VII

I hurried back to the Palazzo and found Scipione Moratini already

arrived. I liked him for his sister's sake, but in himself he was a

pleasant person.

Both he and his brother had something of Giulia in them--the delicate

features, the fascination and the winning ways which in them seemed

almost effeminate. Their mother had been a very beautiful woman--report

said somewhat gay--and it was from her the sons had got the gallantry

which made them the terror of husbands in Forli, and Giulia the coquetry

which had given rise to so much scandal. The father, Bartolomeo, was

quite different. He was a rugged, upright man of sixty, very grave and

very dignified, the only resemblance of feature to his children being

the charming smile, which the sons possessed as well as Giulia; though

in him it was rarely seen. What I liked most in him was the blind love

for his daughter, leading him to unbend and become a youth to flatter

her folly. He was really devoted to her, so that it was quite pathetic

to see the look of intense affection in his eyes as he followed her

movements. He, of course, had never heard a word of the rumours

circulating about Giulia; he had the utmost faith in her virtue, and I,

it seems to me, had gained faith from him.

After talking a while with Scipione, Checco came, and we started for the

Palazzo. The people in Forli know everything, and were well aware of

Checco's mission. As we walked along we were met by many kind greetings,

good luck, and God speed were wished us, and Checco, beaming with joy,

graciously returned the salutations.

We were ushered into the council chamber, where we found the councillors

and many of the more prominent citizens, and several gentlemen of the

Court; immediately the great folding doors were opened and Girolamo

entered with his wonted state, accompanied by his courtiers and

men-at-arms, so that the hall was filled with them. He took his seat on

a throne, and graciously bowed to the left and to the right. His

courtiers responded, but the citizens preserved a severe aspect, quite

unsympathetic towards his condescension.

Girolamo rose to his feet and made a short speech, in which he extolled

Checco's wisdom and knowledge and patriotism, saying he had heard of a

controversy between him and Antonio Lassi on the subject of the proposed

tax, and consequently had sent for him to hear his opinion on the

subject.

He stopped and looked round; his courtiers obsequiously applauded. Then,

at opposite ends of the room, doors opened, and through each filed a

string of soldiers; the citizens looked at one another, wondering. A

flourish of trumpets was heard in the piazza, outside, and the tramp of

soldiers. Girolamo waited; at last he proceeded,--

'A good prince owes this to his subjects--to do nothing against their

will freely expressed; and though I could command, for I am placed here

by the Vicar of Christ himself, with absolute power over your lives and

fortunes, yet such is my love and affection towards you that I do not

disdain to ask your advice.'

The courtiers broke out into a murmur of surprise and

self-congratulation at his infinite graciousness; the trumpets

flourished again, and in the succeeding silence could be heard cries of

command from the officers in the square, while from the soldiers

standing about the hall there was a clank of swords and spurs.

Checco rose from his seat. He was pale and he almost seemed to hesitate;

I wondered if the soldiers had had the effect which Girolamo intended.

Then he began to speak, quietly, in even, well-turned sentences, so that

one could see the speech had been carefully thought out.

He called to mind his own affection for Girolamo, and the mutual

friendship which had solaced many hours of doubt and difficulty, and

assured him of his unalterable fidelity to himself and his family; then

he reminded him of the love borne by the people towards their ruler, and

their consciousness of an equal love on the part of the Count towards

themselves. He drew a picture of the joy in Forli when first Girolamo

came to it, and of the enthusiasm caused by the sight of him or his wife

walking through the streets.

There was a little applause, chiefly from the Count's suite; Checco

paused as if he had come to the end of his preface, and were gathering

himself up for the real matter of his speech. There was deadly silence

in the hall, all eyes were fixed on him, and all minds were asking

themselves, 'What will he say?' Girolamo was leaning forward, resting

his chin on his hand, looking anxious. I wondered if he regretted that

he had called the meeting.

Checco resumed his speech.

'Girolamo,' he said, 'the people from the country districts lately sent

you a petition, in which they showed their sufferings from rain and

storm and famine, their poverty and misery, the oppressiveness of the

taxes. They bade you come and look at their untilled fields, their

houses falling to ruin, themselves dying by the roadside, naked and

hungry, children expiring at their mothers' breasts, parents lying

unburied in the ruin of their home. They bade you come and look at the

desolation of the land, and implored you to help them while there was

yet time, and lighten from their backs the burdens you had laid upon

them.

'You turned an eye of pity on them; and now the land smiles, the people

have shaken themselves from their sleep of death, and awakened to new

life, and everywhere prayers are offered and blessings rained on the

head of the most high and magnificent prince, Girolamo Riario.

'And we too, my Lord, join in the thanks and praise; for these to whom

you have given new life are our cousins and brothers, our

fellow-countrymen.'

What was coming? The councillors looked at one another questioningly.

Could Checco have made terms with the Count, and was it a comedy they

were playing? Girolamo also was surprised; he had not for long heard

praise from any but his courtiers.

'Eight years ago, when you acquired the sovereignty of Forli, you found

the town weighed down under the taxes which the Ordelaffi had imposed.

Depression had seized hold of the merchants and tradesmen; they were

burdened so that they could not buy nor sell; they had given up effort,

and the town was lying numb and cold, as if dying from a pestilence. The

streets were deserted; such people as there were moved sadly, and with

downturned faces. The inhabitants were becoming fewer; there was no

motion, no life; a few years more and Forli would have become a city of

the dead!

'But you came, and with you life; for your first deed was to remove the

most oppressive imposts. As the bow, doubled up, when the string is

loosened shoots back with a sudden impulse which propels the arrow to

its mark, so Forli rebounded from the weight it had borne before. The

Goddess of Plenty reigned in the land; it was the sunlight after storm;

everywhere life and activity! The merchant wrote busily at his desk, the

tradesman spread his wares anew and laughed in the joy of his heart. The

mason, the builder, the blacksmith returned to their work, and through

the city was heard the sound of hammering and building. The news spread

of a beneficent lord, and the goldsmith and silversmith, the painter,

the sculptor, came to the city in throngs. The money passed from hand to

hand, and in its passage seemed to increase by magic. On the faces of

all was happiness; the apprentice sang as he worked, and mirth and joy

were universal; Forli became known as the home of delight; Italy rang

with its feasts and celebrations--and every citizen was proud to be a

Forlivese.

'And everywhere prayers were offered and blessings rained on the head of

the most high and magnificent prince, Girolamo Riario.'

Checco paused again. An inkling of his meaning was coming to his

hearers, but they dared not think he would say what was in all their

minds.

'Then,' Checco went on, 'you re-imposed the taxes which you had taken

off.'

'That is a lie!' interrupted Girolamo. 'They were imposed by the

council.'

Checco shrugged his shoulders, smiling ironically.

'I remember quite well. You called a meeting of the Ancients, and

showing them your necessities, suggested that they should re-impose the

taxes.

'I forget if you reminded them that you could command, and that you were

placed here by the Vicar of Christ on earth.

'And you forebore to let us hear the ring of trumpets and the tramp of

soldiery in the square. Nor did you think so numerous a suite necessary

for your dignity.'

He looked round at the soldiers, thoughtfully stroking his beard.

'Proceed!' said Girolamo, impatiently; he was beginning to get angry.

Checco, in talking, had recovered the assurance which at first seemed to

fail him. He smiled politely at the Count's command, and said,--

'I will come to the point at once.

'You replaced the taxes which you had taken away, and thereby undid the

benefit you had done. The town soon felt the effect of the change; its

prosperity is already declining, and it is not doubtful that a few years

more will bring it to the condition in which you found it. And who

knows, perhaps its last state may be worse than its first?

'And now you propose to make the townspeople pay the duties which you

have taken off the countryfolk. You have sent for me to ask my advice on

the subject, and here I give it you.

'Do not put on, but take off. In the name of the people, I beseech you

to do away with the taxes you imposed four years ago, and return to the

happy state of the first years of your rule.'

He paused a moment, then with outstretched arm, pointing to the Count,

he added solemnly, 'Or Girolamo Riario, the magnificent prince, may

share the fate of the Ordelaffi, who ruled the town for two centuries

and now wander homeless about the land.'

There was a cry all round the room. They were astounded at his audacity.

Girolamo had started in his chair--his eyes were staring, his face red;

he was dumb with rage. He tried to speak, but the words died in his

throat, and nothing was heard but an inarticulate murmur. The soldiers

and courtiers were looking at one another in surprise; they did not know

what to do or think; they looked at their master, but found no help in

him. The citizens were bewildered, and by turns felt wonder, dismay,

fear, pleasure; they could not understand....

'Oh, Girolamo!' said Checco, unmindful of the excitement round him, 'I

do not say these things in enmity to you. Come among your people

yourself, and see their wants with your own eyes. Do not believe what

your courtiers tell you--do not think the land in your charge is a

captured town, which you can spoil at your pleasure. You have been

placed here as a guardian in our perils and an assistance in our

necessities.

'You are a stranger here; you do not know this people as I know it. They

will be faithful, meek, obedient--but do not rob them of the money they

have hardly earned, or they will turn against you. Forli has never

supported an oppressor, and if you oppress them, beware of their wrath.

What do you think are these soldiers of yours against the wrath of a

people! And are you so sure of your soldiers? Will they take part for

you against their fathers and brothers, their children?'

'Be quiet!' Girolamo had risen from his seat, and was standing with his

arm threateningly upraised. He shouted so as to drown Checco, 'Be quiet!

You have always been against me, Checco,' he cried. 'You have hated me

because I have overwhelmed you with bounty. There has never been trouble

between me and my people but you have come to make them more bitter

against me.'

'You lie!' said Checco, passionately.

'Oh, I know you, Checco, and your pride! As Satan fell by pride, so may

you, notwithstanding all your riches and power. You thought you were my

equal, and because you found me your master you gnashed your teeth and

cursed me.

'By God, you would kill me if you could!'

Checco lost his calm, and gesticulating wildly shouted back at Girolamo.

'I have hated you because you are a tyrant to this town. Are these not

my fellow-citizens, my brothers, my friends? Have we not been together

since childhood, and our fathers and grandfathers before us? And do you

think I look upon them as you who are a stranger?

'No; so long as you obtained money from the rich, I said nothing. You

know what sums I have myself lent you; all that I freely give you. I do

not want a penny of it back--keep it all. But when you have extorted the

uttermost from us, and you turn to the poor and needy and rob them of

their little, then I will not keep silence. You shall not impose these

taxes on the people! And why is it you want them? For your riotous,

insane extravagance; so that you may build yourself new palaces, and

deck yourself in gorgeous robes, and buy diamonds and precious stones

for your wife.'

'Do not speak of my wife,' interrupted the Count.

'So that you may pile gold in the hands of the parasite who makes a

sonnet in your praise. You came to us and begged for money; we gave it

and you flung it away in feasts and riotry. The very coat you wear was

made out of our riches. But you have no right to take the money of the

people for these ignoble uses. You are not their master; you are their

servant; their money is not yours, but yours is theirs. Your duty before

God is to protect them, and, instead, you rob them.'

'Be silent!' broke in Girolamo. 'I will hear no more. You have outraged

me as no man has ever done without repenting it. You think you are

all-powerful, Checco, but by God you shall find that I am more powerful!

'Now go, all of you! I have had enough of this scene. Go!'

He waved his hand imperiously. Then, with a look of intense rage, he

descended from his throne and, scowling, flung himself out of the room.