the prince(王子)-第15节
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chalk up the billets for his soldiers to conquer the country。 Cf。 〃The
History of Henry VII；〃 by Lord Bacon： 〃King Charles had conquered the
realm of Naples； and lost it again； in a kind of a felicity of a dream。 He
passed the whole length of Italy without resistance： so that it was true
what Pope Alexander was wont to say： That the Frenchmen came into
Italy with chalk in their hands； to mark up their lodgings； rather than with
swords to fight。〃
I wish to demonstrate further the infelicity of these arms。 The
mercenary captains are either capable men or they are not； if they are； you
cannot trust them； because they always aspire to their own greatness；
either by oppressing you； who are their master； or others contrary to your
intentions； but if the captain is not skilful； you are ruined in the usual way。
And if it be urged that whoever is armed will act in the same way；
whether mercenary or not； I reply that when arms have to be resorted to；
either by a prince or a republic； then the prince ought to go in person and
perform the duty of a captain； the republic has to send its citizens； and
when one is sent who does not turn out satisfactorily； it ought to recall him；
and when one is worthy； to hold him by the laws so that he does not leave
the command。 And experience has shown princes and republics； single…
handed； making the greatest progress； and mercenaries doing nothing
except damage； and it is more difficult to bring a republic； armed with its
own arms； under the sway of one of its citizens than it is to bring one
armed with foreign arms。 Rome and Sparta stood for many ages armed
and free。 The Switzers are completely armed and quite free。
Of ancient mercenaries； for example； there are the Carthaginians； who
were oppressed by their mercenary soldiers after the first war with the
Romans； although the Carthaginians had their own citizens for captains。
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After the death of Epaminondas； Philip of Macedon was made captain of
their soldiers by the Thebans； and after victory he took away their liberty。
Duke Filippo being dead； the Milanese enlisted Francesco Sforza
against the Venetians； and he； having overcome the enemy at
Caravaggio；＇*＇ allied himself with them to crush the Milanese； his masters。
His father； Sforza； having been engaged by Queen Johanna＇＋＇ of Naples；
left her unprotected； so that she was forced to throw herself into the arms
of the King of Aragon； in order to save her kingdom。 And if the Venetians
and Florentines formerly extended their dominions by these arms； and yet
their captains did not make themselves princes； but have defended them； I
reply that the Florentines in this case have been favoured by chance； for of
the able captains； of whom they might have stood in fear； some have not
conquered； some have been opposed； and others have turned their
ambitions elsewhere。 One who did not conquer was Giovanni Acuto；＇％＇
and since he did not conquer his fidelity cannot be proved； but every one
will acknowledge that； had he conquered； the Florentines would have
stood at his discretion。 Sforza had the Bracceschi always against him； so
they watched each other。 Francesco turned his ambition to Lombardy；
Braccio against the Church and the kingdom of Naples。 But let us come to
that which happened a short while ago。 The Florentines appointed as their
captain Pagolo Vitelli； a most prudent man； who from a private position
had risen to the greatest renown。 If this man had taken Pisa； nobody can
deny that it would have been proper for the Florentines to keep in with
him； for if he became the soldier of their enemies they had no means of
resisting； and if they held to him they must obey him。 The Venetians； if
their achievements are considered； will be seen to have acted safely and
gloriously so long as they sent to war their own men； when with armed
gentlemen and plebians they did valiantly。 This was before they turned to
enterprises on land； but when they began to fight on land they forsook this
virtue and followed the custom of Italy。 And in the beginning of their
expansion on land； through not having much territory； and because of their
great reputation； they had not much to fear from their captains； but when
they expanded； as under Carmignuola；＇#＇ they had a taste of this mistake；
for； having found him a most valiant man （they beat the Duke of Milan
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under his leadership）； and； on the other hand； knowing how lukewarm he
was in the war； they feared they would no longer conquer under him； and
for this reason they were not willing； nor were they able； to let him go； and
so； not to lose again that which they had acquired； they were compelled； in
order to secure themselves； to murder him。 They had afterwards for their
captains Bartolomeo da Bergamo； Roberto da San Severino； the count of
Pitigliano；＇&＇ and the like； under whom they had to dread loss and not
gain； as happened afterwards at Vaila；＇＇ where in one battle they lost that
which in eight hundred years they had acquired with so much trouble。
Because from such arms conquests come but slowly； long delayed and
inconsiderable； but the losses sudden and portentous。
＇*＇ Battle of Caravaggio； 15th September 1448。
＇＋＇ Johanna II of Naples； the widow of Ladislao； King of Naples。
＇％＇ Giovanni Acuto。 An English knight whose name was Sir John
Hawkwood。 He fought in the English wars in France； and was knighted by
Edward III； afterwards he collected a body of troops and went into Italy。
These became the famous 〃White Company。〃 He took part in many wars；
and died in Florence in 1394。 He was born about 1320 at Sible Hedingham；
a village in Essex。 He married Domnia； a daughter of Bernabo Visconti。
＇#＇ Carmignuola。 Francesco Bussone； born at Carmagnola about 1390；
executed at Venice； 5th May 1432。
＇&＇ Bartolomeo Colleoni of Bergamo； died 1457。 Roberto of San
Severino； died fighting for Venice against Sigismund； Duke of Austria； in
1487。 〃Primo capitano in Italia。〃Machiavelli。 Count of Pitigliano； Nicolo
Orsini； born 1442； died 1510。
＇＇ Battle of Vaila in 1509。
And as with these examples I have reached Italy； which has been ruled
for many years by mercenaries； I wish to discuss them more seriously； in
order that； having seen their rise and progress； one may be better prepared
to counteract them。 You must understand that the empire has recently
come to be repudiated in Italy； that the Pope has acquired more temporal
power； and that Italy has been divided up into more states； for the reason
that many of the great cities took up arms against their nobles； who；
formerly favoured by the emperor； were oppressing them； whilst the
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Church was favouring them so as to gain authority in temporal power： in
many others their citizens became princes。 From this it came to pass that
Italy fell partly into the hands of the Church and of republics； and； the
Church consisting of priests and the republic of citizens unaccustomed to
arms； both commenced to enlist foreigners。
The first who gave renown to this soldiery was Alberigo da Conio；＇*＇
the Romagnian。 From the school of this man sprang； among others；
Braccio and Sforza； who in their time were the arbiters of Italy。 After these
came all the other captains who till now have directed the arms of Italy；
and the end of all their valour has been； that she has been overrun by
Charles； robbed by Louis； ravaged by Ferdinand； and insulted by the
Switzers。 The principle that has guided them has been； first； to lower the
credit of infantry so that they might increase their own。 They did this
because； subsisting on their pay and without territory； they were unable to
support many soldiers； and
