110 The Admirable Crichton. 



illustrious deeds of the Princes who have discharged the highest 

 functions in this Republic, I should never, by Hercules, arrive 

 at the end of my discourse ; but at least I may set before you the 

 example of one Prince — that of your Duke truly most excellent^, 

 who now holds the foremost places in this State, than whom no 

 one more gracious, no one more prudent in the conduct of affairs 

 has ever lived. Moreover, have I not experienced the sur- 

 passing kindliness towards me of this most gentle Prince ? But 

 if, by chance, I should appear to flatter or to praise his good 

 fortune, I will say a few words concerning a single law which 

 has been proclaimed with regard to the election of governors. 

 All those to whom the highest powers in the control of the States- 

 of antiquity were in the habit of being entrusted, and to whom 

 the supreme powers, the magistracies, the dignities, and the 

 fasces, by a certain common sense and acclamation of the people 

 were delivered, were selected from the most excellent and most 

 eminent men, and those most admirably fitted for the conduct of 

 the affairs of the Republic, as is evident from the election of 

 the consuls and dictators in the Roman Republic and from the 

 excellent custom of the Cretans and the Athenians, who were 

 acccustomed to consult the oracles of the Pythian Apollo, in 

 order that those whom they elevated to the highest honours in 

 the Republic should justly and righteously preside over them, 

 and should enact useful measures in conformity with the laws : of 

 whom it might be truly said that the magistrates were the laws 

 speaking and the laws were the magistrates silent, by which 

 these people owe an allegiance to a I'iing not otherwise than to 

 themselves. But also a custom worthy of all praise has been 

 adopted in the State of iSiena, according to which, from that 

 splendid race of men, representatives are chosen for the govern- 

 ment of the Republic who are qualified by their life, their 

 morals and their prudence, and who are conspicuous above all 

 others for their fortitude of mind ; and from these, so to say, 

 rulers-designate, a selection is concluded by the drawing of lots 

 in the public assemblies. 



Now, who is Apollo ? I call him Apollo who is the stay of 

 this Republic, from whom a law so sacred received its sanction. 

 By the authority of what deity was the law promulgated ? 

 Assuredly not by that of the assembly of Apollo, or of Pallas, or 



