This happened of course only when the
prince was known as a lover of eloquence, or wished to pass for such,
and when a competent speaker was present, whether university professor,
official, ecclesiastic, physician, or court-scholar. Every other
political opportunity was seized with the same eagerness, and according
to the reputation of the speaker, the concourse of the lovers of
culture was great or small. At the yearly change of public officers,
and even at the consecration of new bishops, a humanist was sure to
come forward, and sometimes addressed his audience in hexameters or
Sapphic verses. Often a newly appointed official was himself forced to
deliver a speech more or less relevant to his department, as, for
instance, on justice; and lucky for him if he were well up in his part!
At Florence even the Condottieri, whatever their origin or education
might be, were compelled to accommodate themselves to the popular
sentiment, and on receiving the insignia of their office, were
harangued before the assembled people by the most learned secretary of
state. It seems that beneath or close to the Loggia de' Lanzi--the
porch where the government was wont to appear solemnly before the
people a tribune or platform _(rostra, ringhiera) _was erected for such
purposes.
Anniversaries, especially those of the death of princes, were commonly
celebrated by memorial speeches.
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