self upon a settee and
was sleeping. Just then the guard of the Bargello passed by; they were
taking to prison a certain Captain Cisti, a Lombard, who had also been
a member of Giovanni's troop, but was not in the service of the Duke.
The captain, Cattivanza degli Strozzi, chanced to be in the same shop;
and when Cisti caught sight of him he whispered, "I was bringing you
those crowns I owed; if you want them, come for them before they go
with me to prison." Now Cattivanza had a way of putting his neighbors
to the push, not caring to hazard his own person. So, finding there
around him several young fellows of the highest daring, more eager
than apt for so serious an enterprise, he bade them catch up Captain
Cisti and get the money from him, and if the guard resisted, overpower
the men, provided they had pluck enough to do so.

The young men were but four, and all four of them without a beard. The
first was called Bertino Aldobrandi, another Anguillotto of Lucca; I
cannot recall the names of the rest. Bertino had been trained like a
pupil by my brother, and my brother felt the most unbounded love for
him. So then off dashed the four brave lads and came up with the guard
of the Bargello,--upwards of fifty constables, counting pikes,
arquebuses, and two-handed swords. After a few words they drew their
weapons, and the four boys so harried the guard that if Captain
Cattivanza had but shown his face, without so much as drawing, they
would certainly have put the whole pack to flight. But delay spoiled
all: for Bertino received some ugly wounds and fell; at the same time
Anguillotto was also hit in the right arm, and being unable to use his
sword, got out of the fray as well as he was able. The others did the
same. Bertino Aldobrandi was lifted from the ground seriously injured.

While these things were happening we were all at table; for that
morning we had dined more than an hour later than usual. On hearing
the commotion one of the old man's sons, the elder, rose from table to
go and look at the scuffle. He was called Giovanni; and I said to him,
"For Heaven's sake, don't go! In such matters one is always certain to
lose, while there is nothing to be gained." His father spoke to like
purpose, "Pray, my son, don't go!" But the lad, without heeding any
one, ran down the stairs. Reaching the Banchi, where the great
scrimmage was, and seeing Bertino lifted from the ground, he ran
towards home, and met my brother Cecchino on th