The Prince eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 173 pages of information about The Prince.

The Prince eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 173 pages of information about The Prince.
under this great defeat, should be inclined to listen to thee.  And whereas I have sought to make them my enemies, because I believed that war with them would conduce to my power and glory, thou hast every inducement to make friends of them, because their alliance will bring thee advantages and security.  It is of the greatest important in this world that a man should know himself, and the measure of his own strength and means; and he who knows that he has not a genius for fighting must learn how to govern by the arts of peace.  And it will be well for thee to rule they conduct by my counsel, and to learn in this way to enjoy what my life-work and dangers have gained; and in this thou wilt easily succeed when thou hast learnt to believe that what I have told thee is true.  And thou wilt be doubly indebted to me, in that I have left thee this realm and have taught thee how to keep it.”

After this there came to Castruccio those citizens of Pisa, Pistoia, and Lucca, who had been fighting at his side, and whilst recommending Pagolo to them, and making them swear obedience to him as his successor, he died.  He left a happy memory to those who had known him, and no prince of those times was ever loved with such devotion as he was.  His obsequies were celebrated with every sign of mourning, and he was buried in San Francesco at Lucca.  Fortune was not so friendly to Pagolo Guinigi as she had been to Castruccio, for he had not the abilities.  Not long after the death of Castruccio, Pagolo lost Pisa, and then Pistoia, and only with difficulty held on to Lucca.  This latter city continued in the family of Guinigi until the time of the great-grandson of Pagolo.

From what has been related here it will be seen that Castruccio was a man of exceptional abilities, not only measured by men of his own time, but also by those of an earlier date.  In stature he was above the ordinary height, and perfectly proportioned.  He was of a gracious presence, and he welcomed men with such urbanity that those who spoke with him rarely left him displeased.  His hair was inclined to be red, and he wore it cut short above the ears, and, whether it rained or snowed, he always went without a hat.  He was delightful among friends, but terrible to his enemies; just to his subjects; ready to play false with the unfaithful, and willing to overcome by fraud those whom he desired to subdue, because he was wont to say that it was the victory that brought the glory, not the methods of achieving it.  No one was bolder in facing danger, none more prudent in extricating himself.  He was accustomed to say that men ought to attempt everything and fear nothing; that God is a lover of strong men, because one always sees that the weak are chastised by the strong.  He was also wonderfully sharp or biting though courteous in his answers; and as he did not look for any indulgence in this way of speaking from others, so he was not angered with others did not show it to him.  It has often happened that he

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The Prince from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.