the prince(王子)-第3章
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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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The Prince
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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The Prince
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
makes of them to illustrate his theories of government and conduct。
Leaving out of consideration those maxims of state which still furnish
some European and eastern statesmen with principles of action； 〃The
Prince〃 is bestrewn with truths that can be proved at every turn。 Men are
still the dupes of their simplicity and greed； as they were in the days of
Alexander VI。 The cloak of religion still conceals the vices which
Machiavelli laid bare in the character of Ferdinand of Aragon。 Men will
not look at things as they really are； but as they wish them to beand are
ruined。 In politics there are no perfectly safe courses； prudence consists in
choosing the least dangerous ones。 Then to pass to a higher plane
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The Prince
Machiavelli reiterates that； although crimes may win an empire； they do
not win glory。 Necessary wars are just wars； and the arms of a nation are
hallowed when it has no other resource but to fight。
It is the cry of a far later day than Machiavelli's that government
should be elevated into a living moral force； capable of inspiring the
people with a just recognition of the fundamental principles of society； to
this 〃high argument〃 〃The Prince〃 contributes but little。 Machiavelli
always refused to write either of men or of governments otherwise than as
he found them； and he writes with such skill and insight that his work is of
abiding value。 But what invests 〃The Prince〃 with more than a merely
artistic or historical interest is the incontrovertible truth that it deals with
the great principles which still guide nations and rulers in their
relationship with each other and their neighbours。
