IWASsohappy.TheworldwentonthingshappenedinForli,therivalpartiesagitatedandmettogetheranddiscussedtherewasageneralferment—andtoitallIwasprofoundlyindifferent.Whatmatterallthepettylittleaffairsoflife?Isaid.Peopleworkandstruggle,plot,scheme,makemoney,loseit,conspireforplaceandhonourtheyhavetheirambitionsandhopesbutwhatisitallbesidelove?IhadenteredintotheexcitementofpoliticsinForliIwasbehindtheveilandknewtheintricacies,theambitions,theemotionsoftheactorsbutnowIwithdrewmyself.WhatdidIcareabouttheprospectsofForli,whethertaxeswereputonortakenoff,orwhetherAkilledBorBkilledA,itreallyseemedsounimportant.Ilookeduponthemaspuppetsperformingonastage,andIcouldnottreattheiractswithseriousness.Giulia!Thatwasthegreatfactinlife.NothingmatteredtomebutGiulia.WhenIthoughtofGiuliamyheartwasfilledwithecstasy,andIspatwithscornonallthesillydetailsofevents.
IwouldwillinglyhavekeptmyselfoutofthestreamwhichwascarryingalongtheothersbutIcouldnothelpknowingwhathappened.Anditwasindeedridiculous.AfterthegreatsceneatthePalacepeoplehadbeguntotakestepsasifforbigevents.CheccohadsentalargesumofmoneytoFlorencefortheMedicitotakecareofBartolomeoMoratinihadmadepreparationsthereweregenerallyastirandunrest.GirolamowassupposedtobegoingtotakesomesteppeoplewerepreparedforeverythingwhentheywokeupinthemorningtheyaskedifaughthadtakenplaceinthenightandCheccoworeacoatofmail.OntheCount'ssidepeoplewereaskingwhatCheccomeanttodo,whethertheovationhehadreceivedwouldencouragehimtoanyviolentstep.Alltheworldwasagogforgreatevents—andnothinghappened.Itremindedmeofamysteryplayinwhich,aftergreatpreparationofdialogue,somegreatstageeffectisgoingtobeproduced—asaintisgoingtoascendtoheaven,oramountainistoopenandthedevilspringout.Thespectatorsaresittingopen-mouthedthemomenthascome,everythingisready,thesignalisgiventhemobhavealreadydrawntheirbreathforacryofastonishment—andsomethinggoeswronga