the prince(王子)-第2章
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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
instruction of the Medici after they had just regained power in Florence； so；
in 1525； he dedicated the 〃History of Florence〃 to the head of the family
when its ruin was now at hand。 In that year the battle of Pavia destroyed
the French rule in Italy； and left Francis I a prisoner in the hands of his
great rival； Charles V。 This was followed by the sack of Rome； upon the
news of which the popular party at Florence threw off the yoke of the
Medici； who were once more banished。
Machiavelli was absent from Florence at this time； but hastened his
return； hoping to secure his former office of secretary to the 〃Ten of
Liberty and Peace。〃 Unhappily he was taken ill soon after he reached
Florence； where he died on 22nd June 1527。
THE MAN AND HIS WORKS
No one can say where the bones of Machiavelli rest； but modern
Florence has decreed him a stately cenotaph in Santa Croce； by the side of
her most famous sons； recognizing that； whatever other nations may have
found in his works； Italy found in them the idea of her unity and the germs
of her renaissance among the nations of Europe。 Whilst it is idle to protest
against the world…wide and evil signification of his name； it may be
pointed out that the harsh construction of his doctrine which this sinister
reputation implies was unknown to his own day； and that the researches of
recent times have enabled us to interpret him more reasonably。 It is due to
these inquiries that the shape of an 〃unholy necromancer；〃 which so long
haunted men's vision； has begun to fade。
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Machiavelli was undoubtedly a man of great observation； acuteness；
and industry； noting with appreciative eye whatever passed before him；
and with his supreme literary gift turning it to account in his enforced
retirement from affairs。 He does not present himself； nor is he depicted by
his contemporaries； as a type of that rare combination； the successful
statesman and author； for he appears to have been only moderately
prosperous in his several embassies and political employments。 He was
misled by Catherina Sforza； ignored by Louis XII； overawed by Cesare
Borgia； several of his embassies were quite barren of results； his attempts
to fortify Florence failed； and the soldiery that he raised astonished
everybody by their cowardice。 In the conduct of his own affairs he was
timid and time…serving； he dared not appear by the side of Soderini； to
whom he owed so much； for fear of compromising himself； his connection
with the Medici was open to suspicion； and Giuliano appears to have
recognized his real forte when he set him to write the 〃History of
Florence；〃 rather than employ him in the state。 And it is on the literary side
of his character； and there alone； that we find no weakness and no failure。
Although the light of almost four centuries has been focused on 〃The
Prince；〃 its problems are still debatable and interesting； because they are
the eternal problems between the ruled and their rulers。 Such as they are；
its ethics are those of Machiavelli's contemporaries； yet they cannot be
said to be out of date so long as the governments of Europe rely on
material rather than on moral forces。 Its historical incidents and
personages become interesting by reason of the uses which Machiavelli
ma
