Commentary on the Pazzi Conspiracy

A SHORT COMMENTARY BY ANGELO POLIZIANO ON THE PAZZI CONSPIRACY

I intend to describe the Pazzi conspiracy in few words, for it was a most memorable crime that occurred in my time, and it came very close to completely overturning the entire Florentine Republic. While the state of that city was such that all good men stood with Lorenzo and Giuliano, the brothers, and the rest of the Medici family, the Pazzi clan, along with not a few of the Salviati, began to oppose them—at first secretly while current affairs were ongoing, but soon even openly. They envied the Medici family and, as much as they were able, sought to undermine their great authority in our Republic and their private dignity. The Pazzi family was equally hated by the citizens and the common people. For, besides the fact that they were all most avaricious, their obstinate and insolent character could not be tolerated with a calm mind. The head of that family, Jacopo de' Pazzi, a man of the knightly order, spent his days and nights at dice. If a throw fell badly, he would rail against gods and men with curses. Sometimes, indeed, he would rashly throw the dice box or whatever else had presented itself to him in his anger at whoever was nearest. Often, he would even strike his forehead against the very dice box like a madman. He himself was pale and bloodless, always tossing his head, and—as an argument of the greatest levity—he could never remain still with his mouth, his eyes, or his hands. Two immense vices stood out in the man, which, strangely enough, were most contrary to each other: great Avarice and great Am-