1906-7. TRANSACTIONS. 57 



nationalism; secondly, that Italy, much behind in this respect, 

 was the battle-ground and the prey of the larger aggregations; 

 thirdly, that political unification and territorial consolidation 

 were produced by force and fraud and crime — by methods with 

 which morality had nothing to do (Does any one dispute him, 

 even now?) ; and fourthly, that for Italy's behoof it would be well 

 if Lorenzo de Medici would redeem Italy "from the cruelty and 

 insolence of the barbarians" (p. 160) as he termed the foreigners. 



But Lorenzo must be well instructed for the task thus pre- 

 sented to him. And for this purpose the Prince^ was written and 

 addressed to him. 



And let us remember that Machiavelli makes no recommenda- 

 tions for any other days than his own. I have read to you that: — 



"Were men all good this doctrine was not to be taught, but 

 because they are wicked and not likely to be punctual with you, 

 you are not obliged to any such strictness with them. " 



At another place he says : — 



"For the present manner of living is so different from the 

 way that ought to be taken, that he who neglects what is done, 

 and follows what ought to be done, will sooner learn how to ruin 

 than how to preserve himself" (a). 



And further as Sir Frederick Pollock says: — 



"Machiavelli does not approve or advise fraud and treachery 

 as he has been charged with doing * * * jjg Qy^\j points out 

 that power gained in certain ways must be maintained, if at all, 

 by corresponding means." It is not strange Sir Frederick adds 

 "that a man living among Italian politics, such as they then were 

 * * * should regard the separation of policy from morality 

 as a remediless evil which must be accepted. There is no ground 

 for saying that he did not perceive it to be an evil at all "(^)- 



"There is no reason to think that those amongst whom he 

 lived saw anything shocking or incongruous in his writings " (c) . 



Machiavelli's other Characteristics. — Apart from what 

 may be said of his political morality, it is undoubted that Machia- 

 velli presents himself to us with many admirable characteristics. 

 Sir Frederick Pollock for exainple testified that : — 



"His own public conduct, so far as known (and he was a 

 public servant for many years) was upright both abroad and at 

 home. " 



(a) The Prince, cap. XV. 



(Jb) Hist, of the Science of PoUtics, p. 44. 



(c) Macaulay's Essay. 



