Besides these strong characteristics he had inherited, in a superlative
degree, the shrewd common-sense of Piero, and his mother's passionate
love of Florence, with all her enthusiasm for what was pure, cultured,
philanthropic, and religious. Niccolo Macchiavelli, somewhat
unwillingly, admitted that--"Lorenzo has all the high-mindedness and
liberality which anybody could expect in one occupying such an exalted
station."

Giuliano tacitly and contentedly accepted a less ambitious and
responsible role. Whilst Lorenzo took the first place and occupied
himself in questions of State policy and in the affairs of the family,
Giuliano drew to himself all the younger men in physical exploit and
mental effort. From boyhood addicted to sports and pastimes, he became
_facile princeps_ in all manly exercises.

"_Il bel Giulio!_" as he was called generally, was moreover the leader
of fashion and the organiser of all the pageants and jousts with which
Lorenzo and he delighted the citizens. Whilst devoting most of his time
to fun and frolic, the young prince was acknowledged as one of the chief
_litterati_, and a conspicuous ornament of the Platonic Academy.

The serious side to his character and his, studious disposition gained
for him the gentle title of "_Il Pensieroso_." His mother's fond hope
was that he should be named a Cardinal, not merely a Papal princeling,
nor of course a religious reprobate--as, alas, most of the Cardinals
were--but a devout wearer of the scarlet hat, and that one day he might
even assume the triple tiara!

Anyhow Giuliano's youth was as spotless as it might be amid unchaste
surroundings. His passion for the bewitching Simonetta, "The Star of