Pagina 94 di 310

I wish to demonstrate further the infelicity of these arms. The

mercenary captains are either capable men or they are not; if

they are, you cannot trust them, because they always aspire to

their own greatness, either by oppressing you, who are their

master, or others contrary to your intentions; but if the captain

is not skilful, you are ruined in the usual way.

And if it be urged that whoever is armed will act in the same

way, whether mercenary or not, I reply that when arms have to be

resorted to, either by a prince or a republic, then the prince

ought to go in person and perform the duty of a captain; the

republic has to send its citizens, and when one is sent who does

not turn out satisfactorily, it ought to recall him, and when one

is worthy, to hold him by the laws so that he does not leave the

command. And experience has shown princes and republics,

single-handed, making the greatest progress, and mercenaries

doing nothing except damage; and it is more difficult to bring a

republic, armed with its own arms, under the sway of one of its

citizens than it is to bring one armed with foreign arms. Rome

and Sparta stood for many ages armed and free. The Switzers are

completely armed and quite free.