the part of the people, to whom they knew that such a
proposal would be welcome, and that it would be very hard to dissuade
them from it. And so this adventurer, marching forth with an
undisciplined and disorderly rabble to meet Hannibal, was, with all his
followers, defeated and slain in the very first encounter.

In Greece, likewise, and in the city of Athens, that most grave and
prudent statesman, Nicias, could not convince the people that the
proposal to go and attack Sicily was disadvantageous; and the expedition
being resolved on, contrary to his advice and to the wishes of the wiser
among the citizens, resulted in the overthrow of the Athenian power.
Scipio, on being appointed consul, asked that the province of Africa
might be awarded to him, promising that he would utterly efface
Carthage; and when the senate, on the advice of Fabius, refused his
request, he threatened to submit the matter to the people as very well
knowing that to the people such proposals are always acceptable.

I might cite other instances to the same effect from the history of our
own city, as when Messer Ercole Bentivoglio and Antonio Giacomini, being
in joint command of the Florentine armies, after defeating Bartolommeo
d'Alviano at San Vincenzo, proceeded to invest Pisa. For this enterprise
was resolved on by the people in consequence of the brave promises of
Messer Ercole; and though many wise citizens disapproved of it, they
could do nothing to prevent it, being carried away by the popular will,
which took its rise in the assurances of their captain.

I say, then, that there is no readier way to bring about the ruin of a
republic, when the power is in the hands of the people, than to suggest
daring courses for their adoption. For wherever the people have a voice,
such proposals will always be well received, nor will those persons who
are opposed to them be able to apply any remedy. And as this occasions
the ruin of States, it likewise, and even more frequently, occasions
the private ruin of those to whom the execution of these proposals is
committed; because the people anticipating victory, do not when there
comes defeat ascribe it to the short means or ill fortune of the
commander, but to his cowardice and incapacity; and commonly either put
him to death, or imprison or banish him; as was done in the case of
numberless Carthaginian generals and of many Athenian, no successes they
might previously have obtained availing them anything;