《君主论·第八章·以邪恶之道获得君权者》第4节
In our times, during the rule of Alexander the Sixth, Oliverotto da Fermo, having been left an orphan many years before, was brought up by his maternal uncle, Giovanni Fogliani, and in the early days of his youth sent to fight under Pagolo Vitelli, that, being trained under his discipline, he might attain some high position in the military profession. After Pagolo died, he fought under his brother Vitellozzo, and in a very short time, being endowed with wit and a vigorous body and mind, he became the first man in his profession. But it appearing a paltry thing to serve under others, he resolved, with the aid of some citizens of Fermo, to whom the slavery of their country was dearer than its liberty, and with the help of the Vitelleschi, to seize Fermo. So he wrote to Giovanni Fogliani that, having been away from home for many years, he wished to visit him and his city, and in some measure to look upon his patrimony; and although he had not laboured to acquire anything except honour, yet, in order that the citizens should see he had not spent his time in vain, he desired to come honourably, so would be accompanied by one hundred horsemen, his friends and retainers; and he entreated Giovanni to arrange that he should be received honourably by the Fermians, all of which would be not only to his honour, but also to that of Giovanni himself, who had brought him up.
注释摘要
在这一段里，马基雅维利把目光从他的古代典型阿加托克利斯，转向了一个与他同时代的人物——奥利韦罗托·达·费尔莫。这个案例是用来进一步说明，一个人如何完全凭借自身的心智与邪恶手段，在不依靠命运或他人恩赐的情况下攫取君权。阿加托克利斯的故事证明了这种路径在古代的可行性，而奥利韦罗托的故事则表明，同样的法则在马基雅维利亲历的意大利乱世中依然有效。他的论证链条非常清…