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！
the proceedings of the duke in his 〃Descritione del modo tenuto dal duca
Valentino nello ammazzare Vitellozzo Vitelli；〃 etc。； a translation of which
is appended to the present work。
Because； as is stated above； he who has not first laid his foundations
may be able with great ability to lay them afterwards； but they will be laid
with trouble to the architect and danger to the building。 If； therefore； all
the steps taken by the duke be considered； it will be seen that he laid solid
foundations for his future power； and I do not consider it superfluous to
discuss them； because I do not know what better precepts to give a new
prince than the example of his actions； and if his dispositions were of no
avail； that was not his fault； but the extraordinary and extreme malignity of
fortune。
Alexander the Sixth； in wishing to aggrandize the duke； his son； had
many immediate and prospective difficulties。 Firstly； he did not see his
way to make him master of any state that was not a state of the Church；
and if he was willing to rob the Church he knew that the Duke of Milan
and the Venetians would not consent； because Faenza and Rimini were
34
… Page 35…
The Prince
already under the protection of the Venetians。 Besides this； he saw the
arms of Italy； especially those by which he might have been assisted； in
hands that would fear the aggrandizement of the Pope； namely； the Orsini
and the Colonnesi and their following。 It behoved him； therefore； to upset
this state of affairs and embroil the powers； so as to make himself securely
master of part of their states。 This was easy for him to do； because he
found the Venetians； moved by other reasons； inclined to bring back the
French into Italy； he would not only not oppose this； but he would render
it more easy by dissolving the former marriage of King Louis。 Therefore
the king came into Italy with the assistance of the Venetians and the
consent of Alexander。 He was no sooner in Milan than the Pope had
soldiers from him for the attempt on the Romagna； which yielded to him
on the reputation of the king。 The duke； therefore； having acquired the
Romagna and beaten the Colonnesi； while wishing to hold that and to
advance further； was hindered by two things： the one； his forces did not
appear loyal to him； the other； the goodwill of France： that is to say； he
feared that the forces of the Orsini； which he was using； would not stand to
him； that not only might they hinder him from winning more； but might
themselves seize what he had won； and that the king might also do the
same。 Of the Orsini he had a warning when； after taking Faenza and
attacking Bologna； he saw them go very unwillingly to that attack。 And as
to the king； he learned his mind when he himself； after taking the Duchy
of Urbino； attacked Tuscany； and the king made him desist from that
undertaking； hence the duke decided to depend no more upon the arms and
the luck of others。
For the first thing he weakened the Orsini and Colonnesi parties in
Rome； by gaining to himself all their adherents who were gentlemen；
making them his gentlemen； giving them good pay； and； according to their
rank； honouring them with office and command in such a way that in a
few months all attachment to the factions was destroyed and turned
entirely to the duke。 After this he awaited an opportunity to crush the
Orsini； having scattered the adherents of the Colonna house。 This came to
him soon and he used it well； for the Orsini； perceiving at length that the
aggrandizement of the duke and the Church was ruin to them； called a
35
… Page 36…
The Prince
meeting of the Magione in Perugia。 From this sprung the rebellion at
Urbino and the tumults in the Romagna； with endless dangers to the duke；
all of which he overcame with the help of the French。 Having restored his
authority； not to leave it at risk by trusting either to the French or other
outside forces； he had recourse to his wiles； and he knew so well how to
conceal his mind that； by the mediation of Signor Pagolowhom the duke
did not fail to secure with all kinds of attention； giving him money； apparel；
and horsesthe Orsini were reconciled； so that their simplicity brought
them into his power at Sinigalia。＇*＇ Having exterminated the leaders； and
turned their partisans into his friends； the duke laid sufficiently good
foundations to his power； having all the Romagna and the Duchy of
Urbino； and the people now beginning to appreciate their prosperity； he
gained them all over to himself。 And as this point is worthy of notice； and
to be imitated by others； I am not willing to leave it out。
＇*＇ Sinigalia； 31st December 1502。
When the duke occupied the Romagna he found it under the rule of
weak masters； who rather plundered their subjects than ruled them； and
gave them more cause for disunion than for union； so that the country was
full of robbery； quarrels； and every kind of violence； and so； wishing to
bring back peace and obedience to authority； he considered it necessary to
give it a good governor。 Thereupon he promoted Messer Ramiro d'Orco；＇*＇
a swift and cruel man； to whom he gave the fullest power。 This man in a
short time restored peace and unity with the greatest success。 Afterwards
the duke considered that it was not advisable to confer such excessive
authority； for he had no doubt but that he would become odious； so he set
up a court of judgment in the country； under a most excellent president；
wherein all cities had their advocates。 And because he knew that the past
severity had caused some hatred against himself； so； to clear himself in the
minds of the people； and gain them entirely to himself； he desired to show
that； if any cruelty had been practised； it had not originated with him； but
in the natural sternness of the minister。 Under this pretence he took
Ramiro； and one morning caused him to be executed and left on the piazza
at Cesena with the block and a bloody knife at his side。 The barbarity of
this spectacle caused the people to be at once satisfied and dismayed。