Page:The Prince.djvu/167

52 enterprisesGiovanni and the others gave each their opinion in turn, when he instantly arose, saying that it was a matter to be treated of in a more secret place. He retired into a chamber into which his uncle and the others followed him. Scarcely were they seated, when the armed soldiers, who were till then concealed, rushed out and massacred Giovanni and the whole party. After which, Oliverotto mounted his horse, traversed the city, besieged the palace of the chief magistrate, forced him to swear obedience, and to establish a government of which he (Oliverotto) was to be the prince. He put to death all the discontented who had the power to injure him; he established new laws, both civil and military; and in the space of one year he had so effectually consolidated his power, that he was not only firmly established in the sovereignty of Fermo, but had rendered himself formidable to all his neighbours. His expulsion would have been as difficult as that of Agathocles, if he had not suffered himself to be deceived by Borgia, who, as we have already shewn, entrapped him at Signigalia with the Orsini and Vitelli, a year after the parricide of his uncle; he was there strangled, with Vitellozzo his master in the art.of war and wickedness.

It is matter of astonishment that Agothocles and others like him, having to defend themselves against external enemies, should have been able to