e acquired, how
maintained, how lost. If you ever liked any of my scribblings, this
ought to suit your taste. To a prince, and especially to a new prince,
it ought to prove acceptable. Therefore I am dedicating it to the
Magnificence of Giuliano.'

[1] This letter may be compared with others of about the same
date. In one (Aug. 3, 1514) he says: 'Ho lasciato dunque i
pensieri delle cose grandi e gravi, non mi diletta piu leggere
le cose antiche, ne ragionare delle moderne; tutte si son
converse in ragionamenti dolci,' etc. Again he writes (Dec. 4,
1514): 'Quod autem ad me pertinet, si quid agam scire cupis,
omnem meae vitae rationem ab eodem Tafano intelliges, quam
sordidam ingloriamque, non sine indignatione, si me ut soles
amas, cognosces.' Later on, we may notice the same language.
Thus (Feb. 5, 1515), 'Sono diventato inutile a me, a' parenti
ed agli amici,' and (June 8, 1517) 'Essendomi io ridotto a
stare in villa per le avversita che io ho avuto ed ho, sto
qualche volta un mese che non mi ricordo di me.'

Further on in the same letter he writes: 'I have talked with Filippo
Casavecchia about this little work of mine, whether I ought to present
it or not; and if so, whether I ought to send or take it myself to him.
I was induced to doubt about presenting it at all by the fear lest
Giuliano should not even read it, and that this Ardinghelli should
profit by my latest labors. On the other hand, I am prompted to present
it by the necessity which pursues me, seeing that I am consuming myself
in idleness, and I cannot continue long in this way without becoming
contemptible through poverty. I wish these Signori Medici would begin to
make some use of me, if it were only to set me to the work of rolling a
stone.[1] If I did not win them over to me afterwards, I should only
complain of myself. As for my book, if they read it, they would perceive
that the fifteen years I have spent in studying statecraft have not been
wasted in sleep or play; and everybody ought to be glad to make use of a
man who has so filled himself with experience at the expense of others.
About my fidelity they ought not to doubt. Having always kept faith, I
am not going to learn to break it now. A man who has been loyal and good
for forty-three years, like me, is not likely to change his nature; and
of my loyalty and goodness my poverty is sufficient witness to them.'

[1] Compare the letter, dat