Page:Readings in European History Vol 1.djvu/553

 The Italian Cities and the Rnaissance 517 republic. The prince ought to go in person, and perform the office of general himself; the republic should depute some one of her choice citizens, who may be changed if he carries himself ill ; if he behaves himself well he may be continued, but so straitened and circumscribed by his com- mission that he may not transgress. . . . Of the danger of mercenary forces we have an ancient example in the Carthaginians, who, after the end of their first war with the Romans, had like to have been ruined and over- run, by their own mercenaries, though their own citizens com- manded them. [In modern times] upon the death of Duke Filippo, 1 the Milanese employed Francesco Sforza against the Venetians, and Francesco, having worsted the enemy at Caravaggio, joined himself with them, with design to have mastered his masters. Francesco's father was formerly in the service of Joan, queen of Naples, and on a sudden marched away from her with his army and left her utterly destitute, so that she was constrained to throw herself under the protection of the king of Aragon. Though both the Venetians and Florentines have lately enlarged their dominion by employing these forces, and their generals have rather advanced than enslaved them, I answer that the Florentines may impute it to their good fortune, be- cause, of such of their generals as they might rationally have feared, some had no victories to encourage them, others were obstructed, and others turned their ambition another way. It now remains for us to see in what manner a prince ought to comport himself with his subjects and friends ; and because many have written of this subject before, it may perhaps seem arrogant in me to do so, especially considering that in my discourse I shall deviate from the opinion of other men. But my intention being to write for the benefit and advantage of him who understands, I thought it more con- venient to respect the essential verity than the imagination of the thing (and many have framed imaginary common- wealths and governments to themselves which never were l The last of the Visconti. Example of Sforza mak- ing himself master of Milan. On such things as render princes worthy of blame or applause.