Page:The Works of the Famous Nicholas Machiavel.djvu/455

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ANY have been and are till of opinion, that in the whole world no two things are more incongruous and diimilar than a Civil and a Military life; inomuch that many times when a man deigns himelf for a Soldier, he not only takes upon him a new Habit, but he changes his Cutoms, his Company, his manner of Dicoure, and leaves off all ways of civil converation; for he who would be light and nimble, and ready for the execution of all ort of violence, looks upon a civil habit as improper and cumberome; civil cutoms are unuitable to him who thinks them oft and effeminate, and inconitent with the life he propoes; and indeed it would he undecent if a man whoe buines it is to look big, and hector, and fright the whole World with his Oaths and his Blaphemies, hould carry himelf demurely, and behave himelf with the uual gentlenes and complaiancy of other men; and this is it which in our days makes this opinion true: But if we conider the condition and method of old times, we hall find no two things more united, more conformable, nor more necearily amicable than they. For all the Arts which are contrived in a City for the common good; all the coures invented to keep men in fear of God and the Laws would be ueles and vain, were not force provided for their defence; which force (if well ordered) will be able to make them good, though perhaps the Laws are not o exact in themelves, for this is mot certain, good Orders without Military Coertion will quickly moulder to nothing, and run to decay, like a Noble and Princely Palace that is uncovered at the top, and has nothing but the plendour and richnes of its furniture to defend it from the weather. And if anciently Kingdoms and States imploy'd great indutry to keep people in peace, and in the faith and fear of God; certainly in the regulation of their Military Dicipline they employ'd much more; for where can ones Rh