XXVIII

orhelpagainsttheDukeLodovico.SavellosaidhewouldapplytoRome.CheccocountedonLorenzode'Medici,andmessengerswereforthwithdespatchedtoboth.Thenitwasdecidedtogatherasmuchvictualsaspossibleintothetown,andfortifythewalls,sothattheymightbepreparedforasiege.Astothecitadel,weknewitwasimpossibletotakeitbystormbutitwouldnotbedifficulttostarveitintosurrender,foronthenewsoftheCount'sdeaththegateshadbeenshutwithsuchprecipitationthatthegarrisoncouldnothavefoodformorethantwoorthreedays. ThenCheccosentawayhiswifeandchildrenhetriedtopersuadehisfathertogotoo,buttheOrsosaidhewastoooldandwouldratherdieinhisowntownandpalacethanrushaboutthecountryinsearchofsafety.Inthetroubleddaysofhisyouthhehadbeenexiledmanytimes,andnowhisonlydesirewastoremainathomeinhisbelovedForli. ThenewsofLodovico'sadvancethrewconsternationintothetown,andwhencartloadsofprovisionswerebroughtin,andthefortificationsworkedatdayandnight,thebravecitizensbegantoquakeandtremble.Theyweregoingtohaveasiegeandwouldhavetofight,anditwaspossiblethatiftheydidnotsufficientlyhidethemselvesbehindthewalls,theymightbekilled.AsIwalkedthroughthestreets,Inoticedthatthewholepopulacewasdistinctlypaler....Itwasasifacoldwindhadblownbetweentheirshoulders,andbleachedandpinchedtheirfaces.Ismiled,andsaidtothem,inmyself,— 'YouhavehadtheplunderofthePalaceandthecustom-houses,myfriends,andyoulikedthatverywellnowyouwillhavetopayforyourpleasure.' IadmiredChecco'swisdomingivingthemgoodreasonsforbeingfaithfultohim.Iimaginedthat,ifthebeneficentruleoftheCountessreturned,itwouldfareillwiththosewhohadtakenpartinthelooting.... Checcohadcausedhisfamilytoleavethetownassecretlyaspossiblethepreparationshadb