Pagina 137 di 310

But it is necessary to know well how to disguise this

characteristic, and to be a great pretender and dissembler; and

men are so simple, and so subject to present necessities, that he

who seeks to deceive will always find someone who will allow

himself to be deceived. One recent example I cannot pass over in

silence. Alexander the Sixth did nothing else but deceive men,

nor ever thought of doing otherwise, and he always found victims;

for there never was a man who had greater power in asserting, or

who with greater oaths would affirm a thing, yet would observe it

less; nevertheless his deceits always succeeded according to his

wishes,[3] because he well understood this side of mankind.

[3] "Nondimanco sempre gli succederono gli inganni (ad votum)."

The words "ad votum" are omitted in the Testina addition, 1550.

Alexander never did what he said, Cesare never said what he did.

Italian Proverb.