the prince(王子)-第2节
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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
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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； discussing what a principality is；
what kinds there are； how they can be acquired； how they can be kept；
why they are lost： and if any of my fancies ever pleased you； this ought
not to displease you： and to a prince； especially to a new one； it should be
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welcome： therefore I dedicate it to his Magnificence Giuliano。 Filippo
Casavecchio has seen it； he will be able to tell you what is in it； and of the
discourses I have had with him； nevertheless； I am still enriching and
polishing it。〃
The 〃little book〃 suffered many vicissitudes before attaining the form
in which it has reached us。 Various mental influences were at work during
its composition； its title and patron were changed； and for some unknown
reason it was finally dedicated to Lorenzo de' Medici。 Although
Machiavelli discussed with Casavecchio whether it should be sent or
presented in person to the patron； there is no evidence that Lorenzo ever
received or even read it： he certainly never gave Machiavelli any
employment。 Although it was plagiarized during Machiavelli's lifetime；
〃The Prince〃 was never published by him； and its text is still disputable。
Machiavelli concludes his letter to Vettori thus： 〃And as to this little
thing ＇his book＇； when it has been read it will be seen that during the
fifteen years I have given to the study of statecraft I have neither slept nor
idled； and men ought ever to desire to be served by one who has reaped
experience at the expense of others。 And of my loyalty none could doubt；
because having always kept faith I could not now learn how to break it； for
he who has been faithful and honest； as I have； cannot change his nature；
and my poverty is a witness to my honesty。〃
Before Machiavelli had got 〃The Prince〃 off his hands he commenced
his 〃Discourse on the First Decade of Titus Livius；〃 which should be read
concurrently with 〃The Prince。〃 These and several minor works occupied
him until the year 1518； when he accepted a small commission to look
after the affairs of some Florentine merchants at Genoa。 In 1519 the
Medicean rulers of Florence granted a few political concessions to her
citizens； and Machiavelli with others was consulted upon a new
constitution under which the Great Council was to be restored； but on one
pretext or another it was not promulgated。
In 1520 the Florentine merchants again had recourse to Machiavelli to
settle their difficulties with Lucca； but this year was chiefly remarkable for
his re…entry into Florentine literary society； where he was much sought
after； and also for the production of his 〃Art of War。〃 It was in the same
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year that he received a commission at the instance of Cardinal de' Medici
to write the 〃History of Florence；〃 a task which occupied him until 1525。
His return to popular favour may have determined the Medici to give him
this employment； for an old writer observes that 〃an able statesman out of
work； like a huge whale； will endeavour to overturn the ship unless he has
an empty cask to play with。〃
When the 〃History of Florence〃 was finished； Machiavelli took it to
Rome for presentation to his patron； Giuliano de' Medici； who had in the
meanwhile become pope under the title of Clement VII。 It is somewhat
remarkable that； as； in 1513； Machiavelli had written 〃The Prince〃 for the
instruct
