ether or not they conform in their methods to thespirit of the times。 This follows from what I have said； that two menworking differently bring about the same effect； and of two workingsimilarly； one attains his object and the other does not。Changes in estate also issue from this； for if； to one who governshimself with caution and patience； times and affairs converge in such away that his administration is successful； his fortune is made； but iftimes and affairs change； he is ruined if he does not change his courseof action。 But a man is not often found sufficiently circumspect to knowhow to acmodate himself to the change； both because he cannot deviatefrom what nature inclines him to； and also because； having alwaysprospered by acting in one way； he cannot be persuaded that it is wellto leave it； and； therefore； the cautious man； when it is time to turnadventurous； does not know how to do it； hence he is ruined； but had hechanged his conduct with the times fortune would not have changed。Pope Julius II went to work impetuously in all his affairs； and foundthe times and circumstances conform so well to that line of action thathe always met with success。 Consider his first enterprise againstBologna； Messer Giovanni Bentivogli being still alive。 The Veianswere not agreeable to it； nor was the King of Spain； and he had theenterprise still under discussion with the King of France； neverthelesshe personally entered upon the expedition with his accustomed boldnessand energy； a move which made Spain and the Veians stand irresoluteand passive； the latter from fear； the former from desire to recover allthe kingdom of Naples； on the other hand； he drew after him the King ofFrance； because that king； having observed the movement； and desiring tomake the Pope his friend so as to humble the Veians； found itimpossible to refuse him soldiers without manifestly offending him。Therefore Julius with his impetuous action acplished what no otherpontiff with simple human wisdom could have done； for if he had waitedin Rome until he could get away； with his plans arranged and everythingfixed； as any other pontiff would have done； he would never havesucceeded。 Because the King of France would have made a thousandexcuses； and the others would have raised a thousand fears。I will leave his other actions alone； as they were all alike； and theyall succeeded； for the shortness of his life did not let him experiencethe contrary； but if circumstances had arisen to gocautiously； his ruin would have followed； because he would never havedeviated from those ways to which nature inclined him。I conclude therefore that； fortune being changeful and mankind steadfastin their ways； so long as the two are in agreement men are successful；but unsuccessful when they fall out。 For my part I consider that it isbetter to be adventurous than cautious； because fortune is a woman； andif you wish to keep her under it is necessary to beat and ill…use her；and it is seen that she allows herself to be mastered by the adventurousrather than by those who go to work more coldly。 She is； therefore；always； woman…like； a lover of young men； because they are lesscautious； more violent； and with more audacity mand her。CHAPTER XXVIAN EXHORTATION TO LIBERATE ITALY FROM THE BARBARIANSHAVING carefully considered the subject of the above discourses； andwondering within myself whether the present times were propitious to anew prince； and whether there were the elements that would give anopportunity to a wise and virtuous one to introduce a new order ofthings which would do honour to him and good to the people of thiscountry； it appears to me that so many things concur to favour a newprince that I never knew a time more fit than the present。And if； as I said； it was necessary that the people of Israel should becaptive so as to make manifest the ability of Moses； that the Persiansshould be oppressed by the Medes so as to discover the greatness of thesoul of Cyrus； and that the Athenians should be dispersed to illustratethe capabilities of Theseus： then at the present time； in order todiscover the virtue of an Italian spirit； it was necessary that Italyshould be reduced to the extremity she is now in； that she should bemore enslaved than the Hebrews； more oppressed than the Persians； morescattered than the Athenians； without head； without order； beaten；despoiled； torn； overrun； and to have endured every kind of desolation。Although lately some spark may have been shown by one； which made usthink he was ordained by God for our redemption； nevertheless it wasafterwards seen； in the height of his career； that fortune rejected him；so that Italy； left as without life； waits for him who shall yet healher wounds and put an end to the ravaging and plundering of Lombardy； tothe swindling and taxing of the kingdom and of Tuscany； and cleansethose sores that for long have festered。 It is seen how she entreats Godto send someone who shall deliver her from these wrongs and barbarousinsolencies。 It is seen also that she is ready and willing to follow abanner if only someone will raise it。Nor is there to be seen at present one in whom she can place more hopethan in your illustrious house； with its valour and fortune； favoured byGod and by the Church of which it is now the chief； and which could bemade the head of this redemption。 This will not be difficult if you willrecall to yourself the actions and lives of the men I have named。 Andalthough they were great and wonderful men； yet they were men； and eachone of them had no more opportunity than the present offers； for theirenterprises were neither more just nor easier than this； nor was Godmore their friend than He is yours。With us there is great justice； because that war is just which isnecessary； and arms are hallowed when there is no other hope but inthem。 Here there is the greatest willingness； and where the willingnessis great the difficulties cannot be great if you will only follow thosemen to whom I have directed your attention。 Further than this； howextraordinarily the ways of God have been manifested beyond example： thesea is divided； a cloud has led the way； the rock has poured forthwater； it has rained manna； everything has contributed to yourgreatness； you ought to do the rest。 God is not willing to doeverything； and thus take away our free will and that share of glorywhich belongs to us。And it is not to be wondered at if none of the above…named Italians havebeen able to acplish all that is expected from your illustrioushouse； and if in so many revolutions in Italy； and in so many campaigns；it has always appeared as if military virtue were exhausted； this hashappened because the old order of things was not good； and none of ushave known how to find a new one。 And nothing honours a man more than toestablish new laws and new ordinances when he himself was newly risen。Such things when they are well founded and dignified will make himrevered and admired； and in Italy there are not wanting opportunities tobring such into use in every form。Here there is great valour in the limbs whilst it fails in the head。Look attentively at the duels and the hand…to…hand bats； how superiorthe Italians are in strength； dexterity； and subtlety。 But when it esto armies they do not bear parison； and this springs entirely fromthe insufficiency of the leaders； since those who are capable are notobedient； and each one seems to himself to know； there having never beenany one so distinguished above the rest； either by valour or fortune；that others would yield to him。 Hence it is that for so long a time； andduring so much fighting in the past twenty years； whenever there hasbeen an army wholly Italian； it has always given a poor account ofitself； as witness Taro； Alessandria； Capua； Genoa； Vaila； Bologna；Mestre。If； therefore； your illustrious house wishes to follow those remarkablemen who have redeemed their country； it is necessary before all things；as a true foundation for every enterprise； to be provided with your ownforces； because there can be no more faithful； truer； or bettersoldiers。 And although singly they are good； altogether they will bemuch better when they find themselves manded by their prince；honoured by him； and maintained at his expense。 Therefore it isnecessary to be prepared with such arms； so that you can be defendedagainst foreigners by Italian valour。And although Swiss and Spanish infantry may be considered veryformidable； nevertheless there is a defect in both； by reason of which athird order would not only be able to oppose them； but might be reliedupon to overthrow them。 For the Spaniards cannot resist cavalry； and theSwitzers are afraid of infantry whenever they encounter them in closebat。 Owing to this； as has been and may again be seen； the Spaniardsare unable to resist French cavalry； and the Switzers are overthrown byinfantry。 And although a plete proof of this latter cannot be shown；nevertheless there was some evidence of it at the battle of Ravenna；when the Spanish infantry were confronted by German battalions； whofollow the same tactics as the Swiss； when the Spaniards； by agility ofbody and with the aid of their shields； got in under the pikes of theGermans and stood out of danger； able to attack； while the Germans stoodhelpless； and； if the cavalry had not dashed up； all would have beenover with them。 It is possible； therefore； knowing the defects of boththese infantries； to invent a new one； which will resist cavalry and notbe afraid of infantry； this need not create a new order of arms； but avariation upon the old。 And these are the kind of improvements whichconfer reputation and power upon a new prince。This opportunity； therefore； ought not to be allowed to pass for lettingItaly at last see her liberator appear。 Nor can one express the lovewith which he would be received in all those provinces which havesuffered so much from these foreign scourings； with what thirst forrevenge； with what stubborn faith； with what devotion； with what tears。What door would be closed to him？ Who would refuse obedience to him？What envy would hinder him？ What Italian would refuse him homage？ To allof us this barbarous dominion stinks。 Let； therefore； your illustrioushouse take up this charge with that courage and hope with which all justenterprises are undertaken； so that under its standard our nativecountry may be ennobled； and under its auspices may be verified thatsaying of Petrarch： Virtu contro al Furore Prendera l'arme； e fia il batter corto： Che l'antico valore Negli italici cuor non e ancor morto。 ＇1＇1。 Virtue against fury shall advance the fight； And it i' th' bat soon shall put to flight； For the old Roman； valour is not dead； Nor in th' Italians' breasts extinguished。
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