Byways in southern Tuscany . e who chose to leave the city when itwas given up should not be prevented, also that the sol-diers of the garrison were to march out with all honor,and so it was that on the day the conquerors were to enterby the Camollia gate there gathered in the piazza thosewho were determined to leave Siena and preserve theirindependence by going to Montalcino. Among thesewere many of the most glorious and illustrious of theSienese as well as those of lesser note, to the number ofseveral hundred. Monluc gives a touching account ofthis hour. I was filled with pity, he writes, bo
Byways in southern Tuscany . e who chose to leave the city when itwas given up should not be prevented, also that the sol-diers of the garrison were to march out with all honor,and so it was that on the day the conquerors were to enterby the Camollia gate there gathered in the piazza thosewho were determined to leave Siena and preserve theirindependence by going to Montalcino. Among thesewere many of the most glorious and illustrious of theSienese as well as those of lesser note, to the number ofseveral hundred. Monluc gives a touching account ofthis hour. I was filled with pity, he writes, both forthose who went forth and for those who stayed in all my life have I beheld a departure so heart-rending. Even our soldiers, who themselves had enduredso much, mourned that they had not the power to savethe freedom of this company. As for myself, I could notkeep back my tears at sight of the suffering of a people soimpassioned in defending their liberty. Before they departed Marignano addressed them and 112. A Farm House near Montalcino. BYWAYS IN SOUTHERN TUSCANY promised indulgence and consideration if they would re-main, but no one faltered in his resolution against it. Thesoldiers began to form for the vanguard; they, too, hadsuflfered, their very clothes were pawned and they werewithout money to retrieve them. The Gascons werewasted with starvation. Cornelio Bentivoglio, com-mander of the Italian troops, led them, lance in hand,preceded by a page carrying his white-plumed files of the imperial troops who lined the streets,the French and Italian soldiers marched forth, carryingthe seal of the city, with drums beating and colors flying;Spannocchi rode beside Monluc, who, pale, lined, his skinparched with fever, yet held his head high and wore hisrichest costume. There followed the sorrowing but stead-fast little company of citizens, ruined in all but faith andcourage. They passed southward out of the Porta Ro-mana and weak and famished as the
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjecttuscany, bookyear1919
