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. II.

How the austerity of Manlius Torquatus, and the humanity of Valerius Cor∣vinus gain'd each of them the same honour and reputation.

THere were two famous Captains contemporary in Rome, Manlius Torquatus, and Va∣lerius Corvinus, both of them equal in courage, equal in their triumphs, and each of them (as to the enemy) acquir'd all with equal virtue and terror; but as to their own Armies, and manner of discipline, it was quite different. Manlius commanded with all kind of severity, excused his Souldiers from no labour, nor no punishment. Valerius on the other side used them with as much gentleness and familiarity: Manlius to keep his Souldiers strictly to their discipline, executed his own son; which Valerius was so far from imitating, that he never offended any man: yet in this great diversity of conduct, the effects were the same, both as to the Enemy, the Commonwealth, and themselves; for none of their Souldiers ever declin'd fighting; none of them rebelled, or so much as disputed their commands, though the discipline of Manlius was so severe, that afterwards all excessive and extravagant commands were called Manliana imperia: in which place it is not amiss to enquire how it came to pass that Manlius was constrained to so rigorous a method; what it was that made Valerius comport himself so mildly: how it was that this different way of proceeding should have the same effect; and last of all, which of the two is most wor∣thy

thy to be imitated. If Manlius be considered as he is represented by the Historian, he will be found to be very valiant, carrying himself with great piety to his Father, and Country, and with great reverence to his Superiors, which appeared by his defence of his Father with the hazard of his own life against a Tribune who accused him; and by his fighting with the Gaul, in the behalf of his Country, which notwithstanding he would not under∣take without orders from the Consul; for when he saw a vast man, of a prodigious pro∣portion, marching forth upon the Bridge, and challenging any of the Romans, he went mo∣destly to the Consul for leave, and told him, Injussa tuo adversus hostem, nunquam pugnabo, non si certain victoriam videam; Without your permission I will never engage with the enemy, though I was sure to overcome: and the Consul giving him leave, he conquered his enemy. When therefore a man of his constitution arrives at such a command, he desires all men may be as punctual as himself▪ and being naturally brave, he commands brave things, and when they are once commanded, requires that they be executed exactly; and this is a cer∣tain rule, when great things are commanded, strict obedience must be expected, otherwise your enterprize must fail. That therefore those under your command may be the more obedient to your commands, it is necessary that you command aright; and he commands right, who compares his own quality and condition with the quality and condition of those they command; if he finds them proportionable, then he may command, if other∣wise, he is to forbear; and therefore that saying was not amiss, that to keep a Common∣wealth in subjection by violence, it was convenient that there should be a proportion be∣twixt the persons forced, and forcing; and whilst that proportion lasted, the violence might last too, but when that proportion was dissolved, and he that was forced grew stronger than he that offered it, it was to be doubted much his authority would not hold long. But to return; great things therefore, and magnificent, are not to be commanded but by a man that is great and magnificent himself; and he who is so constituted, having once commanded them, cannot expect, that mildness or gentleness will prevail with his subjects to execute them: but he that is not of this greatness and magnificence of mind, is by no means to command extraordinary things; and if his commands be but ordinary, his humanity may do well enough, for ordinary punishments are not imputed to the Prince, but to the Laws and Customs of the place: so that we may conclude Manlius was constrained to that se∣verity by his natural temper and complexion; and such persons are many times of great importance to a Commonwealth, because by the exactness of their own lives, and the strictness of their discipline, they revive the old Laws, and reduce every thing towards its first principles:

And if a State could be so happy to have such persons succeeding one another in any reasonable time, as by their examples would not only renew the laws, restrain vice, and re∣move every thing that tended to its ruine or corruption, that State would be immortal. So then Manlius was a severe man, and kept up the Roman discipline exactly, prompted first by his own nature, and then by a strong desire to have that obeyed, which his own inclina∣tion had constrained him to command. Valerius Corvinus on the other side might exer∣cise his gentleness without inconvenience, because he commanded nothing extraordinary, or contrary to the customs of the Romans at that time; which custom, being good, was sufficient to honour him, and not very troublesom to observe, whereby it hapned that Va∣lerius was not necessitated to punish offenders, because there were but very few of that sort, and when there were any, their punishment (as is said before) was imputed to the Laws, and not to the cruelty of the Prince; by which it fell out that Valerius had an op∣portunity by his gentleness to gain both affection and authority in the Army, which was the cause that the Souldiers being equally obedient to one as well as the other, though their humours and discipline were different, yet they might do the same things, and their actions have the same effects. If any are desirous to imitate either of them, they will do well to have a care of running into the same errors as Scipio and Hanibal did before, which is not to be prevented any other way, but by singular virtue and industry. These things being so, it remains now that we enquire which of those two ways are most laudable to follow, and it is the harder to resolve, because I find Authors are strangely divided, some for one way, and others for the other. Nevertheless, they who pretened to write how a Prince is to govern, are more inclinable, to Valerius than Manli••s, and Xenophon in his character of Cyrus jumps exactly with Livy's description of Valerius, especially in his expedition against the Samnites when he was Consul: for the morning before the Fight he made a speech to his Souldiers with that mildness and humanity, that the Historian tells us, Non aliâs militi familiarior dux fuit, inter infimos militum omnia haud gravate munia obeundo. In ludo praeterea militari, cum velocitatis, viriumque inter se aequales cort amina ineunt, comiter facilis vincere, ac vinci, vultu eodem; nec quenquam aspernari parem qui se offerret; factis benig nus

prore; dictis, haud minus libertatis alienae quam suae dignitatis memor, & (quo nihil popu∣larius est) quibus artibus petierat Magistratum, iisdem Gerebat. No General was ever more familiar with his Soldiers; no Soldier too mean for him to converse with, no office too base for him to undertake. In their Military recreations when they ran, or wrestled for a prize, he would not only run or wrestle, but win or lose, be overcome, or conquer, with the same evenness, and unconcernment; nor did he ever disdain or refuse any man that challenged him. In his actions, he was bountiful, as occasion was offered; in his words, he was as mindful of other peoples liberty, as of his own dignity, and (which is the most grateful thing to the people in the world) the same arts which he used in the obtaining, the same he exercised in the manage∣ment of his Magistracy.

Livy speaks likewise very honorably of Manlius▪ acknowledging that his severity upon his Son, made the whole Army so obedient, and diligent, that it was the occasion of their victory against the Latins; and he goes so far in his praise, that after he has given an exact account of the Battel and victory; and described all the dangers and difficulties to which the Romans were exposed, he concludes that it was only the Conduct and courage of Man∣lius that got the victory that day; and afterwards comparing the strength of both Armies, he does not scruple to say, that on which side soever Manlius had been, that side would certainly have had the day. Which being so, makes my question very hard to determine, nevertheless, that it may not be altogether unresolved, I conceive that in a Citizen brought up under the strictness of a Commonwealth, the way of Manlius would be best, and least subject to danger, because it seems most for the interest of the publick, and not at all proceeding from private ambition; besides to carry ones self severely to every body, and pursue nothing but the benefit of the Publick, is not a way to make parties, or friends, without which there can be no troubles in a State. So that he who proceeds in that man∣ner, must needs be very useful, and not at all suspicious to the State. But the way of Va∣lerius is quite contrary; for though the Commonwealth reaps the same fruits as in the other; yet jealousies will arise, and people will be fearful that in the end his great favour among the Souldiers will be employed to set up himself, with very ill consequences upon their liberty. And if in Publicola's time these ill effects did not happen, it was because as then the minds of the Romans were not corrupt, nor had he been long enough in authority. But if we consider a Prince, as Xenophon did, in that case we must leave Manlius, and follow Valerius clearly; because a Prince is by all means to endeavour the obedience of his Subjects and Soldiers by ways of amity and kindness. They will be obedient, if they find him virtuous, and a strict observer of his Laws; they will love him, if they see him courteous, and affable, and merciful, and endued with all the good qualities which were in Valerius, and which Xenophon attributes to Cyrus. For to be particularly beloved, and have an Army true to his interest, is instar omnium, and answers to all other policies of State. But it is otherwise when an Army is commanded by one who is a Citizen of the same City with the rest of his Army; for he is subject to the same Laws and Magistrates as well as they. In the Annals of Venice we read, that in former times the Venetian Galleys returning from some expedition, and lying near the Town, there happened a quarrel betwixt the Citizens and the Seamen, which proceeded so far, that it came to a tumult, both sides betook themselves to their Arms, and neither the power of their Officers, the reverence of the Citizens, nor the authority of the Magistrate was able to quiet them: But as soon as a certain Gentleman appeared, who had commanded them the year before, remembring with what courtesie he had behaved himself, their kindness to him prevail'd above all other courses, and they gave over the combat, and retir'd; but that affection, and ready obedience to his commands, cost the poor Gentle∣man very dear; for thereby he became so obnoxious to the Senate, that not long after, they secured themselves against him, either by imprisonment or death. I conclude then, that a Prince may better follow the example of Valerius; but to a Citizen, it is dangerous both to himself, and the State; to the State, because that way leads directly to Tyranny; to himself, because (let his intentions be never so innocent) he will certainly be suspected, and bring himself in danger. So on the other side, the severity of Manlius is as perni∣cious in a Prince, but in a Citizen it is convenient, and particularly for the State; for it ne∣ver does hurt, if the hatred which follows your severity be not encreased by a jealousie of your great virtue and reputation, as it happen'd to Camillus.