it must of necessity soon divide against
itself; for the private methods at first adapted for its defense will
now no longer keep it united. The truth of this, both the ancient and
modern dissensions of our city prove. Everyone thought that when the
Ghibellines were destroyed, the Guelphs would long continue happy and
honored; yet after a short time they divided into the Bianchi and Neri,
the black faction and the white. When the Bianchi were overcome, the
city was not long free from factions; for either, in favor of the
emigrants, or on account of the animosity between the nobility and the
people, we were still constantly at war. And as if resolved to give up
to others, what in mutual harmony we either would not or were unable
to retain, we confided the care of our precious liberty first to King
Robert, then to his brother, next to his son, and at last to the duke of
Athens. Still we have never in any condition found repose, but seem
like men who can neither agree to live in freedom nor be content
with slavery. Nor did we hesitate (so greatly does the nature of our
ordinances dispose us to division), while yet under allegiance to the
king, to substitute for his majesty, one of the vilest of men born at
Agobbio.

"For the credit of the city, the name of the duke of Athens ought to be
consigned to oblivion. His cruel and tyrannical disposition, however,
might have taught us wisdom and instructed us how to live; but no sooner
was he expelled than we handled our arms, and fought with more hatred,
and greater fury than we had ever done on any former occasion; so that
the ancient nobility were vanquished the city was left at the disposal
of the people. It was generally supposed that no further occasion of
quarrel or of party animosity could arise, since those whose pride and
insupportable ambition had been regarded as the causes of them were
depressed; however, experience proves how liable human judgment is to
error, and what false impressions men imbibe, even in regard to the
things that most intimately concern them; for we find the pride and
ambition of the nobility are not extinct, but only transferred from them
to the people who at this moment, according to the usual practice of
ambitious men, are endeavoring to render themselves masters of the
republic; and knowing they have no chance of success but what is offered
by discord, they have again divided the city, and the names of Guelph
and Ghibelline, which were beginning