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. LIII.

The people (deceived with a false appearance of good) do many times desire that which turns to their destruction: and how great hopes and large promises do easily debauch them.

AFter the taking of Veii by the Romans, a report being spread of the convenience and pleasantness of the Town, and richness of the Country about it, the people of Rome began to fancy that it would be much for their advantage to transplant one half of their City, aud send them thither to inhabit, for there were many fair houses to receive them; and it could be no weakning or diminution to Rome, seeing the distance betwixt the two Cities was so small; Veii would be taken rather for a member of Rome, than a distinct and particular City. The Senate and graver sort of Citizens had so little inclination to this design, that they resolved to die before ever they would consent to it. The people were so mad upon it on the other side, that when it came to a debat, and it was to be resolved what was to be done, the dispute was so hot, they had proceeded to blows, and the whole Town been engaged in blood, had not the Senate interposed certain ancient and eminent men, who by their interest and veneration among the people defended the blow, and appeased them for that time. In which passage there are two things considerable: the first, that the people being deceived with a false imagination of good, do many times solicit their own ruine, and run the Commonwealth upon infinite dangers and difficulties, unless some per∣son in whom they have great confidence strikes in to instruct them which is the good, and which is the evil; and when by accident it falls out that the people (having been formerly deceived either by persons or things) cannot repose that confidence in any one, then of ne∣cessity all goes to wrack, and nothing can prevent it: to this purpose Dante in his discourse about Monarchy, tells us,

Il popolo molte volte grida Vivala sua morte, & muoia la sua vita.

The enraged multitude do often crie Give us our death, our life we do defie

This incredulity is many times the occasion that good counsels are neglected, as it hapned to the Venetians when invaded by several enemies at one time, they could not take off any one of them, by restoring what they had taken wrongfully from other people; which was the occasion of the war, and almost of their ruine. From whence we may consider the easiness and difficulty of persuading the people, and make this distinction, if the affair proposed be in appearance either magnanimous, or profitable, though at the bottom it be never so distructive, the people are always easie to be persuaded: on the other side, if any thing be offered (how honourable, how useful soever) with the least shew or glance of cowardize or inconvenience, they are never, or with great difficulty to be wrought to it. To confirm this, we have many examples both modern and ancient in Rome and other places. From hence sprang their jealousies against Fabius Maximus, who could never beat it into the heads of that City, that it was better for their Common wealth to protract, and spin out the war, than to push things on, and bring all to the hazard of a Battel; for the people looking upon it as cowardly and base coun∣sel, and not discerning the utility at the bottom, would by no means admit it; and Fa∣bius wanted rhetorick to enforce it upon them: and so strangely are they blinded sometimes with their bravery and courage, that though the Romans had committed the same error once before, and given authority to Fabius his Master of the Horse to fight when he saw occasion whether Fabius would or not; (which authority had like to have ruined the whole Army, had not Fabius with his prudence prevented it) yet that experiment doing no good, they were guilty again▪ and invested Varro with the same power, upon no other ac∣count, but because he had swagger'd up and down the Town, that when-ever they qualified

him with such a Commission, he would fight Hanibal, cut him to pieces; they believe what he said, give him authority; and what followed? Why they were beaten at Cannas; the Roman Army cut off; and the Roman Empire almost extinguished. And not unlike this was the example of Marcus Centenius Penula, (a mean person, and considerable for nothing but some small command in the Army) who presented himself one day to the Se∣nate, and offered if they would give him power to raise an Army of Voluntiers where he pleased all over Italy, he would undertake in a short time to beat Hanibal out of it. The Senate was sensible the proposition was rash, yet (considering withal that if they should deny him, and report should come of it afterwards to the people, it might dissatisfie them; beget some tumult in the City; and be the occasion of envy and animosity to themselves) they granted his request, choosing rather to expose all those who were so ill advised as to follow him, than run the hazard of new dissentions at home. Having got his Commis∣sion, and afterwards his Men, with a confused and disorderly Army he marches against Hanibal, and fought him, but he failed of his promise, for he was killed himself, and most of his Forces. In Greece in the City of Athens, Nicias, a grave and wise Citizen, could never persuade the people against an Expedition into Sicily; but persuing it against all sober advise, they miscarried, and their own Country was ruined. Scipio, when he was made Consul, desired that he might have Africk for his province, and he would undertake to demolish Carthage but the Senate being averse upon the judgment of Fabius Maximus, Scipio threatned to propose it to the people, as knowing very well how gratf••ul it would be to them, We might produce examples of the same nature out of our own City of Florence, as when Hercules Bentivogli General of the Florentine Army, with Antonio Gia∣comini, having defeated the Forces of Bertolomeo at San Vincenti, they went to besiege Pisa, which enterprize was debated and concluded by the people, upon the great promises which Hercules had made, though indeed the wiser sort of Citizens were against it; but the mul∣titude were possessed with great matters that would be done, and nothing could dissuade them. I say then, there is not an easier way to ruine a State where the authority is in the people, than to put them upon some gallant, but desperate enterprize; for where there is any thing of magnanimity in their nature, it is sure to be embraced, and it is not in the wit of men to dissuade them: but as this is many times the ruine of the State, so it is more often and more certainly the destruction of those Citizens which promoted and comman∣ded it, for the people full of expectations of victory, when they find they have miscarried, never impute it to an ill accident or fortune, but throw all upon the ignorance or treachery of their Commanders, which seldom escape without being banished, imprisoned, or killed; as has hapned to several of the Carthaginian and Athenian Captains. Nor does it avail that they have been victorious before; for their present misfortune drowns all, as it fell out to Antonio Giacomini our General, who not taking Pisa as he promised, and the people ex∣pected, fell into so great disgrace with them, that notwithstanding the many great things which he had done, he was permitted to live, more by the favour and humanity of the Go∣vernors, than by gratitude or good nature of the people.