[hprints-00683151, v2] Enea Silvio Piccolomini (Pius II ... - Hprints.org

hprints-00683151, version 2 - 19 Mar 2013
[77] There are men who like horses grow more snappish the more they are
indulged. Francesco Carmagnola 734 fought under this prince, who loaded him with
riches and honours. He then fled to the enemies of the duke 735 and several times
inflicted severe defeats on his former master. When Carmagnola died in enemy
country 736 , the duke received his daughters, arranged excellent marriages for them,
and restored all his property to the widow. Also, the whole world knows how he
behaved towards the Most Serene Kings of Aragon 737 and Navarra 738 : beyond all
conceivable generosity! Indeed, the duke may on other occasions have surpassed
everybody else in generosity, but here he surpassed himself. Oh, eminent lineage!
Oh, true child of Galeazzo 739 ! Is there any sort of man who does not love you? Is
there any people so barbarous, so obtuse, so alienated from all humanity that they
do not cherish your name? Cicero believes that On account of their virtue and
uprightness we feel a sort of affection even for those whom we have never seen. 740
So, here is one whom all should revere, and I believe that even his enemies must
praise him as they daily hear such things about him.
734
Francesco Bussone also called count of Carmagnola: Italian condottiere (c. 1382 – 1432)
735
i.e. the Venetians
736
Executed by his masters, the Venetians, in 1432
737
Alfonso V
738
Alfonso’s brother, Juan II, King of Navarre and Aragon (b. 1398, k. Navarre 1425, k. Aragon 1458, d. 1479)
739
Giangaleazzo Visconti, Duke of Milan
740
Cicero: Laelius de amicitia, 8, 28. Quoted after the Loeb edition of 1964
143