A striking instance of the latter
occurs in the life of the aforenamed Guido Bonatto, who by his personal
activity and by his great systematic work on the subject deserves to be
called the restorer of astrology in the thirteenth century. In order to
put an end to the struggle of the Guelphs and Ghibellines at Forli, he
persuaded the inhabitants to rebuild the city walls and to begin the
works under a constellation indicated by himself. If then two men, one
from each party, at the same moment put a stone into the foundation,
there would henceforth and for ever be no more party divisions in
Forli. A Guelph and a Ghibelline were selected for this office; the
solemn moment arrived, each held the stone in his hands, the workmen
stood ready with their implements. Bonatto gave the signal, and the
Ghibelline threw down his stone on to the foundation. But the Guelph
hesitated, and at last refused to do anything at all, on the ground
that Bonatto himself had the reputation of a Ghibelline and might be
devising some mysterious mischief against the Guelphs. Upon which the
astrologer addressed him: 'God damn thee and the Guelph party with your
distrustful malice! This constellation will not appear above our city
for 500 years to come.' In fact God soon afterwards did destroy the
Guelphs of Forli, but now, writes the chronicler about 1480, the two
parties are thoroughly reconciled, and their very names are heard no
longer.
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