A prisoner by the faithless Switzer made,
He shows the lord who hired him with his gold.
Stanza xxxvi. lines 5 and 6.
“The Swiss, being corrupted by the bribes of the French, betrayed Ludovico to them; who was carried into France, where he died, after five years’ imprisonment.”—H.
That warder then shows Cæsar Borgia, grown
Puissant in Italy, &c.
Stanza xxxvii. lines 1 and 2.
“Cæsar Borgia, son of Pope Alexander VI., who, by the favour of Lewis XII. king of France, took to wife Charlotte d’Alabrette of the blood royal, he having renounced the cardinal’s hat.”—H.
Then shows the king, that will the saw take down,
And papal acorns in Bologna place.
Stanza xxxvii. lines 5 and 6.
The saw was the arms of the Bentivogli, and the acorns those of Pope Julius II.
Then Genoa’s burghers, by this monarch broke.
Stanza xxxvii. line 7.
“The Genoese having created Paulo de Nove doge, a man taken from the dregs of the people, and asserted at the same time that Genoa was not subject to any prince, Lewis marched against them with a powerful army, and the city surrendered to him at discretion.”—H.
