entertained the
greatest hopes, died; and the former was so sickly as to be unable to
attend either to public or private business. On being carried from
one apartment to another, after Giovanni's death, he remarked to his
attendants, with a sigh, "This is too large a house for so small a
family." His great mind also felt distressed at the idea that he had not
extended the Florentine dominions by any valuable acquisition; and he
regretted it the more, from imagining he had been deceived by Francesco
Sforza, who, while count, had promised, that if he became lord of Milan,
he would undertake the conquest of Lucca for the Florentines, a design,
however, that was never realized; for the count's ideas changed upon his
becoming duke; he resolved to enjoy in peace, the power he had acquired
by war, and would not again encounter its fatigues and dangers, unless
the welfare of his own dominions required it. This was a source of much
annoyance to Cosmo, who felt he had incurred great expense and trouble
for an ungrateful and perfidious friend. His bodily infirmities
prevented him from attending either to public or private affairs, as he
had been accustomed, and he consequently witnessed both going to decay;
for Florence was ruined by her own citizens, and his fortune by his
agents and children. He died, however, at the zenith of his glory and
in the enjoyment of the highest renown. The city, and all the Christian
princes, condoled with his son Piero for his loss. His funeral was
conducted with the utmost pomp and solemnity, the whole city following
his corpse to the tomb in the church of St. Lorenzo, on which, by public
decree, he was inscribed, "FATHER OF HIS COUNTRY." If, in speaking of
Cosmo's actions, I have rather imitated the biographies of princes than
general history, it need not occasion wonder; for of so extraordinary an
individual I was compelled to speak with unusual praise.

CHAPTER II

The duke of Milan becomes lord of Genoa--The king of Naples and the
duke of Milan endeavor to secure their dominions to their heirs--Jacopo
Piccinino honorably received at Milan, and shortly afterward murdered
at Naples--Fruitless endeavors of Pius II. to excite Christendom against
the Turks--Death of Francesco Sforza, duke of Milan--Perfidious counsel
given to Piero de' Medici by Diotisalvi Neroni--Conspiracy of
Diotisalvi and others against Piero--Futile attempts to appease the
disorders--Public spectacles--Projects of the cons