Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1875-05-19
An Episode OF the Siege Of
Florence.

This period of the strife opened with
chiyalrOus incident. Ludovico Mar
tell and Giovanni Baudini had been
I conspicuous among the ardent youthS
who took part in the first revolutionary
movements. The latter was the Admir-
able crichton of his sphere, and as Il
natural consequence of his extra allow
anee of brains, his republicanism cooled
with the progress OF events. until he
was now, with many another high-bOrn
! FlOrentine, i'll arms against the city.
! Not so his friend, who had developed
into one of the widest of the democrats.
! In neither case, however, was this diver
gence altogether the result of political
convictions. The preference of the
! beautiful Maria Ricci had something to
do with it. She was an ardent Pal
leschi, and, therefore, the two suitorS,
particularly the rejected one, Martelli,
took opposite sides with little more
fervOr than they might otherwise have
! shown. The lady remained in the city.
aId Marteli, very .unwisely, omitted
no opportunity of seeing her. On one
of these occasions she treated him to a
set homIly on the numerous perfeStionS
of Bandini, dwelling especially on his
knightly accomplishments. II hope
soon to show YOU that am not so infe-
rior to him even in these things as you
seem TO SUPPOSE replied Marteili.
Next morning a challenge, drawn mp in
proper form, was dispatched with a flag
of truce to Bandini. 1t was accepted
! by the latter with reluctance that did
/ him no dIscredit, and, after q tedious
negotiation. the details cf the duel were
arranged. 1t was 10 take place on
/ Saturday, the 10th of March, to be q
/ fight of two against two, the weapons
swords, the manner on foot, and the
| Prince of Orange Ia provide and keep
| the lists. The last consisted of an
inclosure of sufficient size, divided into
two by q rope stretched across it, for is
was agreed that the parties were not to
assist each other in the fight. At the
appointed hour the champions made
their appearance, and were led into the
champ tfOs with all the usual minute
| forms. Marteii was accompanied by a
pronounced Republican of mature
years, Dante Castiglione; and Bandini
had for friend a mere youth, one of
1 the pupils of the sculptor FL PifferO.
Each had his head bare, was clad in
hose and shirt. the latter having the
right sleeve cut off at the elbow, and
wore an iron gauntlet on the right hand
i'duuAnl tut Ntsipoh1. anu
the ehallengers were allowed the first
choice. The former bending back his
blade, as if to prove it, snapped it in
two between his fingers. A disruse
arose. Bandini's friends pressing to
have the broken weapon replaced, and
Martelli's opposing she proposition as
against the laws and usages of the
dueil0; and as the umpires allowed il
to be correct, Bandini was compelled to
fight with the stump, The
| began at the same moment, but that
between the seconds was the first deci-
ded. The young artist Immediately re-
ceived two wounds. one ON the sword
arm and the other on the face. These
be quickly repaid with three, one of
! them a severe one through the right
arm. The advantage was now with him
/ for CastigliOne was compelled to grasp
his sword with both hands. But the
youth lost his temper, made blind
rush, and received a terrible thrust,
which pentrated through the month TO
| the brain. lie screamed, dropped his
weapon, and falling headlOng, rolled
over and over in agony, being removed
/ from the lists to die the same evening.
Castiglione turned to see now the bat
tie went with his friend. 1t was sick
ening sight. Martelli rushed blindly
at Bandini; the latter sprang aside and