Questionless some men will blame me for making this
Author speak in our vulgar tongue. For his Maximes
and Tenents are condemnd of all, as pernicious to
all Christian States, and hurtfull to all humane Societies.
Herein I shall answer for my self with the Comoedian,
Placere studeo bonis quam plurimis, et minime multos
laedere: I endeavor to give content to the
most I can of those that are well disposed, and no
scandal to any. I grant, I find him blamed and
condemned: I do no less my self. Reader,
either do thou read him without a prejudicate opinion,
and out of thy own judgement taxe his errors; or at
least, if thou canst stoop so low, make use of my pains
to help thee; I will promise thee this reward for
thy labor: if thou consider well the actions
of the world, thou shalt find him much practised by
those that condemn him; who willingly would walk as
theeves do with close lanternes in the night, that
they being undescried, and yet seeing all, might surprise
the unwary in the dark. Surely this book will
infect no man: out of the wicked treasure of
a mans own wicked heart, he drawes his malice and
mischief. From the same flower the Bee sucks honey,
from whence the Spider hath his poyson. And he
that means well, shall be here warnd, where the deceitfull
man learnes to set his snares. A judge who hath
often used to examine theeves, becomes the more expert
to sift out their tricks. If mischief come hereupon,
blame not me, nor blame my Author: lay the saddle
on the right horse: but Hony soit qui mal y
pense: let shame light on him that hatcht
the mischief.
THE PRINCE
NICHOLAS MACHIAVELLI,
to the Magnificent LAURENCE sonne to PETER OF MEDICIS
health.
They that desire to ingratiate themselves with a Prince,
commonly use to offer themselves to his view, with
things of that nature as such persons take most pleasure
and delight in: whereupon we see they are many
times presented with Horses and Armes, cloth of gold,
pretious stones, and such like ornaments, worthy of
their greatness. Having then a mind to offer
up my self to your Magnificence, with some testimony
of my service to you, I found nothing in my whole
inventory, that I think better of, or more esteeme,
than the knowlege of great mens actions, which I have
learned by a long experience of modern affairs, and
a continual reading of those of the ancients.
Which, now that I have with great diligence long workt
it out, and throughly sifted, I commend to your Magnificence.
And, however I may well think this work unworthy of
your view; yet such is your humanity, that I doubt
not but it shall find acceptance, considering, that
for my part I am not able to tender a greater gift,
than to present you with the means, whereby in a very
short time you may be able to understand all that,
Copyrights
Machiavelli, Volume I from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.
