LONDON KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH & CO., 1, PATERNOSTER SQUARE 1883
Permit me to inscribe your name on a translation of Machiavelli’sDiscourses which I had your encouragement to undertake, and in which I havedone my best to preserve something of the flavour of the original. Yoursfaithfully,
FLORENCE, May 17, 1883.
I. Of the beginnings of Cities in general, and in particular of that of Rome
II. Of the various kinds of Government; and to which of them the RomanCommonwealth belonged
III. Of the accidents which led in Rome to the creation of Tribunes of thePeople, whereby the Republic was made more perfect
IV. That the dissensions between the Senate and Commons of Rome made Rome freeand powerful
V. Whether the guardianship of public freedom is safer in the hands of theCommons or of the Nobles; and whether those who seek to acquire power, or theywho seek to maintain it, are the greater cause of commotions
VI. Whether it was possible in Rome to contrive such a Government as would havecomposed the differences between the Commons and the Senate
VII. That to preserve liberty in a State, there must exist the right to accuse
VIII. That calumny is as hurtful in a Commonwealth as the power to accuse isuseful
IX. That to give new institutions to a Commonwealth, or to reconstruct oldinstitutions on an entirely new basis, must be the work of one Man
X. That in proportion as the founder of a Kingdom or Commonwealth meritspraise, he who founds a Tyranny deserves blame
XI. Of the Religion of the Romans
XII. That it is of much moment to make account of Religion; and that Italy,through the Roman Church, being wanting therein, has been ruined
XIII. Of the use the Romans made of Religion in giving institutions to theirCity; in carrying out their enterprises; and in quelling tumults
XIV. That the Romans interpreted the auspices to meet the occasion; and made aprudent show of observing the rites of Religion even when forced to disregardthem; and any who rashly slighted Religion they punished
XV. How the Samnites, as a last resource in their broken fortunes, had recourseto Religion
XVI. That a People accustomed to live under a Prince, if by any accident itbecome free, can hardly preserve that freedom
XVII. That a corrupt People obtaining freedom can hardly preserve it
XVIII. How a free Government existing in a corrupt City may be preserved, ornot existing may be created
XIX. After a strong Prince a weak Prince may maintain himself: but after oneweak Prince no Kingdom can stand a second
XX. That the consecutive reigns of two valiant Princes produce great results:and that well-ordered Commonwealths are assured of a succession of valiantRulers by whom their power and growth are rapidly extended
XXI. That it is a great reproach to a Prince or to a Commonwealth to be withouta National Army
XXII. What is to be noted in the combat of the three Roman Horatii and thethree Alban Curiatii
XXIII. That we should never hazard our whole fortunes, where we put not forthour entire strength; for which reason to guard a defile is often hurtful
XXIV. That well-ordered States always provide rewards and punishments for theirCitizens; and never set off deserts against misdeeds