Strona 105 z 310

I shall never hesitate to cite Cesare Borgia and his actions.

This duke entered the Romagna with auxiliaries, taking there only

French soldiers, and with them he captured Imola and Forli; but

afterwards, such forces not appearing to him reliable, he turned

to mercenaries, discerning less danger in them, and enlisted the

Orsini and Vitelli; whom presently, on handling and finding them

doubtful, unfaithful, and dangerous, he destroyed and turned to

his own men. And the difference between one and the other of

these forces can easily be seen when one considers the difference

there was in the reputation of the duke, when he had the French,

when he had the Orsini and Vitelli, and when he relied on his own

soldiers, on whose fidelity he could always count and found it

ever increasing; he was never esteemed more highly than when

every one saw that he was complete master of his own forces.