Page:The Works of the Famous Nicholas Machiavel.djvu/17

The Author's INTRODUCTION. the Commonwealths which flourished in those times 3 but in Florence the first dissention was betwixt the Nobles; the next betwixt the No- bles and Citizens; and then betwixt the Citizens and the Plebs: In all which, one was no sooner superior, but it divided again; and the effects of those divisions were Murders and Banishments, and Dispersion of Families, such as never occurr'd in any City, that can be remembred. And truly in my judgment, nothing demonstrates the power of our City so much as the consequences of those divisions, which were enough to have subverted and destroyed any other in the world. But ours grew still greater thereby; so remarkable was the courage of the Citizens, and so efficacious their industry for the advance- ment of their Country, that those few which survived the miseries of their Predecessors, did more by their constancy and courage to- wards the advancement of their interest, than the malignity of those accidents could do to depress it. And doubtless had Florence been so happy after it had freed it self from the Empire, to have assumed such a form of Government as would have preserved it in unity, I know not any Commonwealth, either ancient or modern, that would have exceeded it, or have been comparable to it, either in Riches or Power. For it is observable, after the Ghibilines were dri- ven out of the Town in such numbers as all Tuscany and Lombardy were full of those Exiles, the Guelfs, and such as were left behind in the expedition against Arezo (which was the year before the battel of Campeldino) were able to draw out of their own Citizens 1200 Horse, and 12000 Foot. And afterwards in the War against Philippo Visconti Duke of Milan being to try their fortune rather with their Riches than their Arms (which at that time were very much weakened) in five years space (which was the length of that War) the Florentines expended five millions and five hundred thousand Florins; and when that War was composed, to ostentate and pub- lish the power of that Commonwealth, they marched out with an Army, and besieged Lucca. I do not see therefore, for what rea- son these divisions shouid not be worthy of relation; and if those Noble Authors were restrained by fear of offending the memory of such as they were to speak of, they were mightily out, and seem not to have understood the ambition of mankind, and their desire to have the names of themselves and ancestors transmitted to po- sterity; nor did they remember that many people, not having op- portunity to make themselves eminent by good and laudable acts, have endeavoured to compass it by any way, how scandalous and ignominious soever. Neither did they consider that the actions which carry greatness along with them, as those of Governments and States, what ends soever they have, and which way soever they are described, do still leave more honour than infamy to their Family;