against another of his class
nearest to him in influence. If _he_ was not to gain the guerdon, then
his rival should not have it!

This was the spirit which permeated the _raison d'etre_ of each noble
lord in that great assembly. After the first wave of enthusiasm had
passed, each man began to reflect that the best way, after all, for
settling the contentious question of the Headship of the Republic, was
to rule every one of the "magnificent six hundred" out of the running;
and by taking the line of least resistance plump for the unassuming
youths before them--Medici although they were.

"_Signori!_" "_Signori!_" again ran through the lofty chamber, "_I
Signori di Firenze!_" Some cried out "Lorenzo," and some "Giuliano," and
others "_I tutte due_"--but shouts for Lorenzo waxed the loudest. Thus
by general acclamation was the new _Capo della Repubblica_ elected.

Abashed by the vociferations of their elders and yet encouraged by the
unanimity of the assembly, the two young men stood gravely bowing their
acknowledgments, the heightened colour of their faces and the nervous
tension of their frames indicating the fervency of their emotions. In a
few well-chosen sentences Lorenzo expressed his pleasure and Giuliano's,
and the gratitude of their mother at this signal mark of confidence; and
promised to uphold the traditions of the City and the State, as his
forbears had done, craving from the noble lords their united sympathy
and support.

Gently leading the now smiling Domina Lucrezia by the hand, the two
brothers returned to the private Hall of Audience, while the great bell
of the Palazzo boomed forth the news to the waiting crowd outside. The
wool-workers had ceased their toil, the artists had left their
_botteghe_, the markets were deserted, and all Florence forgathered in
the Piazza to welcome "_I Signori di Firenze!_"

Loud plaudits greeted the noble matron and her sons--not the battle-cry
"_Palle! Palle!_" indeed--but "_Evviva i Medici!_" "_Lorenzo!_"
"_Giuliano!_" "_La buona Domina Magnifica!_" ... Their progress was a
triumph, they could scarcely make their way, short as it was, to the Via
Larga, for everybody pressed forward to kiss and stroke their hands.
Never had there been anything like so popular an election in Florence;
men and women shed tears as they uttered rapturously their names; for
were not "Lorenzo" and "Giuliano" the "pets of the people," and was not
the Domina Lucrezia beloved by everyone!