Peschiera. He then, with the marquis of Mantua and a chosen body of men,
went to meet him, and coming to an engagement, was routed, his people
dispersed, and many of them taken, while others fled to the fleet, and
some to the main body of his army. It was now nightfall, and Niccolo
had escaped to Tenna, but he knew that if he were to remain there till
morning, he must inevitably fall into the enemy's hands; therefore, to
avoid a catastrophe which might be regarded as almost fatal, he resolved
to make a dangerous experiment. Of all his attendants he had only with
him a single servant, a Dutchman, of great personal strength, and who
had always been devotedly attached to him. Niccolo induced this man
to take him upon his shoulders in a sack, as if he had been carrying
property of his master's, and to bear him to a place of security. The
enemy's lines surrounded Tenna, but on account of the previous day's
victory, all was in disorder, and no guard was kept, so that the
Dutchman, disguised as a trooper, passed through them without any
opposition, and brought his master in safety to his own troops.

Had this victory been as carefully improved as it was fortunately
obtained, Brescia would have derived from it greater relief and the
Venetians more permanent advantage; but they, having thoughtlessly let
it slip, the rejoicings were soon over, and Brescia remained in her
former difficulties. Niccolo, having returned to his forces, resolved by
some extraordinary exertion to cancel the impression of his death,
and deprive the Venetians of the change of relieving Brescia. He was
acquainted with the topography of the citadel of Verona, and had learned
from prisoners whom he had taken, that it was badly guarded, and might
be very easily recovered. He perceived at once that fortune presented
him with an opportunity of regaining the laurels he had lately lost, and
of changing the joy of the enemy for their recent victory into sorrow
for a succeeding disaster. The city of Verona is situated in Lombardy,