ublic in
Europe, but also the first of modern states. If the spirit of the
Greeks inspired the physical prowess of the Romans, the enlightenment of
the Florentines brought forth the renascence of the arts and crafts of
Italy and of the world.

Cosimo, "_Il Padre della Patria_," laid the foundation-stone of Medici
renown in the iron grip of his powerful personality, and Piero, his son,
maintained unimpaired its eminence by his urbanity and good sense. To
Lorenzo, however, was reserved the distinction of placing upon that
mighty column its magnificent copestone, and he adorned it with the
sevenfold balls of his escutcheon, whilst on the summit he held unfurled
the great Red Cross Oriflamme of Florence.

Lorenzo left three sons and three daughters to uphold that ensign and to
exhibit the glory of their house. To the first-born, Piero, came the
great inheritance of his father's place and power, and no man ever
entered into a greater possession,--a possession, so firm, so
unquestioned and so portentous, that nothing seemed likely to disturb
its equilibrium or to sully its triumph.

But, "the son of his father is not always his father's son," and this
quaint saying is perfectly true of Piero de' Medici--a youth of
twenty-one years of age--the exact age of his father on his succession
to the Headship of the State. Physically the young prince was well
favoured, he was cultured and, like his unfortunate uncle Giuliano, he
was an adept in all gentlemanly exercises.

Alas, he took not the slightest interest in politics, nor in the
business affairs of his house, and the proverbial urbanity and
pushfulness of the Medici were alike absent. Whilst he lightly handed
over to Piero Dorizzi di Bibbiena, his Chancellor, the conduct of public
affairs, he listened to the proud persuasions of his mother, to whom
anything like commercial pursuits were abhorrent. Clarice d'Orsini's
forbears had all been soldiers, Lorenzo's merchants, that made all the
difference in Rome's degenerate days.

Of course there was no Florentine girl good enough to be the bride of
young Piero de' Medici--at least, Domina Clarice, his mother, decided
so. She was the proudest of the proud, and as ignorant and prejudiced as
she was haughty. Her son could only wed a Roman princess, and, by
preference, a daughter of the Orsini; consequently Alfonsina, daughter
of Roberto d'Orsini, Clarice's cousin, entered Florence in state on 22nd
May 1488, for her magnificent nupt