Lorenzo retired to Florence, where he was welcomed and entertained by Alessandro.  In return for favours Lorenzo, nicknamed in Florence “Lorenzino,” “Lorenzo the Little,” became useful to the Duke and appointed himself spy-in-chief of the Florentine exiles.  His studious character and his literary talent endowed him with another and a worthier sobriquet “Filosofo,” and he carried out the role by dressing as a Greek and living as a sybarite.  Devoted to the study of the classics and encouraged by his sensuous tutor, Giovanni Francesco Zeffi, when not engaged in vulgar orgies, he translated Plato and other writers, and even composed a comedy, which he called L’Aridosio.

Lorenzino entered fully into the Duke’s life of profligacy and became his inseparable companion.  Both of them admired physical charms and indulged in all physical passions:  they set a base fashion in Florence, which degraded her men and women.  They habitually made lewd jokes of everything human and divine, and were noted for their cruelty to animals.  If Alessandro became execrated as “The Tyrant and Ravisher of Florence,” Lorenzino was scouted as “A monster and a miracle,” and his depreciative nickname underwent a new spelling—­“Lorenzaccio,”—­ “Lorenzo the Terrible!”

* * * * *

Satiety of excesses produced a revulsion of feeling between the two debauchees.  Alessandro began to show irritation at his companion’s freedom.  The latter refused to be corrected, and into his mind came once more the inspiration of classical heroes of liberty and foes of oppression.  Why should he not be a Florentine “Brutus,” and have his name engraved upon the pinnacle of fame as the “Saviour of his Country!” Lorenzino studied and studied well the part he now set himself to play.

Not a word did he breathe to man or woman of what was paramount in his mind, and he made not the slightest difference in his intercourse with Alessandro—­indeed, he drew himself to him more intimately than ever.  The Carnival of 1536 saw the maddest of all mad scenes, and everything and everybody ran wild riot.  Disguised as country minstrels and mounted upon broken-down donkeys, the two comrades rode about the city, paying visits to their various mistresses and flatterers, and playing practical jokes upon the respectable citizens they encountered.

Returning one evening, weary with their follies, they supped together at the Palazzo Medici, and then Lorenzino inquired how they were to spend the night.

“I shall go to bed,” replied Alessandro, “for I am worn out.”

“Caterina?” whispered Lorenzino.

Alessandro rose abruptly and said, “Lead on, Lorenzo, I will follow.”

Seeing his valet and confidant, Giustiniano da Sesena, he said:  “We are going to Signore Lorenzino’s, but what shall I put on?” Giustiniano handed him a crimson silk dressing-gown, and asked him whether he would wear his sword and steel gauntlets, or whether his cane and his scented kid gloves would not be more suitable.