Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. II.djvu/313

289 EXPEDITION OF CHARLES VIII. 289 Charles the Eighth made his entrance into Na- chapter pies at the head of his leaions, February 22d5 '- — The French 1495, having traversed this whole extent of hostile enterNapies. territory in less time than would be occupied by a fashionable tourist of the present day. The object of his expedition was now achieved. He seemed to have reached the consummation of his wishes ; and, although he assumed the titles of King of Sici- ly and of Jerusalem, and affected the state and authority of Emperor, he took no measures for prosecuting his chimerical enterprise further. He even neglected to provide for the security of his present conquest ; and, without bestowing a thought on the government of his new dominions, resigned himself to the licentious and effeminate pleasures so congenial with the soft voluptuousness of the climate, and his own character. ^^ While Charles was thus wasting his time and Generarnos- O tility to resources in frivolous amusements, a dark storm "'^'"' was gathering in the north. There was not a state through which he had passed, however friendly to his cause, which had not complaints to make of his insolence, his breach of faith, his infringement of their rights, and his exorbitant exactions. His impolitic treatment of Sforza had long since alien- ated that wily and restless politician, and raised suspicions in his mind of Charles's designs against his own duchy of Milan. The emperor elect, Maximilian, whom the French king thought to 44 Giovio, Hist, sui Temporis, Andr6 de la Vig-ne, Histoire de lib. 2, p. 55. — Giannone, Istoria Charles VIII. (Paris, 1617,) p. di Napoli, lib. 29, cap. 1, 2. — 201. VOL II. 37