[The Life of Cesare Borgia by Raphael Sabatini]@TWC D-Link book
The Life of Cesare Borgia

CHAPTER I
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We find a detailed relation of it in Brantome, translated into prose form some old verses which, he tells us, that he found in the family treasury.

He complains of their coarseness, and those who are acquainted with the delightful old Frenchman's own frankness of expression may well raise their brows at that criticism of his.

Whatever the coarse liberties taken with the subject--of which we are not allowed more than an occasional glimpse--and despite the fact that the relation was in verse, which ordinarily makes for the indulgence of the rhymer's fancy--the description appears to be fairly accurate, for it corresponds more or less with the particulars given in Sanuto.
At the head of the cavalcade went twenty-four sumpter-mules, laden with coffers and other baggage under draperies embroidered with Cesare's arms--prominent among which would be the red bull, the emblem of his house, and the three-pointed flame, his own particular device.

Behind these came another twenty-four mules, caparisoned in the king's colours of scarlet and gold, to be followed in their turn by sixteen beautiful chargers led by hand, similarly caparisoned, and their bridles and stirrups of solid silver.

Next came eighteen pages on horseback, sixteen of whom were in scarlet and yellow, whilst the remaining two were in cloth of gold.


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