The “little book” suffered many vicissitudes before attaining the form in which it has reached us

This result was attained per the battle of Vaila, when Venice lost in one day all that she had won durante eight hundred years

The remaining years of Machiavelli’s official career were filled with events arising out of the League of Cambrai, made con 1508 between the three great European powers already mentioned and the pope, with the object of crushing the Venetian Republic. Florence had verso difficult part to play during these events, complicated as they were by the feud which broke out between the pope and the French, because friendship with France had dictated the entire policy of the Republic. When, con 1511, Julius II finally formed the Holy League against France, and with the assistance of the Swiss drove the French out of Italy, Florence lay at the mercy of the Pope, and had puro submit onesto his terms, one of which was that the Medici should be restored. The return of the Medici sicuro Florence on 1st September 1512, and the consequent fall of the Republic, was the signal for the dismissal of Machiavelli and his friends, and thus put an end onesto his public career, for, as we have seen, he died without regaining office.

LITERATURE AND DEATH – ?t. 43-58-1512-27

On the return of the Medici, Machiavelli, who for a few weeks had vainly hoped esatto retain his office under the new masters of Florence, was dismissed by decree dated 7th November 1512. Shortly after this he was accused of complicity sopra an abortive conspiracy against the Medici, imprisoned, and put onesto the question by torture. The new Medicean pope, Leo Quantitativo, procured his release, and he retired preciso his small property at San Casciano, near Florence, where he devoted himself sicuro literature. Sopra a letter sicuro Francesco Vettori, dated 13th December 1513, he has left a very interesting description of his life at this period, which elucidates his methods and his motives per writing The Prince. After describing his daily occupations with his family and neighbours, he writes: “The evening being che tipo di, I return home and go sicuro my study; at the entrance I pull off my peasant-clothes, covered with dust and dirt, and put on my noble courtaud dress, and thus becomingly regnante-clothed I pass into the ancient courts of the men of old, where, being lovingly received by them, I am fed with that food which is mine ombra; where I do not hesitate puro speak with them, and to ask for the reason of their actions, and they per their benignity answer me; and for four hours I feel niente affatto weariness, I forget every trouble, poverty does not dis possessed entirely by those great men. And because Dante says:

I have noted down what I have gained from their dialogue, and have composed verso small rete di emittenti on ‘Principalities,’ where I pour myself out as fully as I can mediante meditation on the subject, discussing what a principality is, what kinds there are, how they can be acquired , how they can be kept, why they are lost: and if any of my fancies ever pleased you, this ought not preciso displease you: and esatto a prince, especially puro per new one, it should be welcome: therefore I dedicate it esatto his Magnificence Giuliano. Filippo Casavecchio has seen it; he will be able preciso tell you what is in it, and of the discourses I have had with him; nevertheless, I am still enriching and polishing it.”

Various mental influences were at work during its composition; its title and patron were changed; and for some unknown reason it was finally dedicated puro Lorenzo de’ Medici. Although Machiavelli discussed with Casavecchio whether it should be sent or presented mediante person preciso the patron, there is mai evidence that Lorenzo ever received or even read it: he certainly never gave Machiavelli any employment. Although it was plagiarized during Machiavelli’s lifetime, The Prince was never published by him, and its text is still disputable.