The works of the famous Nicholas Machiavel, citizen and secretary of Florence written originally in Italian, and from thence newly and faithfully translated into English.

CHAP. XLIV.

A multitude without an head is altogether unserviceable; nor is any man to threaten that has any thing to desire.

UPon the accident of Virginius, the people having taken Arms, and retir'd to the holy-Mount, the Senate sent to them to know upon what account they had abandoned their Officers, and betaken themselves to that Mount: and the authority of the Senate was so venerable among the people, that having no head among them, there was no body durst return an answer: Titus Livius tells us, Non defuit quid responderetur, deerat qui responsum daret; They wanted not what to say, but who to deliver it. For having no certain Comman∣der, every private person was unwilling to expose himself to their displeasure. From whence we may understand how useless a thing the multitude is without a head, which be∣ing observed by Virginius, he caused twenty Military Tribunes to be made, with power to treat and expostulate with the Senate instead of a Head.

The people insisting to have Valerius and Horatius sent to them, to whom they would communicate their grievances, Valerius and Horatius refused to go till the Decemviri had laid down their authority; which being at length obtained with much concertation; Va∣lerius and Horatius repaired to the people, and understood that they would have new Tri∣bunes to be chosen; they would have appeals from every Magistrate to the people; and they would have the Decem-viri to be delivered up into their hands, that they might burn them alive: the Embassadors liked the first of their demands, but refused to consent to the last as impious, telling them, Crudelitatem damnatis, in crudelitatem ruitis: You condemn cruelty, and practise it your selves: and before you will be free, you will tyrannize over your

adversaries; advising them to lay that Article by, and mention the Decemviri no farther, but to address themselves to the reassumption of their power and authority, after which they would not want ways of receiving satisfaction; for then every man's life and fortune would be at their disposing. Hence we may learn how weak and imprudent it is to desire a thing, and before we receive it, declare to what ill use we intend it, especially if we mean to do mischief, 'tis just as you should say, pray give me your Sword, that I may run you thorow, 'Tis sufficient to borrow the Sword, and when you have it, you may do as you please.