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ELder 1 1.1 times held her to haue sufficient dower, that was vertuously endowed: But these latter, hold her good enough, that hath goods enough. 2 1.5 So fa∣reth it in publike purchases: for, the old position was this, Iustice is to be preferred before profit: But now the tearmes are transposed in the proposi∣tion: and the ambitious desire of rule, neuer disputeth the equitie, but the
benefit of the action it vndertaketh. Thus standeth the obseruation, but the praecept teacheth the contrary.
The State of Venice deliberates, whether to vndertake the protection of Pisa, or not: she calles not in question the Iustice of the action, to defend rebels against their lawfull Lordes, but, whether she should do it at her owne charge, or ioyntly with o∣thers: the matter is controuersed in Senate: The grauer and wi∣ser sort are for the negatiue, not to vndertake it alone. Their rea∣sons: because it hath in it great difficulty, Pisa being so farre di∣stant from this State by land, but tenne times farther by sea: of great expence, the Florentines being so rich, and so resolutely bent not to quitte their right in that citie: Of great danger, the other States of Italy being already iealous of the Venetian great∣nesse,
would now vndoubtedly combine themselues against her: especially Zforza (out of emulation and enuy, that she should get this sweet morsel from him, for which he had so long, and so greedily gaped) would fall to his old tricke of calling in the French nation, to a new trouble and disturbance of the quiet of Italy. It were therefore good pollicy to ioyne with him, in the protection, least the Pisans should wholly submit themselues vn∣der him: but in no case to draw vpon their owne head, such a weight of charge, and such a world of enuy, where there is no imminent nor vrgent necessity. For, praecipitate deliberations and hazardous, are onely necessary to those, that stand vpon si∣nister and desperate tearmes: nor are they voluntarily entred in∣to, except by such great mindes as cannot expect, but will needs take the first occasion offered: Whereas Venice, being (in respect of other Kings and Princes,) as it were immortall, and alwaies the same, had no such reason to hasten her deliberations, while the fruite was greene, but to stay the ripening, till the times were more fauourable and fitte for her purposed desseignes. These were the allegations for the negatiue. But Augustino Barbarigo, and the greater part of the Councell, are for the contrary: be∣cause it was an action of honour, to protect the oppressed: an act of iust reuenge, to distresse the Florentines, who had for ma∣ny yeares, impeached the greatnesse of Venice, aswell in her des∣seigne vpon Millan, presently after the death of Phillip-Maria Visconty, as lately in her warres against Ferrara: An action of proffit, the citie of Pisa being the fittest Scale for Venice, to climbe to that height of soueraignty and monarchy of Italy, to which she aspired. Besides, as the present State of things stood, all the other neighbour Princes, were not able to oppose against her. And as for Zforza, he had so much wronged the French alrea∣dy, as he would neuer dare to call him in againe. Considering therefore how seldome such faire occasions be offered, and what weaknesse it is to ouer∣slippe them; they ought, for the glo∣rie of their State and enlargement of her dominions, notwith∣standing all dangers, and difficulties propounded (whereof ma∣ny
by the benefite of Fortune and chance neuer happen, and the rest may by prouidence be fore-seene and preuented) vn∣dertake the protection of Pisa. The former opinion had the stronger reasons, but this the stronger partie, and preuailed.
Dummodò morata benè veniat, dotata est satis. * 1.2
Quae dos matronis pulcherrima? vita pudica. * 1.3
Vxorem cum dote, fidem{que}, & amicos,
Et genus, & formam, regina pecunia donat.
Tace stulta, non tu nunc hominum mores vides, * 1.4
Cuiusmodi? hic cum mala fama facilè nubitur.
Dum dos sit, nullum vitium vitio vertitur.
Plaut. Aul.
Auson. Horat.
Plaut. Persa.
Le Ragioni di Stato, sivestono di molti rispetti particolari, con i quali i Prencipi (tenuto ô solo ô principal mente conto di ciô, che lor' torna più comodo et * 1.6 vtile) non chiamano ne' suoi consigli, La Guistitia, ô l'equità: ô non l'attribuisco∣no quella parte, che se le deue.
Quae toto orbe terrarum committuntur scelera, plaeraque ex cupiditate nas∣cuntur. * 1.7
Non est apud eos qui immodica cupiditate ducuntur, quicquam firmi vel sancti. * 1.8
Auida spes regni, praecipitem animum, ad vltimum nefas impellit.
Maximum, cupiditas imperij, malum inter mortales est. * 1.9
Vnde vtilitas ostendebatur, illuc libidinem transferebat.
Quindi auuien' che tra' Prencipi e signori,
Patte Conuenzion' sono si frali:
Fan lega hoggi, Re, Papi, imperadori.
Doman saran nemici capitali:
Perche, quell' apparenze esteriori
Non hanno i Cor', non han gl' animi tali,
Che non mirando al torto, più ch'al dritto,
Attendon solamente à lor profitto.
Parut. l. 2. disc. 2.
Quintil. 321.
Demost.
Curt. l. 6. Liui. 28. Tacit. an. 13. Ariost. Cant. 44.