the prince-第23部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


　herbs　for　seasoning　the　dinner；　and　hearing　a　slight　rustling　among　the　leaves　of　a　vine　she　turned　her　eyes　in　that　direction；　and　heard　something　resembling　the　cry　of　an　infant。　Whereupon　she　went　towards　it；　and　saw　the　hands　and　face　of　a　baby　who　was　lying　enveloped　in　the　leaves　and　who　seemed　to　be　crying　for　its　mother。　Partly　wondering　and　partly　fearing；　yet　full　of　compassion；　she　lifted　it　up　and　carried　it　to　the　house；　where　she　washed　it　and　clothed　it　with　clean　linen　as　is　customary；　and　showed　it　to　Messer　Antonio　when　he　returned　home。　When　he　heard　what　had　happened　and　saw　the　child　he　was　not　less　surprised　or　compassionate　than　his　sister。　They　discussed　between　themselves　what　should　be　done；　and　seeing　that　he　was　priest　and　that　she　had　no　children；　they　finally　determined　to　bring　it　up。　They　had　a　nurse　for　it；　and　it　was　reared　and　loved　as　if　it　were　their　own　child。　They　baptized　it；　and　gave　it　the　name　of　Castruccio　after　their　father。　As　the　years　passed　Castruccio　grew　very　handsome；　and　gave　evidence　of　wit　and　discretion；　and　learnt　with　a　quickness　beyond　his　years　those　lessons　which　Messer　Antonio　imparted　to　him。　Messer　Antonio　intended　to　make　a　priest　of　him；　and　in　time　would　have　inducted　him　into　his　canonry　and　other　benefices；　and　all　his　instruction　was　given　with　this　object；　but　Antonio　discovered　that　the　character　of　Castruccio　was　quite　unfitted　for　the　priesthood。　As　soon　as　Castruccio　reached　the　age　of　fourteen　he　began　to　take　less　notice　of　the　chiding　of　Messer　Antonio　and　Madonna　Dianora　and　no　longer　to　fear　them；　he　left　off　reading　ecclesiastical　books；　and　turned　to　playing　with　arms；　delighting　in　nothing　so　much　as　in　learning　their　uses；　and　in　running；　leaping；　and　wrestling　with　other　boys。　In　all　exercises　he　far　excelled　his　companions　in　courage　and　bodily　strength；　and　if　at　any　time　he　did　turn　to　books；　only　those　pleased　him　which　told　of　wars　and　the　mighty　deeds　of　men。　Messer　Antonio　beheld　all　this　with　vexation　and　sorrow。

There　lived　in　the　city　of　Lucca　a　gentleman　of　the　Guinigi　family；　named　Messer　Francesco；　whose　profession　was　arms　and　who　in　riches；　bodily　strength；　and　valour　excelled　all　other　men　in　Lucca。　He　had　often　fought　under　the　command　of　the　Visconti　of　Milan；　and　as　a　Ghibelline　was　the　valued　leader　of　that　party　in　Lucca。　This　gentleman　resided　in　Lucca　and　was　accustomed　to　assemble　with　others　most　mornings　and　evenings　under　the　balcony　of　the　Podesta；　which　is　at　the　top　of　the　square　of　San　Michele；　the　finest　square　in　Lucca；　and　he　had　often　seen　Castruccio　taking　part　with　other　children　of　the　street　in　those　games　of　which　I　have　spoken。　Noticing　that　Castruccio　far　excelled　the　other　boys；　and　that　he　appeared　to　exercise　a　royal　authority　over　them；　and　that　they　loved　and　obeyed　him；　Messer　Francesco　became　greatly　desirous　of　learning　who　he　was。　Being　informed　of　the　circumstances　of　the　bringing　up　of　Castruccio　he　felt　a　greater　desire　to　have　him　near　to　him。　Therefore　he　called　him　one　day　and　asked　him　whether　he　would　more　willingly　live　in　the　house　of　a　gentleman；　where　he　would　learn　to　ride　horses　and　use　arms；　or　in　the　house　of　a　priest；　where　he　would　learn　nothing　but　masses　and　the　services　of　the　Church。　Messer　Francesco　could　see　that　it　pleased　Castruccio　greatly　to　hear　horses　and　arms　spoken　of；　even　though　he　stood　silent；　blushing　modestly；　but　being　encouraged　by　Messer　Francesco　to　speak；　he　answered　that；　if　his　master　were　agreeable；　nothing　would　please　him　more　than　to　give　up　his　priestly　studies　and　take　up　those　of　a　soldier。　This　reply　delighted　Messer　Francesco；　and　in　a　very　short　time　he　obtained　the　consent　of　Messer　Antonio；　who　was　driven　to　yield　by　his　knowledge　of　the　nature　of　the　lad；　and　the　fear　that　he　would　not　be　able　to　hold　him　much　longer。

Thus　Castruccio　passed　from　the　house　of　Messer　Antonio　the　priest　to　the　house　of　Messer　Francesco　Guinigi　the　soldier；　and　it　was　astonishing　to　find　that　in　a　very　short　time　he　manifested　all　that　virtue　and　bearing　which　we　are　accustomed　to　associate　with　a　true　gentleman。　In　the　first　place　he　became　an　accomplished　horseman；　and　could　manage　with　ease　the　most　fiery　charger；　and　in　all　jousts　and　tournaments；　although　still　a　youth；　he　was　observed　beyond　all　others；　and　he　excelled　in　all　exercises　of　strength　and　dexterity。　But　what　enhanced　so　much　the　charm　of　these　accomplishments；　was　the　delightful　modesty　which　enabled　him　to　avoid　offence　in　either　act　or　word　to　others；　for　he　was　deferential　to　the　great　men；　modest　with　his　equals；　and　courteous　to　his　inferiors。　These　gifts　made　him　beloved；　not　only　by　all　the　Guinigi　family；　but　by　all　Lucca。　When　Castruccio　had　reached　his　eighteenth　year；　the　Ghibellines　were　driven　from　Pavia　by　the　Guelphs；　and　Messer　Francesco　was　sent　by　the　Visconti　to　assist　the　Ghibellines；　and　with　him　went　Castruccio；　in　charge　of　his　forces。　Castruccio　gave　ample　proof　of　his　prudence　and　courage　in　this　expedition；　acquiring　greater　reputation　than　any　other　captain；　and　his　name　and　fame　were　known；　not　only　in　Pavia；　but　throughout　all　Lombardy。

Castruccio；　having　returned　to　Lucca　in　far　higher　estimation　that　he　left　it；　did　not　omit　to　use　all　the　means　in　his　power　to　gain　as　many　friends　as　he　could；　neglecting　none　of　those　arts　which　are　necessary　for　that　purpose。　About　this　time　Messer　Francesco　died；　leaving　a　son　thirteen　years　of　age　named　Pagolo；　and　having　appointed　Castruccio　to　be　his　son's　tutor　and　administrator　of　his　estate。　Before　he　died　Francesco　called　Castruccio　to　him；　and　prayed　him　to　show　Pagolo　that　goodwill　which　he　（Francesco）　had　always　shown　to　HIM；　and　to　render　to　the　son　the　gratitude　which　he　had　not　been　able　to　repay　to　the　father。　Upon　the　death　of　Francesco；　Castruccio　became　the　governor　and　tutor　of　Pagolo；　which　increased　enormously　his　power　and　position；　and　created　a　certain　amount　of　envy　against　him　in　Lucca　in　place　of　the　former　universal　goodwill；　for　many　men　suspected　him　of　harbouring　tyrannical　intentions。　Among　these　the　leading　man　was　Giorgio　degli　Opizi；　the　head　of　the　Guelph　party。　This　man　hoped　after　the　death　of　Messer　Francesco　to　become　the　chief　man　in　Lucca；　but　it　seemed　to　him　that　Castruccio；　with　the　great　abilities　which　he　already　showed；　and　holding　the　position　of　governor；　deprived　him　of　his　opportunity；　therefore　he　began　to　sow　those　seeds　which　should　rob　Castruccio　of　his　eminence。　Castruccio　at　first　treated　this　with　scorn；　but　afterwards　he　grew　alarmed；　thinking　that　Messer　Giorgio　might　be　able　to　bring　him　into　disgrace　with　the　deputy　of　King　Ruberto　of　Naples　and　have　him　driven　out　of　Lucca。

The　Lord　of　Pisa　at　that　time　was　Uguccione　of　the　Faggiuola　of　Arezzo；　who　being　in　the　first　place　elected　their　captain　afterwards　became　their　lord。　There　resided　in　Paris　some　exiled　Ghibellines　from　Lucca；　with　whom　Castruccio　held　communications　with　the　object　of　effecting　their　restoration　by　the　help　of　Uguccione。　Castruccio　also　brought　into　his　plans　friends　from　Lucca　who　would　not　endure　the　authority　of　the　Opizi。　Having　fixed　upon　a　plan　to　be　followed；　Castruccio　cautiously　fortified　the　tower　of　the　Onesti；　filling　it　with　supplies　and　munitions　of　war；　in　order　that　it　might　stand　a　siege　for　a　few　days　in　case　of　need。　When　the　night　came　which　had　been　agreed　upon　with　Uguccione；　who　had　occupied　the　plain　between　the　mountains　and　Pisa　with　many　men；　the　signal　was　given；　and　without　being　observed　Uguccione　approached　the　gate　of　San　Piero　and　set　fire　to　the　portcullis。　Castruccio　raised　a　great　uproar　within　the　city；　calling　the　people　to　arms　and　forcing　open　the　gate　from　his　side。　Uguccione　entered　with　his　men；　poured　through　the　town；　and　killed　Messer　Giorgio　with　all　his　family　and　many　of　his　friends　and　supporters。　The　governor　was　driven　out；　and　the　government　reformed　according　to　the　wishes　of　Uguccione；　to　the　detriment　of　the　city；　because　it　was　found　that　more　than　one　hundred　families　were　exiled　at　that　time。　Of　those　who　fled；　part　went　to　Florence　and　part　to　Pistoia；　which　city　was　the　headquarters　of　the　Guelph　party；　and　for　this　reason　it　became　most　hostile　to　Uguccione　and　the　Lucchese。

As　it　now　appeared　to　the　Florentines　and　others　of　the　Guelph　party　that　the　Ghibellines　absorbed　too　much　power　in　Tuscany；　they　determined　to　restore　the　exiled　Guelphs　to　Lucca。　They　assembled　a　large　army　in　the　Val　di　Nievole；　and　seized　Montecatini；　from　thence　they　marched　to　Montecarlo；　in　order　to　secure　the　free　passage　into　Lucca。　Upon　this　Uguccione　assembled　his　Pisan　and　Lucchese　forces；　and　with　a　number　of　German　cavalry　which　he　drew　out　of　Lombardy；　he　moved　against　the　quarters　of　the　Florentines；　who　upon　the　appearance　of　the　enemy　withdrew　from　Montecarlo；　and　posted　themselves　between　Montecatini　and　Pescia。　Uguccione　now　took　up　a　position　near　to　Montecarlo；　and　within　about　two　miles　of　the　enemy；　and　slight　skirmishes　between　the　horse　of　both　parties　were　of　daily　occurrence。　Owing　to　the　illness　of　Uguccione；　the　Pisans　and　Lucchese　delayed　coming　to　battle　with　the　enemy。　Uguccione；　finding　himself　growing　worse；　went　to　Montecarlo　to　be　cured；　and　left　the　command　of　the　army　in　the　hands　of　Castruccio。　This　change　brought　about　the　ruin　of　the　Guelphs；　who；　thinking　that　the　hostile　army　having　lost　its　captain　had　lost　its　head；　grew　over…confident。　Castruccio　observed　this；　and　allowed　some　days　to　pass　in　order　to　encourage　this　belief；　he　also　showed　signs　of　fear；　and　did　not　allow　any　of　the　munitions　of　the　camp　to　be　used。　On　the　other　side；　the　Guelphs　grew　more　insolent　the　more　they　saw　these　evidences　of　fear；　and　every　day　they　drew　out　in　the　order　of　battle　in　front　of　the　army　of　Castruccio。　Presently；　deeming　that　the　enemy　was　sufficiently　emboldened；　and　having　mastered　their　tactics；　he　decided　to　join　battle　with　them。　First　he　spoke　a　few　words　of　encouragement　to　his　soldiers；　and　pointed　out　to　them　the　certainty　of　victory　if　they　would　but　obey　his　commands。　Castruccio　had　noticed　how　the　enemy　had　placed　all　his　best　troops　in　the　centre　of　the　line　of　battle；　and　his　less　reliable　men　on　the　wing