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Discourses on the First Decade of Titus Livius

Niccolò Machiavelli

  • Essays
  • Book language: English
  • 431 pages

A collection of essays in which Machiavelli reflects on the early history of Rome as told by Livy, drawing lessons about republics, liberty, and political order. He examines how states rise, endure, and decline, and what keeps a commonwealth free. Worth listening for its influential thinking on power and civic life.

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Text source: gutenberg.org · The work is in the public domain.

Opening of the book

Discourses on the First

Decade of Titus Livius

by Niccolo Machiavelli

CITIZEN AND SECRETARY OF FLORENCE

TRANSLATED FROM THE ITALIAN BY

NINIAN HILL THOMSON, M.A.

LONDON KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH & CO., 1, PATERNOSTER

SQUARE 1883

TO PROFESSOR PASQUALE VILLARI.

DEAR PROFESSOR VILLARI,

Permit me to inscribe your name on a translation of Machiavelli’s

Discourses which I had your encouragement to undertake, and in which I have done my best to preserve something of the flavour of the original. Yours faithfully,

NINIAN HILL THOMSON.

FLORENCE, May 17, 1883.

BOOK I.

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Contents

  1. Discourses on the First Decade of Titus Livius
  2. TRANSLATED FROM THE ITALIAN BY
  3. BOOK I.
  4. NICCOLÒ MACHIAVELLI
  5. DISCOURSES
  6. BOOK I.
  7. CHAPTER I.—Of the Beginnings of Cities in general, and in particular of that of Rome.
  8. CHAPTER II.—Of the various kinds of Government; and to which of them the Roman Commonwealth belonged.
  9. CHAPTER III.—Of the Accidents which led in Rome to the creation of Tribunes of the People; whereby the Republic was made
  10. CHAPTER IV.—That the Dissensions between the Senate and Commons of Rome, made Rome free and powerful.
  11. CHAPTER V.—Whether the Guardianship of public Freedom is safer in the hands of the Commons or of the Nobles; and whether
  12. CHAPTER VI.—Whether it was possible in Rome to contrive such a Government as would have composed the Differences between
  13. CHAPTER VII.—That to preserve Liberty in a State there must exist the Right to accuse.
  14. CHAPTER VIII.—That Calumny is as hurtful in a Commonwealth as the power to accuse is useful.
  15. CHAPTER IX.—That to give new Institutions to a Commonwealth, or to reconstruct old Institutions on an entirely new basis
  16. CHAPTER X.—That in proportion as the Founder of a Kingdom or Commonwealth merits Praise, he who founds a Tyranny deserve
  17. CHAPTER XI.—Of the Religion of the Romans.
  18. CHAPTER XII.—That it is of much moment to make account of Religion; and that Italy, through the Roman Church, being want
  19. CHAPTER XIII.—Of the use the Romans made of Religion in giving Institutions to their City, in carrying out their Enterpr
  20. CHAPTER XIV.—That the Romans interpreted the Auspices to meet the occasion; and made a prudent show of observing the Rit
  21. CHAPTER XV.—How the Samnites, as a last resource in their broken Fortunes, had recourse to Religion.
  22. CHAPTER XVI.—That a People accustomed to live under a Prince, if by any accident it become free, can hardly preserve tha
  23. CHAPTER XVII.—That a corrupt People obtaining Freedom can hardly preserve it.
  24. CHAPTER XVIII.—How a Free Government existing in a corrupt City may be preserved, or not existing may be created.
  25. CHAPTER XIX.—After a strong Prince a weak Prince may maintain himself: but after one weak Prince no Kingdom can stand a
  26. CHAPTER XX.—That the consecutive Reigns of two valiant Princes produce great results: and that well-ordered Commonwealth
  27. CHAPTER XXI.—That it is a great reproach to a Prince or to a Commonwealth to be without a national Army.
  28. CHAPTER XXII.—What is to be noted in the combat of the three Roman Horatii and the three Alban Curiatii.
  29. CHAPTER XXIII.—That we should never hazard our whole Fortunes where we put not forth our entire Strength; for which reas
  30. CHAPTER XXIV.—That well-ordered States always provide Rewards and Punishments for their Citizens; and never set off Dese

and 121 more chapters

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