Chapter 5 chapter Five

Pierrot and the messenger were already waiting in the guardhouse.When the gate opened on time, the three of them left the compound and walked into the square.The servants who took care of Machiavelli took him to the Golden Lion Hotel.They greeted the restaurant repeatedly and told them that the meal was specially for the envoys from Florence.And this envoy has always had a good appetite, and he is also very particular about food.The wine was homemade in the local countryside. Although it could not be compared with the wine in the Tuscany region, it was quite strong, so Machiavelli let go of his bosom and drank it to his heart's content.He looked back and thought about his confrontation with the Duke today, and he thought that, generally speaking, the result was not bad.Duke Valentino's anger seemed to imply that he was a little nervous, and his insistence on establishing an immediate alliance with the Florentine Republic indicated that he understood the danger he was in.Machiavelli was quite indifferent to the lack of decorum throughout the interview.From the moment he accepted the mission, he knew that he could not expect others to treat him with courtesy.After eating, drinking and belching a few times, he asked the messenger to tell him the way to the monastery where he was staying.In view of his important status, the monastery vacated a single room for him.Pierrot and the messenger had to fall asleep on a straw mattress spread in the corridor.Like them, there were other temporary guests laying the floor in the corridor.They were thankful and very satisfied with the benefit of not having to sleep in the open.But before going to bed, Machiavelli wrote a letter to the Consulate in which he described some of the circumstances of his evening meeting with the Duke.Couriers will bring the letter back to Florence at dawn tomorrow.

"You'd better write a letter to Piaggio so that he can tell your mother that you have arrived safely." He instructed Piero. "Also, ask him to send me a copy of Plutarch." Machiavelli carried a volume of Dante's poems with him, and Livy's "History of Rome" was the only other thing.After Piero finished writing the letter, Machiavelli took it without any explanation, and began to read the letter: "Master Niccolo didn't talk much all morning. I think he was thinking about important things, so I didn't disturb him. But When he finished dinner, he spoke with such wit, clarity and philosophy that I almost thought we were still in Scarpellia and not yet in Imola. He thought I had a good voice. I hope the messenger will bring my flute next time, if possible."

"Well written," said Machiavelli. "The message you let Piaggio deliver to your mother was very fitting. Now, after a hard day's work, let us seize the opportunity to get a well-deserved sleep."