Chapter 16 Chapter Sixteen

The next day was a market day, and Machiavelli took Piero to the market early in the morning.He bought a pair of plump grouse, and at another vendor a basket of luscious figs, a specialty of Rimini, famous and sold all over Italy.He asked Piero to send the food to Bartolomeo, with his regards.Imola was full of foreign guests these days, and food was scarce and expensive, so he knew his offering would be well received by his hosts.Then he set off for the Franciscan church.The Franciscan church was connected to the monastery where Father Timoteo practiced, not far from Bartolomeo's house.The church is indeed quite large, but it has no architectural aesthetic value at all.The church was empty.There were only two or three women in prayer, and a non-ordained brother who was obviously the deacon of the sacristy, mopping the floor.There was another priest who was busying slowly at the altar. Machiavelli glanced at this priest with his piercing eyes, saw that he was only pretending to be busy, and guessed in his heart that this must be the priest. Father Morteo.It is estimated that Caterina has already greeted the priest, and Machiavelli will come to visit him.

"Excuse me, my lord," he began, bowing politely, "I heard that in your church there is a statue of the Virgin Mary with miraculous powers, and I would like to light a candle in front of her. , I hope she can bless my pregnant wife, so that there will be less pain during childbirth." "There she is, my lord," said the priest. "I was just going to change her veil. The brothers in our church are always unable to clean her up, but when they see the pious people forget to make offerings to her, they are surprised to see her." Glad. I remember people used to have dozens of votive offerings at a time to pay their vows, and today it's less than twenty. It's really our own fault. My brethren have no brains at all."

Machiavelli selected a large candle, paid generously for a florin, and watched the priest put it on a thin iron skewer and light the candle.When all this was done, Machiavelli said: "I ask you to do me a favor, my lord. I have a private meeting with Father Timoteo, and I would be very grateful if you could tell me how to find him." "I am Father Timoteo," said the monk. "It's unbelievable! Everything seems to be arranged by God. It's a miracle that the first person I met when I came here was the person I was looking for." "The providence of God is unfathomable," said Father Timoteo.

The priest is of medium height, a bit rich but not obnoxious.Machiavelli's cool head immediately surmised that the man probably fasted only as far as his duty required, and not because he believed gluttony to be a serious vice.His face was good, like that of a Roman emperor, with exquisite features, not spoiled by extravagance and unbridled power, yet it revealed a cruelty and greed enough to lead to his assassination later.Machiavelli was no stranger to such people.In his thick red lips, protruding hooked nose, and his delicate black eyes, Machiavelli saw ambition, cunning, and greed.But these qualities are masked by a surface of good-naturedness and simple piety.Machiavelli could understand how this man had gained the confidence of the Bartholomews.He instinctively felt that this man could deal with.He had always hated monks.He thought these people were either idiots or villains.The man in front of him might be a villain, and he had to be careful.

"I must tell you, Monsieur, that I have heard many praises of you from my friend Bartolomeo Martelli. He has a very high opinion of your character and ability." "My lord Bartholomew is a faithful son of the Church. Our monastery is very poor, and we have always relied on his generosity. But, sir, may I ask which lord it is with whom I have the honor of conversing here?" ?” Machiavelli knew that the priest was posturing, but he replied solemnly: "I should have introduced myself earlier in the morning. I am Niccolò Machiavelli, citizen of Florence, Secretary of State at the Second Chamber."

The priest bowed deeply. "It is a great honor for me to be able to speak with an envoy sent by such a glorious city-state as Florence." "My lord, you are too flattering. I am but an ordinary man, with all the faults of a human being. But where can we have a private and full conversation?" "Why not here, my lord? The helping deacon brother over there is as deaf as a pillar and stupid as a donkey, and those little old women are busy with their prayers and don't care what we say , and besides, even if they heard it, they wouldn't understand what we said."

They sat down on two pews for prayer in the church, and Machiavelli told Father Timoteo that he had been commissioned by the Consulate to find a clergyman who could preach in the cathedral during Lent.There was no expression on the priest's Roman face, but Machiavelli still felt that the man's level of attention had increased rapidly, which confirmed Machiavelli's judgment that the man in front of him already knew Machiavelli and Bartholomew thoroughly. The content of the family's conversation the night before.Machiavelli briefed him on the demands of the Consulate. "Of course they're a little worried about it," he said. "They don't want to repeat the mistake they made with Father Girolamo Savonarola. There is nothing wrong with urging and exhorting people to confession, but Florence's prosperity depends on trade, and the Concierge does not want to make confession such a thing. It disturbs harmony, and interferes with commerce. An excess of virtue is as injurious to a country as an excess of indulgence in vice."

"That sentence, I seem to remember, is Aristotle's point of view." "Ah, I can see that you are an educated man, unlike ordinary priests. This is very good. The people of Florence are quick-minded and have deep judgment. If a preacher does not have solid learning, No matter how eloquent he is, people won't have the patience to listen." "You are right. Many of my brethren are shockingly ignorant," replied Father Timoteo, with some air of self-satisfaction. "If I understand you correctly, you want to see if there is anyone at Imola who, in your opinion, deserves the honor. It is a matter for further consideration. I must seriously consider it This matter. I will also make some careful inquiries."

"You have helped me a lot in this way. I have learned from Lord Bartholomew and his family members that you are wise and have a high moral character. I believe you will give me a fair opinion." "Lord Bartholomew's women are all saints. That's the only reason they think so highly of me." "I live at Lady Serafina's house, which is just behind Monsieur Bartolomeo's house. If I can invite you to my apartment for dinner tomorrow night, we can talk about it in detail. And Serafina will be very happy to have you here for dinner." Father Timoteo accepted the invitation.Machiavelli then went home.On his way home he stopped by Bartolomeo and asked him to borrow some money.He explained that he was spending a lot of money in Imola in order to carry out his mission.However, the money from the ruling group has not yet arrived.He recounted at length the miserliness of the Florentine government, complaining that, in order to maintain his dignity as an envoy and pay for intelligence, he was sometimes obliged to pay out of his own pocket.Bartholomew interrupted his narration.

"Dear Niccolo," he said in his cheerful way, "you need not tell me that here at court one can get things without paying. For you, and for the Consulate, I Willing to lend you anything you need. How much do you need?" Machiavelli was surprised and delighted. "Twenty-five ducats." "That's all? Wait, I'll bring it to you right away." He walked out of the room.Came back a minute or two later with the money.Machiavelli regretted that he had asked for so little. "In the future, if you still need it, just tell me," Bartolomeo said with a smile, "You must regard me as your bank."

"A fool can't see his own wealth," thought Machiavelli on his way back to his lodging.