retired
to the Siennese territory, and thence to his kingdom, incensed against
the Florentines, and threatening them with new wars upon the return of
spring.

While these events were proceeding in Tuscany the Count Sforza, having
become leader of the Milanese forces, strenuously endeavored to secure
the friendship of Francesco Piccinino, who was also in their service,
that he might support him in his enterprises, or be less disposed to do
him injury. He then took the field with his army, upon which the people
of Pavia, conscious of their inability to resist him, and unwilling to
obey the Milanese, offered to submit themselves to his authority, on
condition that he should not subject them to the power of Milan. The
count desired the possession of Pavia, and considered the circumstance
a happy omen, as it would enable him to give a color to his designs. He
was not restrained from treachery either by fear or shame; for great men
consider failure disgraceful,--a fraudulent success the contrary. But
he was apprehensive that his possession of the city would excite the
animosity of the Milanese, and perhaps induce them to throw themselves
under the power of the Venetians. If he refused to accept the offer,
he would have occasion to fear the duke of Savoy, to whom many citizens
were inclined to submit themselves; and either alternative would deprive
him of the sovereignty of Lombardy. Concluding there was less danger in
taking possession of the city than in allowing another to have it, he
determined to accept the proposal of the people of Pavia, trusting he
would be able to satisfy the Milanese, to whom he pointed out the danger
they must have incurred had he not complied with it; for her citizens
would have surrendered themselves to the Venetians or to the duke of
Savoy; so that in either case they would have been deprived of the
government, and therefore they ought to be more willing to have himself
as their neighbor and friend, than a hostile power such as either of the
others, and their enemy. The Milanese were upon this occasion greatly
perplexed, imagining they had discovered the count's ambition, and
the end he had in view; but they thought it desirable to conceal their
fears, for they did not know, if the count were to desert them, to whom
they could have recourse except the Venetians, whose pride and tyranny
they naturally dreaded. They therefore resolved not to break with the
count, but by his assistance remedy the e