Aphorismes ciuill and militarie amplified with authorities, and exemplified with historie, out of the first quarterne of Fr. Guicciardine.
About this Item
Title
Aphorismes ciuill and militarie amplified with authorities, and exemplified with historie, out of the first quarterne of Fr. Guicciardine.
Author
Dallington, Robert, 1561-1637.
Publication
London :: Imprinted [by R. Field] for Edward Blount,
1613.
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Subject terms
Aphorisms and apothegms -- Early works to 1800.
Political science -- Early works to 1800.
Military art and science -- Early works to 1800.
Italy -- History -- Early works to 1800.
Cite this Item
"Aphorismes ciuill and militarie amplified with authorities, and exemplified with historie, out of the first quarterne of Fr. Guicciardine." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A19768.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 7, 2024.
Pages
APHORISME XXIIII.
THough1the generall good of the Colleagues, make the frame of all Confederations:2yet particular in∣terest, is the foundation whereupon they are built: and as this continueth sound or weake, in any one of the complices, so standeth or falleth that great buil∣ding. For one State combines with another, in one and the same action, and concurres to one and the same generall end, no longer then it is for it owne proper good.3The Practise runnes often thus: the Rule stands otherwise.
Had the strict confederation which Ferdinand made with Medici, or his new affinitie and parentade with the Pope conti∣nued firme, without vacillation on either part: he had made those two States (of Rome and Florence) as two maine Vaw-mures and bulwarks, against the French forces: and laid a strong foun∣dation for his imminent warre. But the Florentines staggered, vpon their first summons to a peace and league with France, (though they declared not so soone) for feare of losing their commerce and trafficke with that Realme. And Alexander the 6. who thought it best fishing in troubled waters, picked new quar∣rels with Ferdinand: either to force the distressed King to satisfie his ambitious greedinesse, with greater matters then he yet had: or by his mediation and labour, to reduce the Cardinall S. Peter in Vincola, to his obedience, who detained from the Sea of Rome, the strong Rockes of Ostia, Ronsiglione, and Grotta-ferrata, and kept them by strong hand against him: (a matter which was not in the power of the poore king to effect.) And thus in short
Cura quid expediat, prior est, quàm quid sit honestum:Et reditus i am quisque suos amat, & sibi quid sit Vtile, sollicitis computat articulis.
In queste amicizie, ô colleganze de Prencipi, ha ogni vno per sola mira, lo stesso suo commodo, & particolar benefizio: & in tanto poi quello d'altri, in quanto perl'accidente, con suo proprio conuenga.
I Prencipi per l'ordinario non si muouono, se non per interesse: & non cognosco∣noamico, o nemico, se non per lo bene che ne sperano, o per lo male che ne temano. Et le leghe tanto durano, quanto dura l'vtilità de' collegati.
Amitiez d'ambitieux, ne tiennent iamais ferme, de quelques liens qu'vn lespuisse serrer.
Assez d'accords, mais peu, ou point d'amitié, entre les grands.
Id consilium accipere, ad quod occasio duceret, quamuis non videretur esse ex sua dignitate.