Page 279 of 310

Retreat had been impossible, with the mountains on both flanks,

whilst in front were their enemies, and in the rear their

friends. When Castruccio saw that his men were unable to strike a

decisive blow at the enemy and put them to flight, he sent one

thousand infantrymen round by the castle, with orders to join the

four hundred horsemen he had previously dispatched there, and

commanded the whole force to fall upon the flank of the enemy.

These orders they carried out with such fury that the Florentines

could not sustain the attack, but gave way, and were soon in full

retreat-conquered more by their unfortunate position than by the

valour of their enemy. Those in the rear turned towards Pistoia,

and spread through the plains, each man seeking only his own

safety. The defeat was complete and very sanguinary.