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 THE SECOND BOOK OF THE COURTIER money without much trouble. And one of these is, that since we have no revenue greater than from the customs levied at the gates of Florence, and since we have eleven gates, let us at once have eleven more made, and thus we shall double our revenue. The other method is to give orders that the mints be forthwith opened in Pistoia and Prato,™ just the same as in Florence, and that nothing be done there day and night but mint money, and that all the money be ducats of gold; and in my judgment this course is the quicker and the less costly.' " 53-— There was much laughter at this citizen's keen sagacity: and the laughter being quieted, my lady Emilia said: " Messer Bernardo, will you allow messer Pietro to ridi- cule the Florentines in this fashion, without returning blow for blow?" " I forgive him this affront," replied messer Bernardo, still laughing, "for if he has displeased me by ridiculing the Floren- tines, he has pleased me by obeying you, as I also would always do." Then messer Cesare said: "I heard a delightful blunder made by a Brescian who had been at Venice this year for the feast of the Ascension, and in my presence was describing to some of his companions the fine things that he had seen there; and how much merchandise there was, and how much silverware, spices, cloth and stuffs ; then the Signory went forth with great pomp to wed the sea in the Bucen- taur,"*" on board of which there were so many finely dressed gentle- men, so much music and singing, that it seemed a paradise. And on being asked by one of his companions which kind of music he liked best among those that he had heard, he said: 'They all were good; but among the rest I saw a man playing on a certain strange trumpet, which he thrust down his throat more than two palms at every flourish, and then he straightway drew it out and thrust it down again; so that you never saw a greater marvel.'" Then everyone laughed, perceiving the silly mistake of the man, who had imagined that the player thrust down his throat that part of the trombone which disappears by sliding into itself. 54 — Messer Bernardo then continued: " Moreover common affectations are tedious, but they excite 131