He was one of those men of whom their friends habitually say that they are "no fools," or "not such fools as they look," which generally may be understood to mean that the individual spoken of cannot with physiological accuracy be considered a _cretin_.

Nevertheless, in his case the expression was doubtless accurately true.

He was not such a fool as he looked, for his appearance was certainly not that of a wise, or even an intelligent man.
One story is told of him, which I have reason to believe perfectly true, and which is so characteristic of the man, and of the time, that I must not deprive the reader of it.
It was the custom that on St.John's Day the Duke should visit and inspect the small body of troops who were lodged in the Fortezza di San Giovanni, or Fortezza da Basso, as it was popularly called, in contradistinction from another fort on the high ground above the Boboli Gardens.

And it was expected that on these occasions the sovereign should address a few words to his soldiers.

So the Duke, resting his person first on one leg and then on the other, after his fashion, stood in front of the two or three score of men drawn up in line before him, and after telling them that obedience to their officers and attachment to duty were the especial virtues of a soldier, he continued, "Above all, my men, I desire that you should remember the duties and observances of our holy religion, and--and--" (here, having said all he had to say, His Highness was at a loss for a conclusion to his harangue.