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But if he had been in sound health at the death of Alexander,[5]

everything would have been different to him. On the day that

Julius the Second[6] was elected, he told me that he had thought

of everything that might occur at the death of his father, and

had provided a remedy for all, except that he had never

anticipated that, when the death did happen, he himself would be

on the point to die.

[5] Alexander VI died of fever, 18th August 1503.

[6] Julius II was Giuliano della Rovere, Cardinal of San Pietro

ad Vincula, born 1443, died 1513.

When all the actions of the duke are recalled, I do not know how

to blame him, but rather it appears to be, as I have said, that I

ought to offer him for imitation to all those who, by the fortune

or the arms of others, are raised to government. Because he,

having a lofty spirit and far-reaching aims, could not have

regulated his conduct otherwise, and only the shortness of the

life of Alexander and his own sickness frustrated his designs.