Then and Now Read Free Page B

were about two miles away they met seven or eight horsemen and Machiavelli recognized among them Agapito da Amalia, the Duke's first secretary, whose acquaintance he had made at Urbino. He greeted Machiavelli warmly, and on learning the errand on which he was found, turned back and accompanied him to the city. The Signory had sent a courier a day before to inform their agent at the Duke's court of their envoy's arrival and the courier was waiting for him at the city gate. It had been a long ride and Agapito asked Machiavelli whether he would not like to refresh himself and rest before presenting his credentials to the Duke. Though the army was encamped outside the walls, the small city, now Il Valentino's capital, was crowded with his personal staff, the members of his court, agents of other Italian states, merchants with necessities or luxuries to sell, solicitors of favours, sycophants, spies, actors, poets, loose women, and all the rag tag and bobtail that followed a victorious condottiere in the hope of making money by fair means or foul. The result was that lodging was hard to get. The city's two or three inns were chock-a-block and men were sleeping three, four and five in a bed. But the Florentine agent had made arrangements for Machiavelli and his servants to be put up in the Dominican monastery and it was thither that the courier now suggested conducting him. Machiavelli turned to Agapito.
    'If His Excellency can receive me I should prefer to see him at once,' he said.
    'I will ride on and find out if he is at liberty. This officer will lead you to the Palace.'
    Leaving the man he had indicated behind, Agapito trotted off with the rest of his party. The others walked their horses through the narrow streets till they came to the main square. On the way Machiavelli asked the officer which was the city's best inn.
    'I don't fancy the fare those good monks of the monastery will provide and I have no wish to go supperless to bed.'
    'The Golden Lion.'
    Machiavelli addressed himself to the courier.
    'When you have deposited me at the Palace go to the Golden Lion and see that an ample meal is prepared for me.' Then to Piero: 'Attend to the stabling of the horses. The courier will show you the way to the monastery and you will leave the saddle-bags in charge of Antonio.' This was one of his two servants. 'Then you and the courier will come to the Palace and wait for me.'
    The Palace, a large, but unpretentious building, for Caterina Sforza who had built it was a thrifty woman, took up one end of the square, and here Machiavelli and the officer, dismounting, were admitted by the guard. The officer sent a soldier to tell the first secretary they were there. In a few minutes he came into the room in which Machiavelli was waiting. Agapito da Amalia was a swarthy man, with long black hair and a small black beard, with a pale skin and sombre, clever eyes. He was a gentleman, with good manners, suave of speech and with a candid air which deceived many into thinking less of his abilities than was wise. He was devoted both to the person and the interest of the Duke, for Il Valentino had the gift of attaching to himself those whose loyalty was necessary to him. He told Machiavelli that the Duke would receive him at once. They ascended a fine flight of stairs and Machiavelli was ushered into a handsome apartment, the walls painted in fresco, with a large stone fireplace on the hood of which were carved the arms of the intrepid, but unfortunate Caterina Sforza whom Caesar Borgia now held prisoner in Rome. A bright fire of logs blazed on the hearth, and the Duke stood with his back to it. The only other person in the room was Juan Borgia, Cardinal of Monreale, the portly, shrewd nephew of Pope Alexander. He was seated in a carved, high-backed chair toasting his toes at the fire.
    Machiavelli bowed to the Duke and the Cardinal, and the Duke, coming towards him graciously, took his hand and led him to a chair.
    'You must be cold and tired