Page:The Prince (translated by William K. Marriott).djvu/288

258 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 Amo 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.

The Florentines, having occupied San Miniato, held a council of wax to decide whether they should attack Pisa or the army of Castruccio, and, having weighed the difficulties of both courses, they decided upon the latter. The river Amo was at that time low enough to be fordable, yet the water reached to the shoulders of the infantry-men and to the saddles of the horsemen. On the morning of June 10, 1328, the Florentines commenced the battle by ordering forward a number of cavalry and 10,000 infantry. Castruccio, whose plan of action was fixed, and who well knew what to do, at once attacked the Florentines with 5000 infantry and 3000 horsemen, not allowing them to issue from the river before he charged them; he also