ITALIAN GARDENS OF THE RENAISSANCE 



Vitelli, Annibale Bentivoglio, and Paolo Baglioni. At 

 the same time he gave a full and accurate description 

 of the troops and ammunition at Borgia's disposal, 

 adding the following significant note : " This army is 

 very mediocre in quality and especially poor in foot- 

 soldiers, but Fortune does everything, lays the siege, 

 places the ladders against the walls, gives the battle, 

 and finally carries cities." * Such was the unconscious 

 homage which the warrior of Ravenna paid to Borgia's 

 imposing personality and extraordinary force of will. 

 " The Pope's son," wrote a Ferrarese envoy from 

 Rome, " has a great soul and is bent on attaining fame 

 and power, but cares more to conquer cities than to 

 govern and preserve them." For a while, however, 

 even Caesar's boundless ambition and untiring energy 

 were foiled by the courage and loyalty of Astorre's 

 subjects. Guidarello describes the gallant sorties made 

 by the little garrison, and tells how, one winter 

 morning, he himself rode up to the city gates with 

 twenty crossbowmen. No one came out to meet him, 

 but the walls bristled with men and artillery, which 

 discharged their shells repeatedly and compelled him 

 to retire. Still Duke Valentino, contrary to the 

 opinion of his captains, was in favour of an immediate 

 assault, and with this intention held a grand review of 

 his forces, including a large body of newly levied 



1 Marino Sanudo Diarii, iii. 1050. 

 242 



