Pagina 285 di 310

Moreover, the enemy could not hinder its being victualled unless

they divided their forces, nor could they approach it either from

the direction of Lucca or Pisa, nor could they get through to

Pisa, or attack Castruccio's forces except at a disadvantage. In

one case they would find themselves placed between his two

armies, the one under his own command and the other under Pagolo,

and in the other case they would have to cross the Arno to get to

close quarters with the enemy, an undertaking of great hazard. In

order to tempt the Florentines to take this latter course,

Castruccio withdrew his men from the banks of the river and

placed them under the walls of Fucecchio, leaving a wide expanse

of land between them and the river.