the
course of this period occurred the memorable plague, described with so
much eloquence by Giovanni Boccaccio, and by which Florence lost 96,000
souls. In 1348, began the first war with the Visconti, occasioned by
the archbishop, then prince of Milan; and when this was concluded,
dissensions again arose in the city; for although the nobility were
destroyed, fortune did not fail to cause new divisions and new troubles.

BOOK III

CHAPTER I

Reflections upon the domestic discords of republics--A parallel between
the discords of Rome and those of Florence--Enmities between the
families of the Ricci and the Albizzi--Uguccione de' Ricci causes
the laws against the Ghibellines to be renewed in order to injure
the Albizzi--Piero degli Albizzi derives advantage from it--Origin of
admonitions and the troubles which result from them--Uguccione de'
Ricci moderates their injustice--Difficulties increase--A meeting of the
citizens--They address the Signory--The Signory attempt to remedy the
evils.

Those serious, though natural enmities, which occur between the popular
classes and the nobility, arising from the desire of the latter to
command, and the disinclination of the former to obey, are the causes of
most of the troubles which take place in cities; and from this diversity
of purpose, all the other evils which disturb republics derive their
origin. This kept Rome disunited; and this, if it be allowable to
compare small things with great, held Florence in disunion; although
in each city it produced a different result; for animosities were only
beginning with the people and nobility of Rome contended, while ours
were brought to a conclusion by the contentions of our citizens. A new
law settled the disputes of Rome; those of Florence were only terminated
by the death and banishment of many of her best people. Those of
Rome increased her military virtue, while that of Florence was quite
extinguished by her divisions. The quarrels of Rome established
different ranks of society, those of Florence abolished the distinctions
which had previously existed. This diversity of effects must have been
occasioned by the different purposes which the two people had in view.
While the people of Rome endeavored to associate with the nobility in
the supreme honors, those of Florence strove to exclude the nobility
from all participation in them: as the desire of the Roman people was
more reasonable, no particular offense was given t