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The Venetians, moved, as I believe, by the above reasons,

fostered the Guelph and Ghibelline factions in their tributary

cities; and although they never allowed them to come to

bloodshed, yet they nursed these disputes amongst them, so that

the citizens, distracted by their differences, should not unite

against them. Which, as we saw, did not afterwards turn out as

expected, because, after the rout at Vaila, one party at once

took courage and seized the state. Such methods argue, therefore,

weakness in the prince, because these factions will never be

permitted in a vigorous principality; such methods for enabling

one the more easily to manage subjects are only useful in times

of peace, but if war comes this policy proves fallacious.