صفحة 224 من 310

These matters coming to the knowledge of the Vitelli and Orsini

and their following, it appeared to them that the duke would

become too powerful, and it was feared that, having seized

Bologna, he would seek to destroy them in order that he might

become supreme in Italy. Upon this a meeting was called at

Magione in the district of Perugia, to which came the cardinal,

Pagolo, and the Duke di Gravina Orsini, Vitellozzo Vitelli,

Oliverotto da Fermo, Gianpagolo Baglioni, the tyrant of Perugia,

and Messer Antonio da Venafro, sent by Pandolfo Petrucci, the

Prince of Siena. Here were discussed the power and courage of the

duke and the necessity of curbing his ambitions, which might

otherwise bring danger to the rest of being ruined. And they

decided not to abandon the Bentivogli, but to strive to win over

the Florentines; and they sent their men to one place and

another, promising to one party assistance and to another

encouragement to unite with them against the common enemy.