the prince(王子)-第1章
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The Prince
The Prince
by Nicolo Machiavelli
Translated by W。 K。 Marriott
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The Prince
Nicolo Machiavelli； born at Florence on 3rd May 1469。 From 1494 to
1512 held an official post at Florence which included diplomatic missions
to various European courts。 Imprisoned in Florence； 1512； later exiled and
returned to San Casciano。 Died at Florence on 22nd June 1527。
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The Prince
INTRODUCTION
Nicolo Machiavelli was born at Florence on 3rd May 1469。 He was the
second son of Bernardo di Nicolo Machiavelli； a lawyer of some repute；
and of Bartolommea di Stefano Nelli； his wife。 Both parents were
members of the old Florentine nobility。
His life falls naturally into three periods； each of which singularly
enough constitutes a distinct and important era in the history of Florence。
His youth was concurrent with the greatness of Florence as an Italian
power under the guidance of Lorenzo de' Medici； Il Magnifico。 The
downfall of the Medici in Florence occurred in 1494； in which year
Machiavelli entered the public service。 During his official career Florence
was free under the government of a Republic； which lasted until 1512；
when the Medici returned to power； and Machiavelli lost his office。 The
Medici again ruled Florence from 1512 until 1527； when they were once
more driven out。 This was the period of Machiavelli's literary activity and
increasing influence； but he died； within a few weeks of the expulsion of
the Medici； on 22nd June 1527； in his fifty…eighth year； without having
regained office。
YOUTH Aet。 1…251469…94
Although there is little recorded of the youth of Machiavelli； the
Florence of those days is so well known that the early environment of this
representative citizen may be easily imagined。 Florence has been
described as a city with two opposite currents of life； one directed by the
fervent and austere Savonarola； the other by the splendour… loving
Lorenzo。 Savonarola's influence upon the young Machiavelli must have
been slight； for although at one time he wielded immense power over the
fortunes of Florence； he only furnished Machiavelli with a subject of a
gibe in 〃The Prince；〃 where he is cited as an example of an unarmed
prophet who came to a bad end。 Whereas the magnificence of the
Medicean rule during the life of Lorenzo appeared to have impressed
Machiavelli strongly； for he frequently recurs to it in his writings； and it is
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The Prince
to Lorenzo's grandson that he dedicates 〃The Prince。〃
Machiavelli； in his 〃History of Florence；〃 gives us a picture of the
young men among whom his youth was passed。 He writes： 〃They were
freer than their forefathers in dress and living； and spent more in other
kinds of excesses； consuming their time and money in idleness； gaming；
and women； their chief aim was to appear well dressed and to speak with
wit and acuteness； whilst he who could wound others the most cleverly
was thought the wisest。〃 In a letter to his son Guido； Machiavelli shows
why youth should avail itself of its opportunities for study； and leads us to
infer that his own youth had been so occupied。 He writes： 〃I have received
your letter； which has given me the greatest pleasure； especially because
you tell me you are quite restored in health； than which I could have no
better news； for if God grant life to you； and to me； I hope to make a good
man of you if you are willing to do your share。〃 Then； writing of a new
patron； he continues： 〃This will turn out well for you； but it is necessary
for you to study； since； then； you have no longer the excuse of illness； take
pains to study letters and music； for you see what honour is done to me for
the little skill I have。 Therefore； my son； if you wish to please me； and to
bring success and honour to yourself； do right and study； because others
will help you if you help yourself。〃
OFFICE Aet。 25…431494…1512
The second period of Machiavelli's life was spent in the service of the
free Republic of Florence； which flourished； as stated above； from the
expulsion of the Medici in 1494 until their return in 1512。 After serving
four years in one of the public offices he was appointed Chancellor and
Secretary to the Second Chancery； the Ten of Liberty and Peace。 Here we
are on firm ground when dealing with the events of Machiavelli's life； for
during this time he took a leading part in the affairs of the Republic； and
we have its decrees； records； and dispatches to guide us； as well as his own
writings。 A mere recapitulation of a few of his transactions with the
statesmen and soldiers of his time gives a fair indication of his activities；
and supplies the sources from which he drew the experiences and
characters which illustrate 〃The Prince。〃
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The Prince
His first mission was in 1499 to Catherina Sforza； 〃my lady of Forli〃
of 〃The Prince；〃 from whose conduct and fate he drew the moral that it is
far better to earn the confidence of the people than to rely on fortresses。
This is a very noticeable principle in Machiavelli； and is urged by him in
many ways as a matter of vital importance to princes。
In 1500 he was sent to France to obtain terms from Louis XII for
continuing the war against Pisa： this king it was who； in his conduct of
affairs in Italy； committed the five capital errors in statecraft summarized
in 〃The Prince；〃 and was consequently driven out。 He； also； it was who
made the dissolution of his marriage a condition of support to Pope
Alexander VI； which leads Machiavelli to refer those who urge that such
promises should be kept to what he has written concerning the faith of
princes。
Machiavelli's public life was largely occupied with events arising out
of the ambitions of Pope Alexander VI and his son； Cesare Borgia； the
Duke Valentino； and these characters fill a large space of 〃The Prince。〃
Machiavelli never hesitates to cite the actions of the duke for the benefit of
usurpers who wish to keep the states they have seized； he can； indeed； find
no precepts to offer so good as the pattern of Cesare Borgia's conduct；
insomuch that Cesare is acclaimed by some critics as the 〃hero〃 of 〃The
Prince。〃 Yet in 〃The Prince〃 the duke is in point of fact cited as a type of
the man who rises on the fortune of others； and falls with them； who takes
every course that might be expected from a prudent man but the course
which will save him； who is prepared for all eventualities but the one
which happens； and who； when all his abilities fail to carry him through；
exclaims that it was not his fault； but an extraordinary and unforeseen
fatality。
On the death of Pius III； in 1503； Machiavelli was sent to Rome to
watch the election of his successor； and there he saw Cesare Borgia
cheated into allowing the choice of the College to fall on Giuliano delle
Rovere （Julius II）； who was one of the cardinals that had most reason to
fear the duke。 Machiavelli； when commenting on this election； says that he
who thinks new favours will cause great personages to forget old injuries
deceives himself。 Julius did not rest until he had ruined Cesare。
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The Prince
It was to Julius II that Machiavelli was sent in 1506； when that pontiff
was commencing his enterprise against Bologna； which he brought to a
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
