"
He spoke to them now in burning words. He recapitulated the arguments
which yesterday he had made use of to quell the mutinous spirit of
Cappoccio. He assured them that Gian Maria threatened more than he could
accomplish; and so, perhaps, more than he would fulfil if they were so
foolish as to place themselves in his power. Their safety, he pointed
out to them, lay here, behind these walls. The siege could not long
endure. They had a stout ally in Caesar Borgia, and he was marching upon
Babbiano by then, so that Gian Maria must get him home perforce ere long.
Their pay was good, he reminded them, and if the siege were soon raised
they should be well rewarded.
"Gian Maria threatens to hang you when he captures Roccaleone. But even
should he capture it, do you think he would be allowed to carry out so
inhuman a threat? You are mercenaries, after all, in the pay of Monna
Valentina, on whom and her captains the blame must fall. This is Urbino,
not Babbiano, and Gian Maria is not master here. Do you think the noble
and magnanimous Guidobaldo would let you hang? Have you so poor an
opinion of your Duke? Fools! You are as safe from violence as are those
ladies in the gallery up there. For Guidobaldo would no more think of
harming you than of permitting harm to come to them. If any hanging
there is it will be for me, and perhaps for Messer Gonzaga who hired you.
Yet, do I talk of throwing down my arms? What think you holds me here?
Interest--just as interest holds you--and if I think the risk worth
taking, why should not you? Are you so tame and so poor-spirited that a
threat is to vanquish you? Will you become a byword in Italy, and when
men speak of cowardice, will you have them say: 'Craven as Monna
Valentina's garrison'?"
In this strain he talked to them, now smiting hard with his scorn, now
cajoling them with his assurances, and breeding confidence anew in their
shaken spirits.
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