Page:The Works of the Famous Nicholas Machiavel.djvu/254

 238 upon application to an Astrologer, he receiv'd this answer, Ibis redibis non morieris in bello: Which, if puntuated thus. ''Ibis, redibis mn, morieris in'bello, threatned the faid £r*!Jccio with the unfortunateneCs of his Expedition i whereas, altering ic thus. Ibis, redibis, mn merieris in bJlo^ portended quite contrary. An ambiguity like this was fent alfo to Manfred King of Siciljf, not long before he was defeated by Charles of Avjou. NO CARLO SARA FITORIOSI DEL RE M ANFREDO, and ought to be interpreted with great exadnefs and accuracy, the miftakeof a comma being as much as a man's life is worth. There is another kind of Tyi^nny likewife and that is when the Text of the Author is to regulate in a point of Religion: buc here we are not under any fuch neceffities, and he who in a quarrelfom capriccio, to defame my tranflation, would compare every line, and put the Efjglifh words all along under the Italian, would make a new and pleafant kind of Di(5lionary, and the beauj. ties which are peculiar to each language, would be ex^cellently prefented,.