country, which has brought forth and bred me, and given me honour and credit – which, if I can attain, and that you should join the confederation and friendship of the Florentines, and join your army with our Tuscans against the cruellest tyrant, enemy of our liberties, and hating yours, happy shall be my errand, and my country will embrace me with joy on my return. And our citizens, who live in this sole hope, will hold themselves and their city by your bounty alone to be saved from every peril. ... I tremble, noble Prince, in this place to say that which I feel in my soul. But because it is necessary I will say it: if you will not make this alliance with us, Philip will find himself able without help, having overthrown Florence, to secure also the dominion of Venice. If it should be answered me that the Venetians always keep their promises and engagements, I pray and implore the most high God that, having given you goodness and faith to keep your promises, He would give you to know the arts and motives of this tyrant, and after discovering them, with mature prudence to restrain and overrule them. ... That tyrant himself, who has so often broken the laws, both divine and human, will himself teach you not to keep that which he, in his perfidy, has not kept. But already your tacit consent gives me to understand that my reasons have persuaded you that in this oration I ask not so much the salvation of my Republic as the happiness, dignity, and increase of your own."
This speech moved the senators greatly, but did not settle the question, their minds being divided between alarm, sympathy, and prudence – fear of Philip on the one hand and of expense on the other – so that they resolved to hear Philip's ambassadors first before coming to any decision. Time was given to the orator of the Milan party to prepare his reply to Ridolfi, which he made in a speech full of bravado, declaring that he and his fellows were sent, not to make any league or peace with Venice, since their former treaties were unviolated, and any renewal was unnecessary between such faithful allies, but simply to salute the Illustrious Signoria in Philip's name.
"But since these people, who have by nature the gift of speech, delicate and false, have not only to the Senate, but in the Piazza and by the streets, with pitiful lamentations, wept their fate, declaring that the war which they have carried on so badly was begun by Philip; he desires to leave it to your judgment, not refusing any conditions which you may prescribe. What they say is false and vain, unheard-of things, which, as useless men, they are accustomed to study in order to abuse your gravity, your constancy, the ancient laws of friendship, and all the treaties made with Philip. They bid you fear him and the increase of his power. But you know that they are our enemies who speak. They tell you that kings hate the name of republics. ... It is true that King Louis was a cruel enemy of the Venetian name, and all the house of Carrari were your enemies. But the Visconti, who for a hundred years have flourished in the noble duchy of Milan, were always friends of the Venetian Republic. ... Philip has had good reasons to war against the Florentines, and so have all the Visconti. They ought to accuse themselves, their pride and avarice, not Philip, who is the friend of peace and repose, the very model of liberality and courtesy. Let them therefore cease to abuse and injure our noble Duke in your presence. Being provoked, we have answered in these few words, though we might have said many more; so true that they themselves (although they are liars) could not venture to contradict them."
This address did not throw much light upon the subject, and left the Senate in as much difficulty as if they had been an English Cabinet Council. There is much indeed in their position which, if our own could bear a laugh, would suggest
