《君主论·题献·致洛伦佐·德·美第奇殿下》第1节
Those who strive to obtain the good graces of a prince are accustomed to come before him with such things as they hold most precious, or in which they see him take most delight; whence one often sees horses, arms, cloth of gold, precious stones, and similar ornaments presented to princes, worthy of their greatness. Desiring therefore to present myself to your Magnificence with some testimony of my devotion towards you, I have not found among my possessions anything which I hold more dear than, or value so much as, the knowledge of the actions of great men, acquired by long experience in contemporary affairs, and a continual study of antiquity; which, having reflected upon it with great and prolonged diligence, I now send, digested into a little volume, to your Magnificence. And although I may consider this work unworthy of your countenance, nevertheless I trust much to your benignity that it may be acceptable, seeing that it is not possible for me to make a better gift than to offer you the opportunity of understanding in the shortest time all that I have learnt in so many years, and with so many troubles and dangers; which work I have not embellished with swelling or magnificent words, nor stuffed with rounded periods, nor with any extrinsic allurements or adornments whatever, with which so many are accustomed to embellish their works; for I have wished either that no honour should be given it, or else that the truth of the matter and the weightiness of the theme shall make it acceptable.
注释摘要
这段献词开场便是一幅十六世纪意大利宫廷生活的典型图景。马基雅维利写道，凡是想要博取君主欢心的人，都会献上自己最珍视、或最能取悦君主的东西——骏马、精良武器、金线华服、名贵宝石，这一类与君主身份相称的贵重物件。这并非他随手列举的场面话，在文艺复兴时期的意大利，城邦林立、彼此竞逐，君主与贵族之间的赠礼确是外交与社交的常态，一匹良种的战马或一副米兰巧匠打造的甲胄…