his father had performed with such marked ability and success for the last twenty years. Addicted to street brawling and to nocturnal amours, Piero was quite unfit to set an example to the Florentine people. His love of costly tournaments, wherein his undoubted skill often bore away the palm: his excellence at that rough species of Florentine football, the calcio; and his acknowledged prowess al pallone, the popular Tuscan game at ball which requires both an unerring eye and brute strength of arm, served to endear their new ruler to the idle and rich young men; but such accomplishments scarcely commended themselves to the graver citizens, whilst they excited the contemptuous dislike of the old-fashioned adherents of the Republic. Piero’s mother had been an Orsini, and in her eldest son’s character the feudal pride of the Roman house dominated the more crafty qualities derived from the burgher blood; his wife, Alfonsina Orsini, came of the same turbulent stock, and her injudicious advice went far towards increasing her husband’s natural arrogance.

                  Tactless and violent, inordinately fond of sports and impatient of the routine of business, Piero could never have held the mastery of Florence for any great length of time, and on the whole it seems rather remarkable that more than two years were allowed to elapse before the offended citizens expelled with ignominy this incapable young ruler from their midst. As to Giovanni and his possible restraining influence over his elder brother, we must bear in mind that he had not yet attained his nineteenth year, when the final catastrophe of 1494 overwhelmed the Medicean family, and even assuming that he tendered good advice, it does not appear probable that the rash and conceited Piero would have consented to listen to a younger brother’s solemn warnings. On the other...