as to be ruined, whether with or without your concurrence, we
should certainly, either by flight or exile, have avoided these horrors.
But trusting that we had to do with those who possessed some feelings
of humanity and some love of their country, we willingly accepted the
magistracy, thinking that by our gentleness we should overcome your
ambition. But we perceive from experience that the more humble our
behavior, the more concessions we make, the prouder you become, and the
more exorbitant are your demands. And though we speak thus, it is not in
order to offend, but to amend you. Let others tell you pleasing tales,
our design is to communicate only what is for your good. Now we would
ask you, and have you answer on your honor, What is there yet ungranted,
that you can, with any appearance of propriety, require? You wished to
have authority taken from the Capitani di Parte; and it is done. You
wished that the ballotings should be burned, and a reformation of them
take place; and we consent. You desired that the admonished should be
restored to their honours; and it is permitted. At your entreaty we have
pardoned those who have burned down houses and plundered churches;
many honorable citizens have been exiled to please you; and at your
suggestion new restraints have been laid upon the Great. When will there
be an end of your demands? and how long will you continue to abuse our
liberality? Do you not observe with how much more moderation we bear
defeat than you your victory? To what end will your divisions bring our
city? Have you forgotten that when disunited Castruccio, a low citizen
of Lucca, subdued her? or that a duke of Athens, your hired captain did
so too? But when the citizens were united in her defense, an archbishop
of Milan and a pope were unable to subdue it, and, after many years of
war, were compelled to retire with disgrace.

"Then why would you, by your discords, reduce to slavery in a time of
peace, that city, which so many powerful enemies have left free, even in
war? What can you expect from your disunion but subjugation? or from the
property of which you already have plundered, or may yet plunder us, but
poverty? for this property is the means by which we furnish occupation
for the whole city, and if you take it from us, our means of finding
that occupation is withdrawn. Besides, those who take it will have
difficulty in preserving what is dishonestly acquired, and thus poverty
and destitution are b