Byways in southern Tuscany . gold crowns were paid to each of theworthy drummers and fifers. Perhaps the people com-forted themselves a little with the recollection of thistriumph during the oncoming of that sad time when theyknew there was no more hope of their continuance as aseparate government. In a few months France recalledher soldiers and defenceless as they were there was nothingfor them but to submit to Cosimo. The shadowy littlecommonwealth had existed but for four years, then therecame the day when their beloved flag was pulled down, ascene in the Communal Palace when the last mould
Byways in southern Tuscany . gold crowns were paid to each of theworthy drummers and fifers. Perhaps the people com-forted themselves a little with the recollection of thistriumph during the oncoming of that sad time when theyknew there was no more hope of their continuance as aseparate government. In a few months France recalledher soldiers and defenceless as they were there was nothingfor them but to submit to Cosimo. The shadowy littlecommonwealth had existed but for four years, then therecame the day when their beloved flag was pulled down, ascene in the Communal Palace when the last mould oftheir coin was broken, and with tears their magistratesigned the transfer of his authority and gave up the keysof the city. The freedom they had cherished and bledfor was buried. Cosimo dismantled the fortress andfastened his bulky coat of arms over the gateway of thecastle where it still hangs. But the memory of its gallan-try and glory will Uve, its unconquerable spirit of inde-pendence, its aspiration for liberty. 120. .-»toi«_lf-J, ^^^i^^Xt^;!??% Spedaletto CHAPTER VIII The Val dOrcia—Radicofani—The Legend ofRe Giannino HE valley of the RiverOrcia—which con-tained Castiglione dOrcia and its sevenneighboring castles, as well as manyother fortified places—was the most im-portant part of the Httle republic ofMontalcino, and the first to declare alle-giance to her. The heights of Monte-pulciano lie to the north of it and thoseof Montalcino to the west, to the eastrises the mountain ridge of Cetona where the river has itssource, and to the south is the peak of Radicofani to-gether with the cone of Monte Amiata which nobly over-looks it all. But when we speak of the valley of the Orciathe region presents itself to the memory as less a valleythan a network of hills and vales, a continuous series of 121
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjecttuscany, bookyear1919
