君主論-the prince(英文版)

第5部分 (第3/7頁)

led　all　the　senators　andthe　richest　of　the　people；　these　dead；　he　seized　and　held　the　princedomof　that　city　without　any　civil　motion。　And　although　he　was　twicerouted　by　the　Carthaginians；　and　ultimately　besieged；　yet　not　only　washe　able　to　defend　his　city；　but　leaving　part　of　his　men　for　its　defence；with　the　others　he　attacked　Africa；　and　in　a　short　time　raised　the　siegeof　Syracuse。　The　Carthaginians；　reduced　to　extreme　necessity；　werepelled　to　e　to　terms　with　Agathocles；　and；　leaving　Sicily　to　him；had　to　be　content　with　the　possession　of　Africa。Therefore；　he　who　considers　the　actions　and　the　genius　of　this　man　willsee　nothing；　or　little；　which　can　be　attributed　to　fortune；　inasmuch　ashe　attained　pre…eminence；　as　is　shown　above；　not　by　the　favour　of　anyone；　but　step　by　step　in　the　military　profession；　which　steps　weregained　with　a　thousand　troubles　and　perils；　and　were　afterwards　boldlyheld　by　him　with　many　hazards　and　dangers。　Yet　it　cannot　be　calledtalent　to　slay　fellow…citizens；　to　deceive　friends；　to　be　without　faith；without　mercy；　without　religion；　such　methods　may　gain　empire；　but　notglory。　Still；　if　the　courage　of　Agathocles　in　entering　into　andextricating　himself　from　dangers　be　considered；　together　with　hisgreatness　of　mind　in　enduring　overing　hardships；　it　cannot　be　seenwhy　he　should　be　esteemed　less　than　the　most　notable　captain。Nevertheless；　his　barbarous　cruelty　and　inhumanity　with　infinitewickednesses　do　not　permit　him　to　be　celebrated　among　the　most　excellentmen。　What　he　achieved　cannot　be　attributed　either　to　fortune　or　togenius。In　our　times；　during　the　rule　of　Alexander　VI；　Oliverotto　da　Fermo；having　been　left　an　orphan　many　years　before；　was　brought　up　by　hismaternal　uncle；　Giovanni　Fogliani；　and　in　the　early　days　of　his　youthsent　to　fight　under　Paolo