Pagina 39 de 310

If Moses, Cyrus, Theseus, and Romulus had been unarmed they could

not have enforced their constitutions for long-as happened in our

time to Fra Girolamo Savonarola, who was ruined with his new

order of things immediately the multitude believed in him no

longer, and he had no means of keeping steadfast those who

believed or of making the unbelievers to believe. Therefore such

as these have great difficulties in consummating their

enterprise, for all their dangers are in the ascent, yet with

ability they will overcome them; but when these are overcome, and

those who envied them their success are exterminated, they will

begin to be respected, and they will continue afterwards

powerful, secure, honoured, and happy.