Machiavelli, Volume I — Niccolo Machiavelli — John Shaqi
Machiavelli, Volume I
Niccolo Machiavelli · en
thei began frely to permitte, that suche men as were apoincted in suche
exercises, should use the service of warre for their arte, streight waie
the insolence of theim grewe, that they became fearful unto the Senate,
and hurtefull to the Emperour, whereby ensued suche harme, that manie
were slaine thorough there insolensie: for that they gave, and toke
awaie the Empire, to whome they thought good. And some while it hapned,
that in one self time there were manie Emperours, created of divers
armies, of whiche thinges proceded first the devision of the Empire, and
at laste the ruine of the same. Therefore kinges ought, if thei wil live
safely, to have there souldiours made of men, who when it is time to
make warre, willingly for his love will go to the same, and when the
peace cometh after, more willingly will returne home. Whiche alwaies
wilbe, when thei shalbe men that know how to live of other arte then
this: and so they ought to desire, peace beyng come, that there Prince
doo tourne to governe their people, the gentilmen to the tending of
there possessions, and the common souldiours to their particular arte,
and everie one of these, to make warre to have peace, and not to seke to
trouble the peace, to have warre.
COSIMO. Truely this reasonyng of yours, I thinke to bee well considered,
notwithstanding beyng almost contrarie to that, whiche till nowe I have
thought, my minde as yet doeth not reste purged of all doubte, for as
muche as I see manie Lordes and gentelmen, to finde them selves in time
of peace, thorough the studies of warre, as your matches bee, who have
provision of there princes, and of the cominaltie. I see also, almost al
the gentelmen of armes, remaine with neir provision, I see manie
souldiours lie in garison of Cities and fortresses, so that my thinkes,
that there is place in time of peace, for everie one.