《君主论·第八章·以邪恶之道获得君权者》第5节
Giovanni, therefore, did not fail in any attentions due to his nephew, and he caused him to be honourably received by the Fermians, and he lodged him in his own house, where, having passed some days, and having arranged what was necessary for his wicked designs, Oliverotto gave a solemn banquet to which he invited Giovanni Fogliani and the chiefs of Fermo. When the viands and all the other entertainments that are usual in such banquets were finished, Oliverotto artfully began certain grave discourses, speaking of the greatness of Pope Alexander and his son Cesare, and of their enterprises, to which discourse Giovanni and others answered; but he rose at once, saying that such matters ought to be discussed in a more private place, and he betook himself to a chamber, whither Giovanni and the rest of the citizens went in after him. No sooner were they seated than soldiers issued from secret places and slaughtered Giovanni and the rest. After these murders Oliverotto, mounted on horseback, rode up and down the town and besieged the chief magistrate in the palace, so that in fear the people were forced to obey him, and to form a government, of which he made himself the prince. He killed all the malcontents who were able to injure him, and strengthened himself with new civil and military ordinances, in such a way that, in the year during which he held the principality, not only was he secure in the city of Fermo, but he had become formidable to all his neighbours. And his destruction would have been as difficult as that of Agathocles if he had not allowed himself to be overreached by Cesare Borgia, who took him with the Orsini and Vitelli at Sinigalia, as was stated above. Thus one year after he had committed this parricide, he was strangled, together with Vitellozzo, whom he had made his leader in valour and wickedness.
注释摘要
这段叙述是马基雅维利以邪恶之道夺取政权的现代例子，与古代的阿加托克利斯案例形成对应。奥利韦罗托·达·费尔莫是个孤儿，由舅父乔瓦尼·福利亚尼抚养长大，后来被送去跟随名将帕戈洛·维泰利习武。这里提到的维泰利家族是十五世纪末意大利中部的佣兵首领，帕戈洛和其弟维泰洛佐都是当时炙手可热的军事人物，为佛罗伦萨、教廷等势力效力。奥利韦罗托在维泰利麾下摸爬滚打，练就了一身…