Pagina 293 van 310

Here Castruccio stood exposed to a wind which often rises at

midday on the banks of the Arno, and which is often very

unhealthy; from this he took a chill, of which he thought

nothing, as he was accustomed to such troubles; but it was the

cause of his death. On the following night he was attacked with

high fever, which increased so rapidly that the doctors saw it

must prove fatal. Castruccio, therefore, called Pagolo Guinigi to

him, and addressed him as follows: