own gondola, with the whole train of Spaniards in attendance.  And though, on landing, the Florentines challenged them, they durst not interfere with an ambassador or come to battle with his men.  So Bebo and Bibboni were hustled into a coach, and afterwards provided with two comrades and four horses.  They rode for ninety miles without stopping to sleep, and on the day following this long journey reached Trento, having probably threaded the mountain valleys above Bassano, for Bibboni speaks of a certain village where the people talked half German.  The Imperial Ambassador at Trento forwarded them next day to Mantua; from Mantua they came to Piacenza; thence, passing through the valley of the Taro, crossing the Apennines at Cisa, descending on Pontremoli, and reaching Pisa at night, the fourteenth day after their escape from Venice.

When they arrived at Pisa, Duke Cosimo was supping.  So they went to an inn, and next morning presented themselves to his Grace.  Cosimo received them kindly, assured them of his gratitude, confirmed them in the enjoyment of their rewards and privileges, and swore that they might rest secure of his protection in all parts of his dominion.  We may imagine how the men caroused together after this reception.  As Bibboni adds, ’We were now able for the whole time of life left us to live splendidly, without a thought or care.’  The last words of his narrative are these:  ’Bebo from Pisa, at what date I know not, went home to Volterra, his native town, and there finished his days; while I abode in Florence, where I have had no further wish to hear of wars, but to live my life in holy peace.’

So ends the story of the two bravi.  We have reason to believe, from some contemporary documents which Cantu has brought to light, that Bibboni exaggerated his own part in the affair.  Luca Martelli, writing to Varchi, says that it was Bebo who clove Lorenzo’s skull with a cutlass.  He adds this curious detail, that the weapons of both men were poisoned, and that the wound inflicted by Bibboni on Soderini’s hand was a slight one.  Yet, the poignard being poisoned, Soderini died of it.  In other respects Martelli’s brief account agrees with that given by Bibboni, who probably did no more, his comrade being dead, than claim for himself, at some expense of truth, the lion’s share of their heroic action.

VII.—­LORENZINO BRUTUS

It remains to ask ourselves, What opinion can be justly formed of Lorenzino’s character and motives?  When he murdered his cousin, was he really actuated by the patriotic desire to rid his country of a monster?  Did he imitate the Roman Brutus in the noble spirit of his predecessors, Olgiati and Boscoli, martyrs to the creed of tyrannicide?  Or must this crowning action of a fretful life be explained, like his previous mutilation of the statues on the Arch of Constantine, by a wild thirst for notoriety?  Did he hope that