[Sidenote: The cries, and rumours, wher with
the firste charge is given unto the enemies, and the
silence that ought to bee used after, when the faight
is ones begunne.]
FABRICIO. The opinion of auncient capitaines,
hath been divers about the commyng to handes, whether
thei ought with rumour to go a pace, or with scilence
to go faire and softely: this laste waie, serveth
to kepe the order more sure, and to understande better
the commaundementes of the Capitaine: the firste,
serveth to incourage more the mindes of men: and
for that I beleve, that respecte ought to bee had to
the one, and to the other of these twoo thynges, I
made the one goe with rumour, and thother with scilence:
nor me thinkes not in any wise, that the continuall
rumours bee to purpose: bicause thei lette the
commaundementes, the whiche is a thyng moste pernicious:
nor it standeth not with reason, that the Romaines
used, except at the firste assaulte to make rumour:
for that in their histories, is seen many tymes to
have happened, that through the wordes, and comfortinges
of the capitain the souldiours that ranne awaie, were
made to stande to it, and in sundrie wise by his commaundemente,
to have varied the orders, the whiche should not have
followed, if the rumoures had been louder then his
voyce.
THE FOWERTH BOOKE
LUIGI. Seng that under my governement, a field
hath been wonne so honourably, I suppose that it is
good, that I tempt not fortune any more, knowyng how
variable, and unstable she is: and therefore,
I desire to give up my governement, and that Zanobi
do execute now this office of demaundyng, mindyng
to followe the order, whiche concerneth the youngeste:
and I knowe he will not refuse this honoure, or as
we would saie, this labour, as well for to doe me
pleasure, as also for beyng naturally of more stomach
than I: nor it shall not make hym afraied, to
have to enter into these travailes, where he maie bee
as well overcome, as able to conquere.
ZANOBI. I am readie to do what soever shall please
you to appoinete me, although that I desire more willingly
to heare: for as moche as hetherto, your questions
have satisfied me more, then those should have pleased
me, whiche in harkenyng to your reasonyng, hath chaunced
to come into my remembraunce. But sir, I beleve
that it is good, that you lese no tyme, and that you
have pacience, if with these our Ceremonies we trouble
you.
FABRICIO. You doe me rather pleasure, for that
this variacion of demaunders, maketh me to knowe the
sundrie wittes and sunderie appetites of yours:
But remaineth there any thyng, whiche seemeth unto
you good, to bee joyned to the matter, that alreadie
hath been reasoned of?
ZANOBI. Twoo thinges I desire, before you passe
to an other parte: the one is, to have you to
shewe, if in orderyng armies, there needeth to bee
used any other facion: the other, what respectes
a capitaine ought to have, before he conducte his
men to the faight, and in thesame an accidente risyng
or growyng, what reamedie maie be had.
Copyrights
Machiavelli, Volume I from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.
