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, gDes the battle, 
and finally carries cities.” 1 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. 
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