Verona was so pressed, that a similar fate was expected to await her,
and if one of these cities were lost, all the other preparations for the
war might be considered useless, and the expenses already incurred as
completely wasted. For this there was no remedy, but to send the count
into Lombardy; and to this measure three obstacles presented themselves.
The first was, to induce him to cross the Po, and prosecute the war in
whatever locality might be found most advisable; the second, that the
count being at a distance, the Florentines would be left almost at the
mercy of the duke, who, issuing from any of his fortresses, might with
part of his troops keep the count at bay, and with the rest introduce
into Tuscany the Florentine exiles, whom the existing government already
dreaded; the third was, to determine what route the count should take to
arrive safely in the Paduan territory, and join the Venetian forces. Of
these three difficulties, the second, which particularly regarded the
Florentines, was the most serious; but, knowing the necessity of the
case, and wearied out by the Venetians, who with unceasing importunity
demanded the count, intimating that without him they should abandon all
hope, they resolved to relieve their allies rather than listen to the
suggestions of their own fears. There still remained the question about
the route to be taken, for the safety of which they determined the
Venetians should provide; and as they had sent Neri Capponi to treat
with the count and induce him to cross the Po, they determined that the
same person should also proceed to Venice, in order to make the benefit
the more acceptable to the Signory, and see that all possible security
were given to the passage of the forces.

Neri embarked at Cesena and went to Venice; nor was any prince ever
received with so much honor as he was; for upon his arrival, and the
matters which his intervention was to decide and determine, the safety
of the republic seemed to depend. Being introduced to the senate, and