按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
princes。
Machiavelli's public life was largely occupied with events arising out
of the ambitions of Pope Alexander VI and his son； Cesare Borgia； the
Duke Valentino； and these characters fill a large space of 〃The Prince。〃
Machiavelli never hesitates to cite the actions of the duke for the benefit of
usurpers who wish to keep the states they have seized； he can； indeed； find
no precepts to offer so good as the pattern of Cesare Borgia's conduct；
insomuch that Cesare is acclaimed by some critics as the 〃hero〃 of 〃The
Prince。〃 Yet in 〃The Prince〃 the duke is in point of fact cited as a type of
the man who rises on the fortune of others； and falls with them； who takes
every course that might be expected from a prudent man but the course
which will save him； who is prepared for all eventualities but the one
which happens； and who； when all his abilities fail to carry him through；
exclaims that it was not his fault； but an extraordinary and unforeseen
fatality。
On the death of Pius III； in 1503； Machiavelli was sent to Rome to
watch the election of his successor； and there he saw Cesare Borgia
cheated into allowing the choice of the College to fall on Giuliano delle
Rovere （Julius II）； who was one of the cardinals that had most reason to
fear the duke。 Machiavelli； when commenting on this election； says that he
who thinks new favours will cause great personages to forget old injuries
deceives himself。 Julius did not rest until he had ruined Cesare。
5
… Page 6…
The Prince
It was to Julius II that Machiavelli was sent in 1506； when that pontiff
was commencing his enterprise against Bologna； which he brought to a
successful issue； as he did many of his other adventures； owing chiefly to
his impetuous character。 It is in reference to Pope Julius that Machiavelli
moralizes on the resemblance between Fortune and women； and concludes
that it is the bold rather than the cautious man that will win and hold them
both。
It is impossible to follow here the varying fortunes of the Italian states；
which in 1507 were controlled by France； Spain； and Germany； with
results that have lasted to our day； we are concerned with those events；
and with the three great actors in them； so far only as they impinge on the
personality of Machiavelli。 He had several meetings with Louis XII of
France； and his estimate of that monarch's character has already been
alluded to。 Machiavelli has painted Ferdinand of Aragon as the man who
accomplished great things under the cloak of religion； but who in reality
had no mercy； faith； humanity； or integrity； and who； had he allowed
himself to be influenced by such motives； would have been ruined。 The
Emperor Maximilian was one of the most interesting men of the age； and
his character has been drawn by many hands； but Machiavelli； who was an
envoy at his court in 1507…8； reveals the secret of his many failures when
he describes him as a secretive man； without force of characterignoring
the human agencies necessary to carry his schemes into effect； and never
insisting on the fulfilment of his wishes。
The remaining years of Machiavelli's official career were filled with
events arising out of the League of Cambrai； made in 1508 between the
three great European powers already mentioned and the pope； with the
object of crushing the Venetian Republic。 This result was attained in the
battle of Vaila； when Venice lost in one day all that she had won in eight
hundred years。 Florence had a difficult part to play during these events；
complicated as they were by the feud which broke out between the pope
and the French； because friendship with France had dictated the entire
policy of the Republic。 When； in 1511； Julius II finally formed the Holy
League against France； and with the assistance of the Swiss drove the
French out of Italy； Florence lay at the mercy of the Pope； and had to
6
… Page 7…
The Prince
submit to his terms； one of which was that the Medici should be restored。
The return of the Medici to Florence on 1st September 1512； and the
consequent fall of the Republic； was the signal for the dismissal of
Machiavelli and his friends； and thus put an end to his public career； for； as
we have seen； he died without regaining office。
LITERATURE AND DEATH Aet。 43…581512…27
On the return of the Medici； Machiavelli； who for a few weeks had
vainly hoped to retain his office under the new masters of Florence； was
dismissed by decree dated 7th November 1512。 Shortly after this he was
accused of complicity in an abortive conspiracy against the Medici；
imprisoned； and put to the question by torture。 The new Medicean people；
Leo X； procured his release； and he retired to his small property at San
Casciano； near Florence； where he devoted himself to literature。 In a letter
to Francesco Vettori； dated 13th December 1513； he has left a very
interesting description of his life at this period； which elucidates his
methods and his motives in writing 〃The Prince。〃 After describing his
daily occupations with his family and neighbours； he writes： 〃The evening
being come； I return home and go to my study； at the entrance I pull off
my peasant… clothes； covered with dust and dirt； and put on my noble court
dress； and thus becomingly re…clothed I pass into the ancient courts of the
men of old； where； being lovingly received by them； I am fed with that
food which is mine alone； where I do not hesitate to speak with them； and
to ask for the reason of their actions； and they in their benignity answer me；
and for four hours I feel no weariness； I forget every trouble； poverty does
not dismay； death does not terrify me； I am possessed entirely by those
great men。 And because Dante says：
Knowledge doth come of learning well retained； Unfruitful else；
I have noted down what I have gained from their conversation； and
have composed a small work on 'Principalities；' where I pour myself out as
fully as I can in meditation on the subject； d