Sayfa 96 / 310

One who did not conquer was Giovanni Acuto,[4] and since he did

not conquer his fidelity cannot be proved; but every one will

acknowledge that, had he conquered, the Florentines would have

stood at his discretion. Sforza had the Bracceschi always against

him, so they watched each other. Francesco turned his ambition to

Lombardy; Braccio against the Church and the kingdom of Naples.

But let us come to that which happened a short while ago. The

Florentines appointed as their captain Pagolo Vitelli, a most

prudent man, who from a private position had risen to the

greatest renown. If this man had taken Pisa, nobody can deny that

it would have been proper for the Florentines to keep in with

him, for if he became the soldier of their enemies they had no

means of resisting, and if they held to him they must obey him.