The Divine Comedy with Commentary by Cristoforo Landino

[He] not only remained most fierce through such victory, but was also so enriched by the most wealthy spoils that I The text here likely refers to the enemy's confidence after a victory over Florence.... And who believed that in those times the enemy forces would not have, by the shortest path and in too great a rush, reached even to our Republic? Our city, dismayed by a most heavy wound, seemed constrained to receive without delay those extreme conditions which the victor might impose. But oh, invincible true Romans! The Florentine people immediately understood the danger. Nevertheless, they did not yield to fortune. They did not fall into final despair. Instead, in a very brief moment of time, from all parts of the city, they ran to the highest magistrate. Nor was anyone found who went merely instructed with opinions to give counsel; rather, each came with his patrimony laden with money to offer help. Nor was there long-winded debate or varied opinions in the consultation: there was a sudden voice in everyone that liberty should not be lost before life itself. And who will deny that this can seem a miracle even to a demon? The treasury was exhausted by the heavy and most dangerous war. Private wealth was much thinned by taxes. And nevertheless, not in a day, but in a few hours—not by public decree, but by spontaneous and voluntary contribution—so many thousands of florins were counted out to the ten men Dieci di Balìa The "Ten of War," a specialized committee of the Florentine Republic responsible for military affairs., the prefects of war, who with incredible speed gathered and hired throughout all Italy whatever commanders, cavalry, and infantry were then serving. And at that time, when our most powerful adversary expected from us a suppliant legation or embassy, ready to receive every iniquitous condition, he saw a new army already opposed to his forces. From this followed an honorable peace.

Therefore, if the Roman Senate glories in having had a blind Appius Appius Claudius Caecus, the Roman statesman who famously persuaded the Senate not to negotiate with the invader Pyrrhus of Epirus. who made Pyrrhus see that Rome was unworthy of surrender, who will be so unfair a judge of things, so greedy a detractor of our praises, that he does not judge it right to place among the rarest examples the sight of a people who, in such low fortune, maintained such a high spirit?

I have perhaps been too prolix in one thing alone, but how could I pass over in silence that which we have not merely heard from our ancestors, but have seen in our own centuries? The forces of our empire were much worn down by the war undeservedly made upon us by Alfonso of Aragon, King of Naples Alfonso V of Aragon (1396–1458), who contested power in Italy., who, although anxious through the power of his seven kingdoms and very eager to propagate his empire, had assaulted us with very large forces both by sea and by land. Nevertheless—to speak more honorably of him than of ourselves—he was finally forced to abandon the enterprise and return to his kingdom with a shattered and mutilated army. Our forces were thus much worn down, and behold, a new war was rekindled, not only by the former King, but by the most excellent Venetian Empire. Although not many years before, largely through our prompt work, they had expanded their empire into Lombardy, they nevertheless judged the death of Filippo Maria Filippo Maria Visconti (1388–1447), the last Visconti Duke of Milan. a most excellent occasion, for they greatly desired the Duchy of the Visconti.

They had most flourishing armies and the most ample resources. In every military virtue, the name of Jacopo Piccinino A famous Italian condottiero (mercenary captain)., the leader of their forces, was already most renowned. The authority of the King carried great weight throughout all Italy. On our side, it seemed that there remained only the marvelous and innumerable virtues of Francesco Sforza The mercenary captain who became Duke of Milan and a key ally of Cosimo de' Medici., and the glory of such a leader, who was at all times most invincible. We were exhausted; he was placed in the greatest poverty of all things with which wars are administered. The novelty of his rule made every enterprise most dangerous. Indeed, many were of the firm opinion that the Florentine people would have to yield to fortune and prefer convenience to faith, especially since the adversary invited us and offered peace and confederation, provided we remained neutral.

But I could relate innumerable other examples which most clearly demonstrate that nothing has ever been more esteemed by our Republic than faith original: "fede"; here meaning political loyalty and the keeping of treaties.. But in such a grave danger, it was to be esteemed above all. Thus, there came into consultation on one side the danger, and on the other, faith; but in short, utility was conquered by honesty, especially through the counsel and authority of the great Cosimo de' Medici Cosimo "the Elder" de' Medici (1389–1464), the de facto ruler of Florence.. I speak of a man of such prudence as very few consultants of republics have ever had. He, with the eyes of the two-faced Janus original: "giochi del bifrõte ião"; Janus, the Roman god of beginnings and transitions, usually depicted with two faces looking toward the past and the future. Landino uses this to signify Cosimo's political foresight., foresaw future events as much as many do not even recognize the present. And not only with work and industry—which were marvelous and of a genius more than human—but also with money, of which he was most abundant, he came to the aid of the public. Through this, help was given to our ally the Duke [Sforza], who not only remained in the lordship he had recently acquired but took the Duchy out of the hands of the Venetian dominion. Although the Venetian state, through its excellent administration, is deservedly held in the highest veneration by all peoples, it nevertheless seemed that it was rising too formidably by increasing so much in power.

I believe that through these examples I have shown with what an invincible spirit the Florentine people have been endowed. In these same examples, as in a bright mirror, appears the image of the prudence and faith maintained by them at all times. I could mention many other excellent advisors: from the same Medici family, true and distinguished Florentines always attentive to the public peace; Bartolomeo Valori; Rinaldo Gianfigliazzi, men of high counsel; Niccolò da Uzzano; Giovanni, father of the great Cosimo; Gino Capponi and Neri his son. Nor do they deserve to be omitted: Lorenzo Ridolfi, a most celebrated legal consultant; Palla Strozzi; Piero Guicciardini; Niccolò Alessandri; Luca degli Albizzi; Andrea Minerbetti; Alamanno Salviati. And in recent times, Giovanni Canigiani, a Florentine knight and a man most loving of his fatherland, and of very mature and provident counsel.

But because, according to Platonic and Aristotelian doctrine, advisors alone are not enough for a republic, but soldiers and defenders are necessary to avenge the injuries done and defend liberty, let us see with the greatest brevity what our people have been able to do in every part. Nor do I deny that in the present centuries, like all other Italian republics and princes, we have not conducted wars with mercenary armies and hired leaders. But let us remember the manly government and the times in which no one else was in our army but citizens. And still noted is the order of the ancient discipline, and in what parts the people were divided and armed. The names of the prefects remain. The ensigns and banners remain. We see in our days, hanging in our Baptistery, that Carroccio The ceremonial, ox-drawn war-altar of the Florentine Republic, a symbol of civic independence., the supreme banner of the people, which never returned without victory.

Without fail, the celestial virtues—called "secondary causes"—can do much in things committed to fortune. And deservedly so, for so the immobile Mover God, in Aristotelian/Dantean physics. who created them has willed it. For this reason, the primary origin of the Florentines, illustrated by Mars Ancient Florence was traditionally said to have been founded under the sign of Mars., immediately flourished in the martial arts. Fiesole was also powerful when rare buildings were rising where we now see our walls. And there was always a constant will, or rather a stubborn obsession, of that city to oppress ours, as often as it thought it could. They were highly reputed for their antiquity, confident in the number of their people, and impregnable due to the natural site of the mountain and human industry. We were oppressed in the plain, unknown to our neighbors because of our novelty, and little esteemed because of our small number. What other remedy could be opposed to our adversaries, who assaulted us every day, if not a lively and most excellent virtue?

The difficulties were most laborious, and the anxieties most dangerous for Florence to rise. But it was even greater that, once built, she defended herself against the powerful enemy placed above her head. There lasted between the two peoples not only many years, but ages—now hidden feuds, now open war, and because of their proximity, it was like a civil war. But finally, their bitter contentions produced a sweet victory, in which our ancestors were victors through industry, and with supreme clemency, they shared their republic with the conquered. Nor did they lack justice in observing the faith they had given, nor prudence in making their adversaries their citizens, and in doubling their strength by reducing two peoples into one. This concord was so effective that in the following times, although all Italy was submerged by a perpetual and long-lasting flood of various barbarian nations, and Florence was almost desolated, nevertheless in a short time she grew miraculously.

It is not my plan, our most illustrious lords, to relate at present how many times our army—yours, I say, not filled with mercenary soldiers, but composed of your own citizens—guided not by an external captain, but ordered by its own prefects, brought back the most ample victories, with which it dilated its narrow borders. The Volterrans are witnesses, who, cast down from such an exalted rock, saw our men enter by force and occupy the land. The Pistoians are witnesses; the Aretines are witnesses; the Sienese are witnesses; the Lucchese are witnesses, who in every enterprise finally remained inferior. And they [the Florentines] restored their fatherland to the Guelph Bolognese, the Modenese, and the Reggians. It was the Florentines who, when by the work of our captain, perhaps at Adda, Casco fell in the square—a man of great strength and giant stature. Who in the Neapolitan kingdom made the best proof against Manfred Manfred, King of Sicily (1232–1266). and in great part inclined the victory to Charles [of Anjou] and to the papal parties? The Florentines. From this, the Guelph name acquired such great praise from the Supreme Pontiff. From this, [Florence] was [honored] with most honorable titles...