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420

GIANNETTINO OFFENDS PAUL III.

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pass, on a certain day, that Giannettino met four ships which belonged unto pope Paul; and he took them, and brought them unto Genoa by command of his master; and the nobles of that city

il comando d'Andrea Doria e di Giannettino suo nipote, e destinato successore della sua grandezza e il braccio d'un si valente uffiziale, trovarono chi per invidia e nimicizia privata prestò spontaneamente l'opera sua per così dire alla causa commune.

"Gian Luigi Fieschi, conte di Lavagna, giovane d'alti spiriti, e per chiarezza di sangue e per richezze de' più illustri della città, e per ogni sua qualità formato a tentar cose grandi, ma per effettuar piuttosto gran male che bene, sopportava con pessimo animo di vedere che tanta grandezza di Andrea Doria fosse per continuarsi in Giannettino, col quale egli nodriva gelosia e nemicizia particolare, e per la egualianza dell' età più viva e più fiera che verso il vecchio Ammiraglio (Sigon. Vita Andrea Doria, lib. 2. cap. 30). Siccome le intenzioni de' grandi difficilmente restano occulte a chi abbia interesse di conoscerle, così i Farnesi, a cui non mancavano per tutta Italia anche fra le persone più ragguardevoli, molti corrispondenti o servitori, ebbero segretamente notizia delle disposizioni del conte di Lavagna, Pier-Luigi Farnese che, tacendo il nome del Papa suo padre, trattava più alla scoperta e francamente col conte, fecegli sperare col mezzo degli ajuti della chiesa e di Francia non pure il dominio di Genova, ma ancora del Ducato di Milano; e già miravano come vicina e facilissima una general rivoluzione in tutto lo stato d'Italia, qualora l'Imperatore perdesse l'armata navale e l'obbedienza di Genova; ed operando in ciò concordemente à Farnesi tutti i partigiani di Francia, la duchessa di Ferrara, sorella del Francesco, offerì al Fiesco le sue stesse guardie. Le cose furono si bene e con tanta precauzione ordinate, che già (An. 1547) ucciso Giannettino Doria, il vecchio Ammiraglio sbalordito al primo scoppiare della congiura era preci

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FIESCHI'S JEALOUSY.

421

were greatly displeased, and rebuked him*; wherefore he sent them away into their own country; but Paul observed the saying†.

1173. Now Gian Luigi, Conte del Fiescho had a wife, who was beautiful and well-favored, and her name was Leonora ; and Giannettino loved her, and his soul clave to her; and he spake kindly unto her day by day for the love he had to herll. And the thing was known to Gian Luigi, who became jealous of his wife; but he comforted himself as touching Giannettino, purposing to kill him**; for jealousy is the rage of a man††, and who is able to stand before jealousy‡‡.

1174. And it came to pass, after some days, that the pope gave his ships into the hand of Gian Luigi, and advanced him, and made him captain pitosamente fuggito dalla città, e l'armata era già quasi pervenuta in potere dei congiurati; quando il conte, capo e anima di essi, per un accidente affatto improviso caduto nel mare ed annegatosi miseramente, entrò il disordine ne' suoi seguaci, e il Doria potè con poco pena ripigliarsi l'autorità di prima, e rassettar lo stato a modo suo e di Carlo V. Rimasero fieramente sconcertati e delusi i disegni di chi si credea per questo attentato di videre abbassata in Italia l'autorità dell' Imperatore."

Compare also Sleidanus, Thuanus, Robertson, and Von Raumer, to the year 1547.

*Gen. xxxvii. 10.

Gen. xxix. 17.

|| Gen. xxix. 20. ** Gen. xxvii. 42.

#Pro. xxvii. 4.

+ Gen. xxxvii. 11.

§ Gen. xxxiv. 3.

¶ Num. v. 14.
†† Pro. vi. 34.

422

FIESCHI'S POPULARITY.

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of his armament. And Gian Luigi was a mighty hunter* and of a goodly mien; and the greater part of the men of the city lifted up their eyes unto him, and loved him passing the love of woment, for hunting was in his mouth; his lips dropped as an honey-comb§; and Giannettino put on revenge, and the thing was known to Gian Luigi; and it was evil in his sight. And from this time forth, he devised mischief in his heart against Giannettino and against his master, but continued to speak every day peaceably to them, for Andrea Doria had been as a father unto him and unto his brethren, from the day when their father died.

1175. And at that time, in the tenth month, they made marriages** together; and Giannettino gave his sister to wife to the brother of Gian Luigi's wife. And they ate and drank together; but their hearts were not with themtt. So are the ways of all who are greedy of gain‡‡.

*Gen. x. 9.

† 2 Sam. i. 26.

1 T. i. e. He hunted for popularity; the rabbies generally translate, Deceit was in his mouth. See Jarchi on Gen. xxv. 28.

§ Pro. v. 3. Cant. iv. 11.

¶ i. e. Against Andrea Doria.

Comp. Is. lix. 17. ** Gen. xxxiv. 9.

++ i. e. Their hearts were not united, although they outwardly

joined in conviviality.

Pro. i. 19.

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GIANNETTINO'S COVETOUSNESS.

423

1176. A Jew-man, whose name was Solomon, the son of Samuel, and his son Moses, were carried bound in those days in the ships which were under the hand* of Giannettino; and on the fourth day of the week, on the twenty-ninth day of the tenth month, I went down to deliver them out of his hand. And they gave me up the old man, at the word of his master, according as it was commanded, when I gave another (viz. a Turk) in his stead, life for lifet. And at that time Giannettino said unto me, "I will not give up the young man, unless thou give me three Turks in his stead, or their value in money." And I said, "Not so, my lord, my power is gone;" and he said, Speak no more unto me of this matter|| :' And I said, "Thou speakest truly; but behold, my lord, and see, that the end of Sehubim (goldpieces) is Sebubim (flies) and they are a vain thing for safety**." And he thought scorn††, on account of the greatness of his covetousness, and laughed and said, "Thou dost not know that treasures were made to rove‡‡. And as for the

66

* Command.

Exod. xxi. 23.

Deut. iii. 26.

+ Exod. iii. 8.

§ Deut. xxxii. 36.

i. e. Riches certainly make .כִּי סוֹף דָבַר הַזְהוּבִים זְבוּבִים *

themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven. Proverbs xxiii. 5.

†† Esth. iii. 6.

** Ps. xxxiii. 17.

i. e. Money must circulate.

424

FIESCHI'S CRAFTINESS.

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young man, I will not let him go*." And he set not his heart to my wordst. And they brought out the old man from the iron furnace‡, and the young man remained there weeping, and

lifted up his eyes towards heaven; and the Lord

beheld this matter, and it was evil in his sight§. And HE poured out his wrath upon Giannettino, and his destruction came as a whirlwind||.

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1177. In those days the Count Gian Luigi brought one of his galleys to Genoa, and two hundred men to put therein; and he revealed not his secret to any man¶. And Andrea Doria and Giannettino said, What meaneth then this voice of the people in mine ears** ?" And the count answered with subtlety, "To send them into the east to take spoil in the countries of our enemies have I brought them hither;" and they believed his words, and remained secure. And Giannettino knew not that his day was come, and that the count had devised evil against him.

And Gian Luigi went

again into the house of Andrea Doria as often times beforett, and said unto him, " Now I have found favor in thy sight, let, I pray thee, my lord and Giannettino, come to the banquet that I shall

* Exod. v. 2.
Deut. iv. 20.

|| Prov. i. 27.

** 1 Sam. xv. 14.

Exod. vii. 23.
Prov. xxiv. 18.
Amos. iii. 7.

†† Jud. xvi. 20.

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