Cosmo, and the few years he survived being
spent in civil discord and constant debility. Piero was buried in the
church of St. Lorenzo, near his father, and his obsequies were performed
with all the pomp and solemnity due to his exalted station. He left two
sons, Lorenzo and Guiliano, whose extreme youth excited alarm in the
minds of thinking men, though each gave hopes of future usefulness to
the republic.

Among the principal citizens in the government of Florence, and very
superior to the rest, was Tommaso Soderini, whose prudence and authority
were well known not only at home, but throughout Italy. After Piero's
death, the whole city looked up to him; many citizens waited upon him
at his own house, as the head of the government, and several princes
addressed him by letter; but he, impartially estimating his own
fortune and that of the house of Medici, made no reply to the princes'
communications, and told the citizens, it was not his house, but that
of the Medici they ought to visit. To demonstrate by his actions the
sincerity and integrity of his advice he assembled all the heads of
noble families in the convent of St. Antonio, whither he also brought
Lorenzo and Guiliano de' Medici, and in a long and serious speech upon
the state of the city, the condition of Italy, and the views of her
princes, he assured them, that if they wished to live in peace and unity
in Florence, free both from internal dissensions and foreign wars,
it would be necessary to respect the sons of Piero and support the
reputation of their house; for men never regret their continuance in a
course sanctioned by custom while new methods are soon adopted and as
speedily set aside; and it has always been found easier to maintain a
power which by its continuance has outlived envy, than to raise a new
one, which innumerable unforeseen causes may overthrow. When Tommaso
had concluded, Lorenzo spoke, and, though young, with such modesty and
discretion that all present felt a presentiment of his becoming what he
afterward proved to be; and before the citizens departed they swore to
regard the youths as their sons, and the brothers promised to look upon
them as their parents. After this, Lorenzo and Guiliano were honored as
princes, and resolved to be guided by the advice of Tommaso Soderini.

While profound tranquillity prevailed both at home and abroad, no wars
disturbing the general repose, there arose an unexpected disturbance,
which came like a pr