Marino made fun of it in a sonnet; Murtola retorted; and a warfare of invectives began which equaled for scurrility and filth the duels of Poggio and Valla.

Murtola, seeing that he was likely to be worsted by his livelier antagonist, waited for him one day round a corner, gun in hand.

The gun was discharged, and wounded, not Marino, but a favorite servant of the duke.

For this offense the assassin was condemned to death; and would apparently have been executed, but for Marino's generosity.

He procured his enemy's pardon, and was repaid with the blackest ingratitude.