Nero, Bernardo del (Hist.)

A stern, upright, old Florentine, who is faithful to his political party, loyally devoted to his personal friends, such as blind Bardo de' Bardi, and affectionately watchful of his god-daughter, Romola. He sympathizes with blind Bardo's ambition to have his library preserved intact, and endeavours both through his interest with the Medici and by means of personal financial aid to have this carried out. His own pride, and his affection for Romola make him suspicious of Tito Melema in the beginning, and he never overcomes his dislike for him. For many years a friend of Lorenzo de' Medici, he remains faithful to Lorenzo's sons, though he takes no part himself in the Medicean conspiracy. Partly through Tito Melema's treachery he is arrested as a conspirator, tried hastily, and executed in spite of Romola's efforts to intercede for him with Savonarola. His death, and her suspicion of Tito's part in it, finally drive Romola away from Tito. Bernardo del Nero, executed 1497 at the age of 75, was a prominent citizen who had been Gonfaloniere in 1497. Though he had been a Medicean all his life he had no active part in the conspiracy which cost him his life, his only connexion with it being a knowledge of the conspiracy which he had failed to reveal.

<em>Romola</em>

Text