I shall only
say, may God preserve the city from any of her citizens usurping the
sovereignty, but if our sins have deserved this, in mercy save us from
Rinaldo. I pray thee, therefore, do not advise the adoption of a course
on every account pernicious, nor imagine that, in union with a few, you
would be able to oppose the will of the many; for the citizens, some
from ignorance and others from malice, are ready to sell the republic at
any time, and fortune has so much favored them, that they have found a
purchaser. Take my advice then; endeavor to live moderately; and with
regard to liberty, you will find as much cause for suspicion in our
party as in that of our adversaries. And when troubles arise, being of
neither side, you will be agreeable to both, and you will thus provide
for your own comfort and do no injury to any."

These words somewhat abated the eagerness of Barbadoro, so that
tranquillity prevailed during the war with Lucca. But this being
ended, and Niccolo da Uzzano dead, the city being at peace and under no
restraint, unhealthy humors increased with fearful rapidity. Rinaldo,
considering himself now the leader of the party, constantly entreated
and urged every citizen whom he thought likely to be Gonfalonier, to
take up arms and deliver the country from him who, from the malevolence
of a few and the ignorance of the multitude, was inevitably reducing it
to slavery. These practices of Rinaldo, and those of the contrary side,
kept the city full of apprehension, so that whenever a magistracy was
created, the numbers of each party composing it were made publicly
known, and upon drawing for the Signory the whole city was aroused.
Every case brought before the magistrates, however trivial, was made a
subject of contention among them. Secrets were divulged, good and evil
alike became objects of favor and opposition, the benevolent and the
wicked were alike assailed, and no magistrate fulfilled the duties of
his office with integrity.

In this state of confusion, Rinaldo, anxious to abate the power
of Cosmo, and knowing that Bernardo Guadagni was likely to become
Gonfalonier, paid his arrears of taxes, that he might not, by being
indebted to the public, be incapacitated for holding the office. The
drawing soon after took place, and fortune, opposed to our welfare,
caused Bernardo to be appointed for the months of September and October.
Rinaldo immediately waited upon him, and intimated how much the party
of th