Those who desire to win the favour of princes
generally endeavour to do so by offering
them those things which they themselves prize
most, or such as they observe the prince
to delight in most. Thence it is that princes
have very often presented to them horses,
arms, cloth of gold, precious stones, and
similar ornaments worthy of their greatness.
Wishing now myself to offer to your Magnificence
some proof of my devotion, I have found nothing
amongst all I possess that I hold more dear
or esteem more highly than the knowledge
of the actions of great men, which I have
acquired by long experience of modern affairs
and a continued study of ancient history.
These I have meditated upon for a long time,
and examined with great care and diligence;
and having now written them out in a small
volume, I send this to your Magnificence.
And although I judge this work unworthy of
you, yet I trust that your kindness of heart
may induce you to accept it, considering
that I cannot offer you anything better than
the means of understanding in the briefest
time all that which I have learnt by so many
years of study, and with so much trouble
and danger to myself.
I have not set off this little work with
pompous phrases, nor filled it with high-sounding
and magnificent words, nor with any other
allurements or extrinsic embellishments with
which many are wont to write and adorn their
works; for I wished that mine should derive
credit only from the truth of the matter,
and that the importance of the subject should
make it acceptable.
And I hope it may not be accounted presumption
if a man of lowly and humble station ventures
to discuss and direct the conduct of princes;
for as those who wish to delineate countries
place themselves low in the plain to observe
the form and character of mountains and high
places, and for the purpose of studying the
nature of the low country place themselves
high upon an eminence, so one must be a prince
to know well the character of the people,
and to understand well the nature of a prince
one must be of the people.
May your Magnificence then accept this little
gift in the same spirit in which I send it;
and if you will read and consider it well,
you will recognise in it my desire that you
may attain that greatness which fortune and
your great qualities promise. And if your
Magnificence will turn your eyes from the
summit of your greatness towards those low
places, you will know how undeservedly I
have to bear the great and continued malice
of fortune.
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