ere
taken and tortured, and part of them afterward put to death and exiled.
In this great vicissitude of affairs, there was not a more remarkable
instance of the uncertainty of fortune than Luca Pitti, who soon found
the difference between victory and defeat, honor and disgrace. His house
now presented only a vast solitude, where previously crowds of citizens
had assembled. In the streets, his friends and relatives, instead of
accompanying, were afraid even to salute him. Some of them were deprived
of the honors of government, others of their property, and all alike
threatened. The superb edifices he had commenced were abandoned by
the builders; the benefits that had been conferred upon him, where now
exchanged for injuries, the honors for disgrace. Hence many of those who
had presented him with articles of value now demanded them back again,
as being only lent; and those who had been in the habit of extolling
him as a man of surpassing excellence, now termed him violent and
ungrateful. So that, when too late, he regretted not having taken the
advice of Niccolo Soderini, and preferred an honorable death in battle,
than to a life of ignominy among his victorious enemies.

The exiles now began to consider various means of recovering that
citizenship which they had not been able to preserve. However, Agnolo
Acciajuoli being at Naples, before he attempted anything else, resolved
to sound Piero, and try if he could effect a reconciliation. For this
purpose, he wrote to him in the following terms: "I cannot help laughing
at the freaks of fortune, perceiving how, at her pleasure, she converts
friends into enemies, and enemies into friends. You may remember that
during your father's exile, regarding more the injury done to him than
my own misfortunes, I was banished, and in danger of death, and never
during Cosmo's life failed to honor and support your family; neither
have I since his death ever entertained a wish to injure you. True,
it is, that your own sickness, and the tender years of your sons,
so alarmed me, that I judged it desirable to give such a form to the
government, that after your death our country might not be ruined; and
hence, the proceedings, which not against you, but for the safety of
the state, have been adopted, which, if mistaken, will surely obtain
forgiveness, both for the good design in view, and on account of my
former services. Neither can I apprehend, that your house, having found
me so long faithfu