the prince(王子)-第12章
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practised before Alexander's time。 Such things Julius not only followed；
but improved upon； and he intended to gain Bologna； to ruin the Venetians；
and to drive the French out of Italy。 All of these enterprises prospered with
him； and so much the more to his credit； inasmuch as he did everything to
strengthen the Church and not any private person。 He kept also the Orsini
and Colonnesi factions within the bounds in which he found them； and
although there was among them some mind to make disturbance；
nevertheless he held two things firm： the one； the greatness of the Church；
with which he terrified them； and the other； not allowing them to have
their own cardinals； who caused the disorders among them。 For whenever
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these factions have their cardinals they do not remain quiet for long；
because cardinals foster the factions in Rome and out of it； and the barons
are compelled to support them； and thus from the ambitions of prelates
arise disorders and tumults among the barons。 For these reasons his
Holiness Pope Leo＇*＇ found the pontificate most powerful； and it is to be
hoped that； if others made it great in arms； he will make it still greater and
more venerated by his goodness and infinite other virtues。
＇*＇ Pope Leo X was the Cardinal de' Medici。
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CHAPTER XII
HOW MANY KINDS OF SOLDIERY THERE ARE； AND
CONCERNING MERCENARIES
Having discoursed particularly on the characteristics of such
principalities as in the beginning I proposed to discuss； and having
considered in some degree the causes of their being good or bad； and
having shown the methods by which many have sought to acquire them
and to hold them； it now remains for me to discuss generally the means of
offence and defence which belong to each of them。
We have seen above how necessary it is for a prince to have his
foundations well laid； otherwise it follows of necessity he will go to ruin。
The chief foundations of all states； new as well as old or composite； are
good laws and good arms； and as there cannot be good laws where the
state is not well armed； it follows that where they are well armed they
have good laws。 I shall leave the laws out of the discussion and shall speak
of the arms。
I say； therefore； that the arms with which a prince defends his state are
either his own； or they are mercenaries； auxiliaries； or mixed。 Mercenaries
and auxiliaries are useless and dangerous； and if one holds his state based
on these arms； he will stand neither firm nor safe； for they are disunited；
ambitious； and without discipline； unfaithful； valiant before friends；
cowardly before enemies； they have neither the fear of God nor fidelity to
men； and destruction is deferred only so long as the attack is； for in peace
one is robbed by them； and in war by the enemy。 The fact is； they have no
other attraction or reason for keeping the field than a trifle of stipend；
which is not sufficient to make them willing to die for you。 They are ready
enough to be your soldiers whilst you do not make war； but if war comes
they take themselves off or run from the foe； which I should have little
trouble to prove； for the ruin of Italy has been caused by nothing else than
by resting all her hopes for many years on mercenaries； and although they
formerly made some display and appeared valiant amongst themselves； yet
when the foreigners came they showed what they were。 Thus it was that
Charles； King of France； was allowed to seize Italy with chalk in hand；＇*＇
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and he who told us that our sins were the cause of it told the truth； but they
were not the sins he imagined； but those which I have related。 And as they
were the sins of princes； it is the princes who have also suffered the
penalty。
＇*＇ 〃With chalk in hand；〃 〃col gesso。〃 This is one of the bons mots of
Alexander VI； and refers to the ease with which Charles VIII seized Italy；
implying that it was only necessary for him to send his quartermasters to
chalk up the billets for his soldiers to conquer the country。 Cf。 〃The
History of Henry VII；〃 by Lord Bacon： 〃King Charles had conquered the
realm of Naples； and lost it again； in a kind of a felicity of a dream。 He
passed the whole length of Italy without resistance： so that it was true
what Pope Alexander was wont to say： That the Frenchmen came into
Italy with chalk in their hands； to mark up their lodgings； rather than with
swords to fight。〃
I wish to demonstrate further the infelicity of these arms。 The
mercenary captains are either capable men or they are not； if they are； you
cannot trust them； because they always aspire to their own greatness；
either by oppressing you； who are their master； or others contrary to your
intentions； but if the captain is not skilful； you are ruined in the usual way。
And if it be urged that whoever is armed will act in the same way；
whether mercenary or not； I reply that when arms have to be resorted to；
either by a prince or a republic； then the prince ought to go in person and
perform the duty of a captain； the republic has to send its citizens； and
when one is sent who does not turn out satisfactorily； it ought to recall him；
and when one is worthy； to hold him by the laws so that he does not leave
the command。 And experience has shown princes and republics； single…
handed； making the greatest progress； and mercenaries doing nothing
except damage； and it is more difficult to bring a republic； armed with its
own arms； under the sway of one of its citizens than it is to bring one
armed with foreign arms。 Rome and Sparta stood for many ages armed
and free。 The Switzers are completely armed and quite free。
Of ancient mercenaries； for example； there are the Carthaginians； who
were oppressed by their mercenary soldiers after the first war with the
Romans； although the Carthaginians had their own citizens for captains。
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After the death of Epaminondas； Philip of Macedon was made captain of
their soldiers by the Thebans； and after victory he took away their liberty。
Duke Filippo being dead； the Milanese enlisted Francesco Sforza
against the Venetians； and he； having overcome the enemy at
Caravaggio；＇*＇ allied himself with them to crush the Milanese； his masters。
His father； Sforza； having been engaged by Queen Johanna＇＋＇ of Naples；
left her unprotected； so that she was forced to throw herself into the arms
of the King of Aragon； in order to save her kingdom。 And if the Venetians
and Florentines formerly extended their dominions by these arms； and yet
their captains did not make themselves princes； but have defended them； I
reply that the Florentines in this case have been favoured by chance； for of
the able captains； of whom they might have stood in fear； some have not
conquered； some have been opposed； and others have turned their
ambitions elsewhere。 One who did not conquer was Giovanni Acuto；＇％＇
and since he did not conquer his fidelity cannot be proved； but every one
will acknowledge that； had he conquered； the Florentines would have
stood at his discretion。 Sforza had the Bracceschi always against him； so
they watched each other。 Francesco turned his ambition to Lombardy；
Braccio against the Church and the kingdom of Naples。 But let us come to
that which happened a short while ago。 The Florentines appointed as their
captain Pagolo Vitelli； a most prudent man； who from a private position
had risen to the greatest renown。 If this man had taken Pisa； nobody can
deny that it would have been proper for the Florentines to keep in with
him； for if he became the soldier of their enemies they had no means of
resisting； and if they held to him they must obey him。 The Venetians； if
their achievements are considered； will be seen to have acted safely and
gloriously so long as they sent to war their own men； when with armed
gentlemen and plebians they did valiantly。 This was before they turned to
enterprises on land； but when they began to fight on land they forsook this
virtue and followed the custom of Italy。 And in the beginning of their
expansion on land； through not having much territory； and because of their
great reputation； they had not much to fear from their captains； but when
they expanded； as under Carmignuola；＇#＇ they had a taste of this mistake；
for； having found him a most valiant man （they beat the Duke of Milan
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under his leadership）； and； on the other hand； knowing how lukewarm he
was in the war； they feared they would no longer conquer under him； and
for this reason they were not willing； nor were they able； to let him go； and
so； not to lose again that which they had acquired； they were compelled； in
order to secure themselves； to murder him。 They had afterwards for their
captains Bartolomeo da Bergamo； Roberto da San Severino； the count of
Pitigliano；＇&＇ and the like； under whom they had to dread loss and not
gain； as happened afterwards at Vaila；＇＇ where in one battle they lost that
which in eight hundred years they had acquired with so much trouble。
Because from such arms conquests come but slowly； long delayed and
inconsiderable； but the losses sudden and portentous。
＇*＇ Battle of Caravaggio； 15th September 1448。
＇＋＇
