had failed to fulfil their engagements. But if
Florence had not been urged by passion or overcome by necessity, or had
she read of and understood the ancient usages of the barbarians, she
would neither on this, nor on many other occasions, have been deceived
by them, seeing that these nations have always been of the same
character, and have always, in all circumstances, and with all men
alike, used the same methods. For in ancient times we find them behaving
after the same fashion to the Etruscans, who, when overpowered by the
Romans, by whom they had been repeatedly routed and put to flight,
perceiving that they could not stand without help, entered into a
compact with the Gauls dwelling in the parts of Italy south of the Alps,
to pay them a certain sum if they would unite with them in a campaign
against the Romans. But the Gauls, after taking their money, refused to
arm on their behalf, alleging that they had not been paid to make war on
the enemies of the Etruscans, but only to refrain from pillaging their
lands. And thus the people of Etruria, through the avarice and perfidy
of the Gauls, were at once defrauded of their money and disappointed of
the help which they had counted on obtaining.

From which two instances of the Etruscans in ancient times and of the
Florentines in recent, we may see that barbaric races have constantly
followed the same methods, and may easily draw our conclusions as to how
far princes should trust them.

CHAPTER XLIV.--_That where ordinary methods fail, Hardihood and Daring
often succeed._

When attacked by the Romans, the Samnites as they could not without help
stand against them in the field, resolved to leave garrisons in the
towns of Samnium, and to pass with their main army into Etruria, that
country being then at truce with Rome, and thus ascertain whether
their actual presence in arms might not move the Etruscans to renew
hostilities against Rome, which they had refused to renew when invited
through envoys. During the negotiations which, on this occasion, passed
between the two nations, the Samnites in explaining the chief causes
that led them to take up arms, used the memorable words--"_they had
risen because peace is a heavier burthen for slaves than war for
freemen_" In the end, partly by their persuasions, and partly by the
presence of their army, they induced the Etruscans to join forces with
them.

Here we are to note that when a prince would obtain something from
a